Blue light is the visible light at the blue end of the spectrum.

As well, exposure to blue light may have an impact on your sleep-wake cycle.

Sunlight and incandescent light contain a broad range of wavelengths.

Mom and daughter playing on cell phone in bed at night

Jacobo Zanella / Getty Images

Some cones are more sensitive to red, some to green, and some to blue.

The signals from these receptors are integrated in your brain to produce your sense of color.

Blue light has the shortest wavelengths detectable by the human eye.

But exposure to intense amounts of blue light may be harmful to the eyes.

It is from 760 nanometers to 1 millimeter in wavelength.

Ultraviolet is invisible and has a wavelength of less than 400 nanometers.

This concern comes from the fact that blue light and ultraviolet light place oxidative stress on the retinal pigments.

This has been seen in experiments on mice.

The main risk factors for AMD are a family history of the condition, age, and cigarette smoking.

There is some evidence that obesity, nutritional factors, and alcohol use disorder may also raise the risks.

Blue Light and Circadian Rhythm

Before the technological age, blue light primarily came from sunlight.

Melatonin is a sleep hormone that helps to regulate your circadian rhythm.

Concerns are especially common for blue light exposure from electronic devices before or at bedtime.

As well, some devices have a night mode with reduced amounts of blue light.

Ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist if you’re at risk for eye conditions and get regular checkups.

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doi:10.1002/jbio.201900102

Hazanchuk V.Should you use night mode to reduce blue light?American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Tosini G, Ferguson I, Tsubota K.Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology.Mol Vis.