Artwork by Rosemary Standley
Protect yourself from blue light Too much screen time causes eye strain, migraines
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BY CARYS WILLIAMS ue to the pandemic many people have been online and looking at screens more. Over exposure to blue light has led to an increase in migraines in some people. People have been trying different methods to combat this issue. Blue light decreases melatonin, a hormone helpful for regulating sleep. Blue
30 BLUEPRINTS SPRING 2021
light is one of the reasons why doctors are telling people to turn off screens for an hour before bed. Disruption in sleep can make people more susceptible to migraines. One method that people have tried to combat the loss of melatonin is wearing blue light glasses. These work by filtering out blue light from displays. A reputable study done in 2017 showed
a 58% increase in melatonin levels in people wearing blue light glasses, according to Dr. Brain Tracy of Pickerington Eye Care. While there are no large scale studies on the true effects of blue light glasses there have been documented differences and people that it has helped. “While there is not scientific proof, I do have many patients who notice a large improvement in eye strain when wearing their blue light filtering glasses,” he said. “Some people are more sensitive to blue light than others. So some may benefit, while others may not.” Prescription lenses tend to do a better job filtering out blue light than over-thecounter brands, according to Tracy. Medication is another way to avoid and treat migraines when they do occur. According to Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit medical center focused on research and education, there are medications that can be prescribed to shorten, lighten and prevent migraines. These medications include anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants and blood pressure lowering medication. Medications are used mainly for chronic migraine meaning four or more months. People who suffer from migraines can take preventive measures at home to decrease migraines without medication. Staying hydrated, keeping a regular eating and sleeping routine, and exercising regularly are all ways to decrease migraines. Keeping a diary with information on when the headaches occur and its severity can help when patients talk to a doctor about the issue. A record gives them the most information and a timeline and can help figure out what is causing the migraine Sometimes even preventive measures fail, and when that happens there are ways to ease the suffering. Go to a darkened and quiet room and place a cool wet towel or wrapped ice pack on the forehead or the back of the neck, which helps reduce the amount of pain that the migraine gives. It is also helpful to eat or drink something with caffeine in small amounts, which will help pain medicine such as Tylenol be more effective or just help the migraine on its own according to Mayo Clinic. Another suggestion from the Mayo Clinic is to avoid eating heavy meals before going to bed.
