DOES USING YOUR PHONE AT NIGHT PREVENT YOU FROM FALLING ASLEEP?

It’s often said that one shouldn’t spend too much time looking at a screen, and that it’s better to avoid staring at your smartphone or computer in the evening. Is there any truth to this? Are screens bad for your eyes? Let's take a look at this in more detail.

Smartphones prevent you from falling asleep: fact or urban legend?

We’ve heard everywhere that the using a screen is bad for your eyes, and that it can prevent you from falling asleep. This is why night mode was introduced, in order to combat this problem. Nougat considered adding the feature, but ultimately it didn’t see the light of day. The manufacturers therefore decided to implement this feature on their devices themselves, which is why it’s sometimes found under several different names such as ‘night mode’, ‘eye protection mode’ or ‘blue light filter’, with each manufacturer distinguishing itself from the other. However, they all have the same concept: the blue light filter.

Blue light: what is it?

To explain things more simply, you have to know that each color is associated with a wavelength. Our brain is then able to distinct the color according to the size of the wave. For example, between 510 to 541 it’ll understand that the color is green, whereas with a wavelength of 478 to 483, it’ll understand that the color is blue.

Let's get into the details. In our eyes (or more precisely in our retinas), we have photoreceptors which are extremely sensitive to blue-violet colored waves. If the light is generally unharmful to the eye, colors with a short wavelength are charged with more energy, which ultimately isn’t very good for it. 

It’s worth noting that the harmful effects of blue light are only a problem when the light is artificial; basically when you’re staring at a screen. Many professionals appeal the dangers of this blue light, especially to children who grow up constantly staring at screens, and other parts of the eye may also be affected, damaging the tissues. There’s no miracle solution as of yet, but many opticians offer anti-blue light glasses.  

Are blue light filters effective?

If the blue light is filtered, your eye will obviously be less prone to fatigue and your sleep will be less affected. That said, sleep depends on many contributing factors, so don’t draw conclusions too hastily. If your device offers this mode, don’t hesitate to use it, your eyes may benefit from it.