Blue Light Protection and Filters

Computer technology has evolved rapidly worldwide, particularly with the introduction of modern flat LED screens. A side effect of LED technology is the increased emission of Bvlue light, which can strain the eyes.

Although all colours have always been visible on screens, LED displays emit a different spectrum and light frequency, increasing blue light exposure. This can disrupt sleep patterns and affect overall eye comfort. This issue affects all LED-based devices: Tablets, Smart-phones, Computers, and TVs.

As flat screens become more widespread, our exposure to blue light has grown proportionally.

Interestingly, “Blue Light Intensity” can vary even within the same Brand, some Models emit more blue light than others.

In response, Hi-Techs Manufacturers have begun releasing products equipped with blue Light Reduction Technologies. These aim to lower Blue Light emissions without compromising color quality.

In recent years, new standards have emerged; such as Germany’s TÜV Rheinland certification and the Eyesafe® display standard; designed to reduce harmful blue light emissions while preserving screen performance.

“About TÜV Rheinland:”

• “TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services, founded 147 years ago. The group maintains a worldwide presence of more than 20,000 people; annual turnover is nearly EUR 2 billion. Its independent experts are committed to ensuring quality and safety for people, technology, and the environment in nearly all aspects of life. TÜV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products, and services, oversees projects, and helps to shape processes and information security for companies. Its experts train people in a wide range of careers and industries. To this end, TÜV Rheinland employs a global network of approved labs and centers for testing and education. Since 2006, TÜV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website:  www.tuv.com“

“Eyes Safe Technology” labels for Screen and Laptops developped by LG or Lenovo :

• “Eyesafe, the company formerly known as Health, is a worldwide supplier of Eyesafe^® standards, Eyesafe^® technology and Eyesafe^® display, a suite of pioneering products and services that are shaping the consumer electronics industry’s understanding of device usage, screen time, and the impacts of blue light-emitting devices. Eyesafe^® technology and the associated intellectual property portfolio was developed by a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, and light management. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eyesafe^® works to develop technologies and standards in conjunction with leaders in healthcare.”

New Materials Released

LG has announced the release of the first official TV with built-in blue light reduction. This technology is still very new and remains quite expensive.

Workarounds and Accessories to Reduce Blue Light:

Anti-Blue Light Glasses:

These are typically plastic lenses designed to reduce the amount of blue light perceived by the eyes. You can also ask your optician if they offer glasses with built-in blue light filtering.

Anti-Blue Light Screen Filters:

You can purchase blue light filters separately and manually apply them as a plastic layer to screens on laptops, mobile devices, or TVs. Personally, I believe this is a more effective solution than glasses.

You can find several brands offering these Blue Light filter products.

Application Themes and Web Browsers Switching to Dark Mode:

On Firefox, there is a plug-in called “Dark Reader” that helps switch the web browser’s colour scheme to a dark theme, using black backgrounds with white or light-colored text.

Default Application Themes and Blue Light Reduction

Some default applications, such as Microsoft Office, now offer a built-in dark theme option.
You can change the color theme in Microsoft Word, Teams, and Outlook to black and white, which can help reduce eye strain.

When flat LED screens display black colors, they emit less blue light and consume less energy. A pixel displaying black generates less blue light than one showing white.
White light contains the full light spectrum, including blue light, while black contains none.

If you look back at early computers, they used simple black-and-white displays. Trying this today can noticeably reduce eye fatigue.

Changing Screen Colors to Warmer Tones

You can also use software to reduce blue light exposure.
For example, on Linux, there’s a built-in feature called Night Light, available in some distributions.
It allows you to automatically shift your screen’s color spectrum toward warmer tones.

This gives your display an orange or amber hue, which helps reduce blue light emission.

DISCLAIMER:

These methods are temporary workarounds and not always official solutions.

Ideally, we should minimize the need for workarounds. Fortunately, some brands are actively researching and developing new technologies to reduce blue light exposure.

It’s also recommended to visit your optician every one to two years and don’t hesitate to discuss screen-related eye health with them—they might offer personalized advice on blue light and screen use.

Eye care tip: Many eye care professionals recommend taking breaks every two hours to rest your eyes—commonly known as the 20-20-20 rule.

Technology: Trust or Doubt?

Should we trust new high-tech products? It’s natural to have doubts after learning more. But keep this in mind:

“Science without conscience is the ruin of the soul.”
MC Solaar – La Concubine de l’Hémoglobine

“Science needs our conscious engagement,”
“We shape the world we want to live in.“

Just like the invention of the light bulb, early technology is rarely perfect. Thomas Edison’s first bulbs were inefficient and unsafe. Today, LED bulbs are more advanced, safe, and energy-efficient.

Technology evolves quickly. While investing in new devices can be costly, you can often resell older equipment and buy second-hand newer models with improved features.

Don’t fear the pace of tech evolution—it’s often just part of a longer, natural improvement process.

Looking Ahead: Global Challenges

Global warming is often cited as the biggest challenge of our century (we still have over 80 years to go!).
Computers and information technology will play a vital role in addressing it.

In IT, we often say:

“Computing is not an end in itself, but a means to an end.”
“L’informatique n’est pas une fin, mais un moyen”