Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm). It is produced in response to decreasing light levels in the evening, promoting feelings of sleepiness and preparing the body for rest. Light exposure, especially to blue light emitted by electronic devices, can interfere with melatonin production. Disruptions in natural melatonin levels can impact the body’s sleep-wake cycle, sleep quality and overall health.

Blue light is a type of light in the
visible light spectrum with shorter wavelengths and higher energy levels. The visible light spectrum is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and it includes light that is visible to the human eye. Blue light has wavelengths between approximately 400 to 550 nanometers which is most commonly emitted by electronic devices and artificial lighting. Blue light in the range of 400-450nm is associated with causing eye damage such as retina damage and macular degeneration. Additionally Blue light in the range of 450-550nm has been known to have a direct effect on the brain and its ability to produce melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone that is essential in regulating healthy sleep pattens and good quality sleep.

Exposure to blue light, especially from electronic devices like, smartphones, tablets, and computers during the evening and night-time, can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm). The reduction melatonin levels during the evening can confuse the circadian rhythm and trick the body into thinking its daytime which can result in a delayed onset of sleep making it more difficult to fall asleep and maintain a regular sleep schedule.

Prolonged exposure to high-intensity blue light emitted by electronic devices and artificial lighting may lead to retinal damage over time. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye. It plays a crucial role in vision by capturing light, converting it into signals for the brain to interpret to formulate images. The health and proper functioning of the retina are essential for maintaining clear vision.

Good quality sleep is fundamental for maintaining overall health and well-being. It supports a robust immune system and plays a crucial role in mood regulation, stress management, and emotional well-being. Sleep quality influences factors such as memory consolidation, sustained attention, and cognitive performance. It contributes to a healthy metabolic
function by influencing appetite, weight management, and blood sugar regulation. Sleep also has benefits for physical performance processes like muscle recovery, growth, and improved coordination. Sleep plays a vital role in hormonal balance, affecting the release of hormones that regulate growth, stress response, and hunger. Ultimately, prioritising good sleep is
associated with increased energy levels, an improved quality of life, and a greater overall sense of well-being. This highlights the importance of adopting healthy sleep habits for optimal physical and mental health.

Radiance Armour amber or orange lens glasses also known as night time glasses, are specially designed for protecting your eyes during screen use late in the evening and at night. For a healthy sleep-wake cycle, prolonged blue light exposure late in the evening should be withdrawn. However, it is not always that easy in this digital age. Wearing our night time glasses at the time of dark is not always practical as the time of sunset can drastically change for different parts of the world all year round. While adopting a healthy 7-9 hours of sleep per night, our amber lens glasses are most effective to be worn around 2 hours before sleep. This is because the body is naturally going to produce melatonin during this time period relative to the body's current sleep schedule, and blue light exposure at this time will prevent it leading to lower quality sleep.

Wearing our darker lenses throughout the entire day will cause noticeable disruptions to the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and production of melatonin. On the other hand, our more transparent lenses will not filter out all blue light when exposed to screens therefore promoting levels of wakefulness. If eliminating screen use for hours on end throughout the day is challenging and you feel the need to protect your eyes from blue light, our range of different colour lenses may suit you best.

The negatively evolving world of screens and technology is becoming more and more apparent to us all, children and teenagers are influenced just as much, if not more than we are to be spending extended periods of time with a screen in front of their eyes. The level of impact this has on their sleep quality and eye health is quite concerning. Initially this exposure to prolonged screen use shouldn’t be a problem at all. However, eliminating screens from our daily lives can be difficult especially in this digital age. That’s why at Radiance Armour we are dedicated to help provide solutions for this issue. Blue light blocking glasses are an essential for improving our sleep and eye health while being exposed to screens late at
night, for all ages.