Regarding the EyeBuyDirect sponsorship last week...
I want to clarify some facts about blue light and its effects on our eyes. Blue light is emitted by the sun and some screens, and it can alter our circadian rhythm if we are exposed to it at night. However, that is the only harm that blue light can cause. Contrary to what some (I'll get to how EyeBuyDirect plays into this part) companies claim, blue light does not cause macular degeneration, eye strain, or eye dryness. You would experience the same eye strain and eye dryness from reading a book for the same duration. Moreover, the “blue light filter” that EyeBuyDirect and others offer does not even filter blue light. It's snake oil. To filter blue light, you need a lens with a red/orange/yellow tint, which is the opposite of blue. As warm tinted lenses actually filter blue light, there is a benefit to wearing warm tinted lenses at night to avoid altering your circadian rhythm, but no benefit to the "blue light filter" that companies sell. We actually get more blue light from the sun than screens. If blue light has all these "potential harms", shouldn't we have experienced them in the past hundreds of thousands of years? There is no scientific evidence that blue light glasses prevent any “potential harms” of blue light, or that blue light is even harmful in the first place, except for displacing our circadian rhythm. CBC made an excellent video about this topic a few years ago: https://youtu.be/NkJY9bgLyBE .
EyeBuyDirect was clever to phrase it as “potential harms” in their advertisement, falling short of making a statement--but they know their audience. They know people will recall the false claims they heard about blue light and its alleged negative effects on the eyes. They know people will be afraid of these effects, and buy their product. The macular degeneration, eye fatigue, dryness, you can see why! For EyeBuyDirect, it's a win-win. They avoid legal trouble by using “potential” instead of making a direct claim, and they profit from the fears of consumers. If blue light was really harmful, why would they use such a vague word?
I urge LMG to cease all brand deals with EyeBuyDirect. They are using deceptive advertising to trick consumers into buying an unnecessary addon, based on claims with no evidence. Even if they are selling it based on speculation, I think LMG is better than promoting a sponsor based on speculation.
ThermicWaffle changed their profile photo
