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While working from home offers many benefits, it also has its downsides - among them being the risk of increased screen time. Between work phones, personal phones, laptops, work computers, and home TVs, it’s almost inevitable. Interpretation on Roy Morgan Research data has found that screen time has, beyond the advent of the Covid pandemic, changed in influence on our work environments, as users increasingly opt for WFH arrangements to their personal liking,
This extended screen time is one of the most common causes of eye strain. Symptoms, which include dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches, can reduce our productivity and overall well-being.
Red light therapy, while uncommonly associated with vision treatment, is now being explored for its potential to aid the treatment of various eye conditions, one being eye strain. Below, our team at ROJO Light Therapy AUS will delve into the mechanisms behind how red light therapy can help relieve eye strain for remote workers.
Shifting through text, images, and moving objects on the screens of your digital devices requires significant muscle effort from your eyes. Over prolonged periods and especially without adequate breaks, this constant exertion can lead to discomfort, dryness, and a sense of fatigue known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.
Other factors that can affect or worsen the condition include uncorrected vision problems, screen glare, and poor lighting. Even your posture while using the computer, or viewing a screen from the wrong angle or distance, can contribute to the problem.
Red light therapy exposes your body to low-level red and near-infrared light wavelengths that penetrate the outer layers of your skin and reach the cells in the tissues and muscles underneath. At this depth, the light stimulates biological processes that enhance the cellular functions of the body, most of which can help relieve eye strain. Here’s how:
When the mitochondria of the cell is exposed to red light, it increases the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy source of the cells. Higher ATP levels allow retinal cells to handle damaging oxidative stress and enhance their reparative function. Together, these two functions address the fatigue and its effects after prolonged screen time.
The blue light that digital devices emit promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce oxidative stress, which can damage retinal cells. Red light therapy helps mitigate this by increasing antioxidant activity, which decreases oxidative stress levels. This mechanism reduces the inflammation in and around the eyes, offering relief from soreness and irritation often associated with eye strain.
Studies have found red light therapy also enhances microcirculation, ensuring that every inch of your body gets the appropriate amount of oxygen and nutrients it needs. This includes your eye tissues.
Improved blood flow to the eyes supplies the oxygen needed for optimal eye health, supports faster recovery of retinal cells, and aids in the removal of cellular waste products. This means that red light therapy not only relieves eye discomfort but also helps create a healthier ocular condition over time.
Sleep is an important part of your body’s overall recovery process. However, exposure to blue light, especially before bed, can disrupt your circadian rhythm by blocking melatonin. This hormone is responsible for preparing your body for sleep - and red light therapy directly contradicts this by stimulating its production. Along with its relaxing qualities, the treatment helps to recalibrate the body’s internal clock and promotes better sleep and recovery.
Eye strain has become a part of daily life for many remote workers, however, it doesn’t have to be, especially with powerful solutions such as red light therapy. However, while this treatment provides cumulative benefits for your eyes in the long run, it’s best to combine it with healthy eye habits to enhance its benefits. Additionally, by setting up your workplace right to avoid awkward postures, screen glare, and bad screen angles, you can further preserve your eye health.
For those looking to start their red light therapy journey to enhance their eye health, we at ROJO Light Therapy can help. We offer top-of-the-line at-home red light therapy devices that offer the same results as those in clinics and wellness centres. Shop our products today or contact us for more questions or inquiries.
