Finding the right type of screen protector to protect your eyes and skin can be easy.
Modern life is not all it's cracked up to be. It turns out that such simple and apparently innocuous activities as looking at the screens of digital devices can have harmful effects on our body and can even damage our skin and make us age prematurely.
But with so many of us glued to our phones, tablets and computers all day long, and then during the evening and well into the night — including in bed — what can we do to protect ourselves from the potentially harmful blue light emitted from these addictive gadgets? While some of us might boldly embark on a "digital detox" for a few days — not using our phones or other devices to give ourselves a rest — for most people that's just not feasible: they have become an integral part of our lives.
At the very least, you should be using a quality blue light filter on your many digital devices to stop the blue light from reaching your eyes and skin. Not all blue light filters are the same, however, and there are many low-quality ones on the market that are just not up to the task. But first, let's look at why digital devices are proving so troublesome to human health, what the actual effects are and why you don't have to needlessly suffer.
Blue light's impact on eyes and skin
The blue light emitted from digital light can be especially harmful to human eyes and may eventually lead to macular degeneration. This is where the eyesight gradually worsens over time. If you spend a lot of time staring at your screen and don’t already require reading glasses, you soon might. It's not surprising that so many of us who sit in front of computer screens all day end up having to go to the opticians for a pair of glasses.
Digital screens can also cause eye strain, which can give rise to a number of conditions that many of us are all too aware of: shoulder and neck pain, headaches, back problems and more. It may seem like you're doing nothing to harm yourself while seated at your office or home computer. It’s important to remember that, not only is it unnatural for people to remain in such a position for possibly hours on end, but also that, in all likelihood, human eyes were never designed to look at digital screens that blast out a wide spectrum of light.
Blue light from digital devices is believed to suppress the production of melatonin in the brain. This means that scrolling through your social media feed before you’re about to doze off will most likely lead to difficulty getting to sleep, because your melatonin — the sleep hormone — levels are too low. As if all of that wasn’t enough, there is also a growing body of evidence showing that digital light may harm our skin and make us look older before our time.
What Types of Screen Protectors Can Protect Your Eyes and Skin?
You may be aware that your mobile, laptop and other digital gadgetry often have inbuilt software that tries to tone down the colour of light emitted. This, it is hoped, will go some way towards cancelling out the amount of harmful light that enters our eyes. However, it's questionable whether such software is effective and many people don't like the effect it has on their screens — turning the screen an off-putting shade of pink or orange — which can ruin the reading or browsing experience.
To really safeguard against the effects of blue light, you need a professionally designed blue light filter. This is applied to the screen of your device and entirely blankets the blue light coming from it, protecting your eyes and skin and allowing you to get a good night's sleep.
Here at Ocushield, we have ophthalmology-based blue light filters for today's popular devices, from smartphones to computer screens. They're easy to apply and won’t break the bank. Using a blue light filter also doubles as a screen protector for your devices, preventing them from scratches and the daily wear and tear that can eventually render them useless, for vastly improved protection all around.
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Ocushield has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
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Current Version
April 12, 2021
FAQs
To really safeguard against the effects of blue light, you need a professionally designed blue light filter. This is applied to the screen of your device and entirely blankets the blue light coming from it, protecting your eyes and skin and allowing you to get a good night's sleep.
Which screen protector is best for eyes? ›
The StillerSafe Brand ! It's been 9 years StillerSafe brand is the world's best anti-glare screen protector that protects your eyes from excessive use of digital devices.
Do screen protectors protect your eyes? ›
The answer is yes, blue light screen protectors do work. They are designed to filter out the blue light frequencies that are known to disrupt our sleep patterns. By blocking these harmful wavelengths, screen protectors can help reduce the negative effects of blue light on our sleep and overall health.
What is the most protective type of screen protector? ›
For most people, a tempered-glass protector will be the best choice, because it offers the highest level of damage prevention and has a smooth touch.
How do I protect my eyes from screen exposure? ›
6 Ways to Reduce Effects from Screen Time
- Avoid dry eyes. As stated above, the primary reason staring at a computer screen is so harmful to your eyes is that you tend to blink less. ...
- Allow distance. ...
- Adjust the brightness. ...
- Reduce glare. ...
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule. ...
- Limit devices before bed.
LCD displays offer the advantage of adjustable backlighting, reducing blue light emission and potentially mitigating eye strain. They also tend to be more affordable and may be better suited to scenarios involving static content.
What are 5 ways to protect your eyes? ›
Top 5 ways to keep your eyes healthy
- Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. If you're like most people, you spend a good deal of time viewing email, checking weather or texting on your mobile device. ...
- Wear sunglasses. ...
- Feast on eye-friendly foods. ...
- Use safety goggles for sports. ...
- Get an eye exam regularly.
Reduced Screen Clarity: One common drawback of screen protectors is that they can affect the device's screen clarity, particularly if you opt for lower-quality protectors. The installation process could lead to bubbles or smudges, further compromising the visual experience.
Which color is best for eye protection? ›
Brown or amber. Darker tints, like brown or amber, are common and work well for everyday use, REI reported. Brown offers a multitude of benefits that make it such a popular color. It helps protect your eyes by cutting through glare and preventing eye strain.
Is Ceramic or glass better for a screen protector? ›
If your only concern is to protect your smartphone from scratches and cracks then a Ceramic screen protector can be a good alternative. But if you are not good at handling your smartphone and it often falls or slips or drops, then a tempered glass screen protector is a good option.
Durability – Screen Protector vs Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is always more robust and durable than plastic. Plastic protectors get scratched easily and are around 0.1mm, while glass protectors are generally 0.3-0.5 mm in thickness.
Is a glass or silicone screen protector better? ›
If you prioritize a thin profile and reduced fingerprint smudges, go for a silicone screen protector. If, on the other hand, your key concern is screen protection and longevity, then a tempered glass protector would be the ideal choice.
Are screens ruining our eyes? ›
While using devices will not damage your eyes permanently, staring at them for a long time can cause temporary discomfort.
How can I make my screen more eye friendly? ›
How to customize monitor settings to reduce eye strain
- Tweak your font sizes. ...
- Adjust your screen's contrast. ...
- Adjust your brightness settings.
- Change the color temperature to reduce blue light. ...
- Switch to dark mode. ...
- Reposition your monitor. ...
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule. ...
- Avoid blue light filters.
Privacy screen protectors don't hurt your eyes; however, if you do not turn up your display brightness when using one, you could cause yourself some eye strain due to the screen being slightly tinted.
What type of screen is best for eye strain? ›
Curved monitors provide less distortion, a wider field of view, and better viewing angles to prevent you from tiring out your eyes. Bottom Line: If your eyes hurt from staring at computers all day, consider getting a curved monitor that lets you take in the whole picture at once without straining your eyes.
Which screen background is better for eyes? ›
Looking at words and images on a darker background may give your eyes needed rest from bright lights and white backgrounds, and it may make it easier to read. This may help prevent or relieve discomfort. It's important to know that using dark mode alone may not eliminate device-related eye strain or fatigue.
Which screen mode is best for eyes? ›
Dark mode should make it easier for your eyes to adjust from your dimly lit surroundings to your phone screen, reducing screen glare. This may reduce eye strain and minimize eye fatigue. This is why car navigation systems and GPS devices switch to dark mode after sunset.
Is matte or glossy screen protector better for eyes? ›
Are matte screen protectors bad for your eyes? No, privacy protectors aren't bad for your eyes. Glossy coating materials often cause eye strain due to glare and reflections, while matte materials maintain a more pleasant experience.
