Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services hosted Opticianry Program Head Lect. Begüm Genç, who was a guest at the seminar titled 'Eyeglass Selection, Are Blue Light Blocking Glasses Friend or Foe?'. Begüm Genç said, 'Red light is beneficial for melatonin production when sleeping at night. However, playing with the phone before going to bed at night delays melatonin production by 2 hours. Even waking up at night to check the phone and then putting it down affects this. For your health, you should avoid blue light 2 hours before going to bed.'
'Our Eyes Have Functions Other Than Vision'
Begüm Genç stated that electromagnetic waves, which are present at every point of our lives, can sometimes be as large as a building and sometimes as small as an atom; 'Today, electromagnetic waves surround us due to televisions, telephones, and many other technological devices. Within such a large electromagnetic field, we can only observe between 380-320 nanometers. This tiny area corresponds to white light. Light from the sun is white light. White light separates into its colors when it passes through any prism. These progress as red, yellow, blue, purple, and so on. Our eyes also have functions other than vision. They are tasked with transmitting non-visual functions. In our eyes, after light comes to the part we call ganglion nerve cells, located on the nerve cells, they also become active. They send signals to the brain, and when the signal goes, we don't see any image. In daylight, when blue light, which has the highest energy, arrives, the nerve cell is stimulated. Now that light has arrived, a 'good morning' signal is given for the body.'
'If You Can't Finish The Day Energetically, You're Not Getting Enough Blue Light'
Genç stated that the melatonin hormone is suppressed by blue light; 'If you can't start the day energetically and finish it energetically, you are not benefiting enough from blue light. Blue light is very important in regulating the body's natural sleep/wake cycle, the circadian rhythm. Exposure to blue light during daylight hours helps maintain a healthy circadian rhythm and also affects the release of many of your hormones. Red light is beneficial for melatonin production when sleeping at night. However, playing with the phone before going to bed at night delays melatonin production by 2 hours. Even waking up at night to check the phone and then putting it down affects this. For your health, you should avoid blue light 2 hours before going to bed. Lights like street lamps coming from the street are also very important. For these, it is necessary to use blackout curtains as much as possible. Lights coming from your charger or other technological devices can also significantly affect melatonin hormone production.'