This is a sponsored post from a partnership with Ridgecrest Herbals. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With more and more Americans spending more time in front of their computer screens as well as TVs, the concern for the effect of blue light on our eyes and body is becoming more of an issue. We are consistently exposed to blue light there are things that we can do to prevent the effects on our bodies. Let’s take a look at how it is that we’re exposed to blue light the effects it can have on our bodies and what we can do to prevent it.

So what is blue light?

Sunlight is made up of the colors of the rainbow–so that includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet lights. So when all of these colors are combined they create the white light that we normally see. Each of the colors of the light has a different energy. For example, the rays on the red and have longer wavelengths and less energy. On the completely opposite end of the spectrum is blue. Blue rays have a shorter wavelength and more energy. Sometimes light that looks white can actually have a large blue component presenting itself as a cooler white light. And it’s this light that can cause problems.

OK. But What Does This Mean?

So why does it matter right? This matters because all of the visible blue light passes through the cornea lens and it reaches the retina. The retina is a super-sensitive part of the eye that converts the light rays into impulses. These impulses travel through the optic nerve to our brain where it’s then interpreted as what we see.

Research has shown that too much exposure to the blue light on the retina can lead to digital eyestrain, retina damage, and more. Digital eyestrain comes from the blue light from computer screens and digital devices. Some of the symptoms of eyestrain include eye soreness, irritated eyes, mental fatigue, and difficulty focusing. In addition to digital eyestrain, there’s a risk of damaging the retina which can lead to vision problems like macular degeneration and other developmental issues in children.

Blue light is present EVERYWHERE--literally. But with the increased usage of things like computers, tablets and TVs, our eyes are paying for it. But they don't have it--here's how to prevent the damage.

How You Can Protect Your Eyes From Blue Light Exposure

OK, so enough about the scary stuff. Blue light is everywhere so you can’t avoid it altogether. But that doesn’t mean you can’t limit the damage. So let’s talk about how you can prevent the damage from blue light exposure. 

Reduce screen time.

Decreasing the amount of time that is spent looking at your computer screens, phones, tablets, TV screens, or taking frequent breaks from staring at them I can decrease the amount of blue light that you’re exposed to.

Use a screen filter.

There are screen filters that have been developed specifically to block the blue light from emitting from your screen and being absorbed by your eyes. The screen filters are available for smartphones, tablets, computer screens, and more. What they do is decrease the amount of blue light that these devices are given off ultimately decreasing the amount that is presented to our retinas.

Have your eyeglasses treated with blue light treatments.

There are many glasses companies out there that are offering specialty lenses that reduce the amount of blue light getting to our eyes. The beautiful thing about this is that they are offered in both children’s and adult lenses. With kids being exposed to both natural and artificial sources of blue light earlier, this is really important.

Take a supplement that supports your eye health.

There aren’t many supplements out there that I’ve found that supports eye health while specifically working to repair blue light damage. RidgeCrest Herbals is one of the brands that does offer one.

RidgeCrest Herbals EssentialEyes™

My husband spends 9 hours looking at a computer screen daily and we began to notice the eye fatigue in him in addition to his eyesight worsening. Because he works in IT, he can’t just stop using computers altogether. He has started to take more frequent breaks from staring at the screen, but we’ve also started him on EssentialEyes™–he takes 2 capsules twice daily.

EssentialEyes™ has been shown to:

  • Supports eyes exposed to electronics & blue light*
  • Protects healthy macular and retinal function*
  • Promotes healthy low-light vision*
  • Increases nutrients essential to macular health*

These are the ingredients in EssentialEyes™ and how they work:

  • Rehmannia Raw Root – part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used to nourish Yin. It contains amino acids, alkaloids, phosphoric acid, Vitamin C, and polysaccharides.
  • Wild Yam Root – contains steroidal saponins that protect the body from free radicals.
  • Asiatic Dogwood Fruit – rich in antioxidants that are beneficial for the eyes.
  • Poria Fungal Body – contains nutrients vital for healthy cardiac function and blood circulation. It also balances electrolytes while supporting the immune system.
  • Tree Peony Root Bark – tonifies Qi and promotes longevity.
  • Alisma Root – supports the urinary tract and rids the body of excess water.
  • Cinnamon Bark – supports the immune system and reduces inflammation.
  • Lutein – a special formula that has been found in nature to support eye health.
  • Zeaxanthin Isomers – helps the body filter blue light and defends the eye from oxidative stress.
  • Bilberry – supports retina health.
  • Eyebright – also called Euphrasia. Reduces inflammation in body.

EssentialEyes™ has received multiple awards including the 2017 NEXTY Award for Best Condition-Specific Supplement & the 2018 Taste for Life Essential Supplements Award, Eye Health. Not too shabby, huh?

Are you concerned with your eye health?