Why Computer Glasses are Fit for Medical Professionals

It’s time to take all the necessary measures to feel your best at all hours of your long work shift. As a medical professional, not only do you deal with patients during these work hours, but it’s also sending out emails, reviewing paperwork and working under bright lights that can cause eye strain and migraines. Whether you need prescription glasses or not, a pair of computer glasses will greatly benefit you from blue light exposure as it can help alleviate eye discomfort, migraines and improve quality sleep.

Working Conditions and How Computer Glasses Play a Role

According to AMA Insurance’s 2014 Work/ Life Profiles of Today’s Physician report, most physicians work on average 40 to 60 hours per week and nearly one-quarter of physicians work on average 61 to 80 hours per week. Whether you are a doctor, nurse, optometrist, physician or therapist, work conditions mainly consist of staying indoors and working in front of a computer, tablet or smartphone whenever you are not dealing with a patient. However, these digital devices emit blue light which has high frequency and short wavelengths similar to UV light. The eye’s natural lens is designed to filter out light, but not enough to protect from the abrasive blue light. Long exposure to blue light transmitted by the computer or smartphone may damage the light-sensitive cells in the eye. Furthermore, you may experience the common symptoms of eye strain, blurry vision, headaches and migraines. A pair of computer glasses are thus designed to protect the eyes from blue light since the lens has an anti-reflective coating. This filters the blue light and the strongest wavelengths and helps alleviate eye discomfort since the eye stays moist and maintains a normal blinking pattern.

How Blue Light Affects Your Sleep

 Although working as a medical professional means long 12+ hour shifts due to short staff, unequipped practitioners, minimal patient hand over or emergency surgeries, it’s a profession that requires precision and attentiveness - no matter how exhausted you are. Short naps during your break may be helpful to stay awake during your shift, however, it’s maintaining a good sleep balance after your shift is over that you may be struggling with. This is partly due to the amount of blue light exposure during your shift that is affecting your body’s natural process for sleep and wake cycles. 

Since blue light tricks the brain into believing that it is daytime even if its nighttime, it causes the pineal gland to stop producing the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. This lowers the quality of sleep and disrupts your circadian rhythm. One of the many benefits computer glasses provide is that it increases quality sleep. Many computer glasses block up to 50% of blue light and 95% of the strongest wavelengths. These types of glasses shield your eyes which helps maintain healthy sleep and wake cycles. You’ll also notice a significant difference when you wake up the next day to feel more alert and energetic. 

Road to Recovery

As a medical professional, it’s easy to forget sometimes to take care of yourself when you spend countless hours dealing with patients and providing the best care possible for them. Yet, a small investment in a pair of computer glasses can quickly alleviate the problem of unwanted eye strain, headaches and poor quality of sleep throughout your long work shifts.