Blue light filter is actually bad for you, new study shows

[GoodBytes]

Welp, you can put the blue light is bad for you in the same bucket as carrots are bad for you, lettuces are bad for you, and just about everything else that is silly.

 

A new study conducted by the University of Manchester, found that blue light filter doesn't help you sleep at night, doesn't play with your internal clock, nor is blue light (unsurprisingly) is bad for you. The study has found that actually, we respond more to red/yellow light.

 

In the university website which talks about the research, it says:

Quote

Current technologies designed to limit our evening exposure to blue light, for example by changing the screen colour on mobile devices, may therefore send us mixed messages, they argue.

This is because the small changes in brightness they produce are accompanied by colours that more resemble day.

 

The research, which was carried out on mice, used specially designed lighting that allowed the team to adjust colour without changing brightness. That showed blue colours produced weaker effects on the mouse body clock than equally bright yellow colours.

 

The findings, say the team, have important implications for the design of lighting and visual displays intended to ensure healthy patterns of sleep and alertness. The study is published in Current Biology and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The body clock uses a specialised light sensitive protein in the eye to measure brightness, called melanopsin, which is better at detecting shorter wavelength photons. This is why, say the team, researchers originally suggested blue light might have a stronger effect.

 

However, our perception of colour comes from the retinal cone cells and the new research shows that the blue colour signals they supply reduce the impact on light on the clock.

 

The study suggest that instead to use brighter light during the day, and dimmer light in the evening to help you sleep.

Quote

We show the common view that blue light has the strongest effect on the clock is misguided; in fact, the blue colours that are associated with twilight have a weaker effect than white or yellow light of equivalent brightness.

 

"There is lots of interest in altering the impact of light on the clock by adjusting the brightness signals detected by melanopsin but current approaches usually do this by changing the ratio of short and long wavelength light; this provides a small difference in brightness at the expense of perceptible changes in colour."

 

He added: “We argue that this is not the best approach, since the changes in colour may oppose any benefits obtained from reducing the brightness signals detected by melanopsin.

“Our findings suggest that using dim, cooler, lights in the evening and bright warmer lights in the day may be more beneficial."

 

Source: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/researchers-discover-when-its-good-to-get-the-blues/

 

So turn off Blue Light filter in Windows, uninstall Flux, turn is off on your phone, as clearly all this is useless.

 

However, based on this study, I have already made a new pair of special glasses that will remove all bad and evil colors from hurting your eyes and help you sleep!

Made from rare (compared to rocks) material found in a special remote area in Asia that was specifically tuned and sewed together for maximum effect and comfort:

 

Spoiler

Legend says that this magical material is called polyester.

Only 4 payment of $29.99, BUT WAIT! Order in the next 15min and I'll remove a payment! So only 3x payment of $29.99!

 

But HANG ON! We will also include Hide-A-Poo! Your dog poop outside? Don't pick it up! Hide it with Hide-A-Poo!

 

Studies have shown that picking up dig poop can result in back pain, knee pain, possibility of other injuries, and the activity of bending down itself might cause you to have a heart attack. Hide-A-Poo solves all that! Just pay separate shipping and handling. CALL NOW!!!

 

 

 

[Bombastinator]

“Studies” have problems though I’m more likely to trust one out of the EU than the US.  Any claim of health benefit from a study needs to be looked at very closely.  Who funded the study is a big one.  What were the actual findings of the study?  How was the study done and why?  The devil tends to be in the details with these and the details tend to get glossed over.  There’s too much money and therefore too much marketing involved.

[Poofu]

The point still stands that it is easier on your eyes than sharper color pallets with blue by making things more mono-chromatic reducing the strain on your eyes. 

Mice are also nocturnal creatures primarily which means evolutionary they would have the opposite reaction from humans.

[williamcll]

Just rotate 360, turn off the monitor and walk away. 

[TempestCatto]

Idk. Personally, ever since I started using blue light filtering glasses, my eyes feel much less fatigue and I do have better sleep patterns (hardcore insomnia, not much I can do), I have less headaches, and don't get dizzy as much. I feel like if I've been experiencing better overall health and wellness (minus my diet), this study may either be bullshit, or at the very least is not accounting for people with sensory integration disorder.

[WereCatf]

18 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Welp, you can put the blue light is bad for you in the same bucket as carrots are bad for you, lettuces are bad for you, and just about everything else that is silly.

I've learned already a long time ago that most studies that claim some common thing is bad for you or some other common thing is good for you are bunk and only exist to create trends that can be monetized. If a study survives, say, 20 years without having been debunked then sure, it's probably fine, but most of these "studies" get debunked in just a few years.

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, TempestCatto said:

Idk. Personally, ever since I started using blue light filtering glasses, my eyes feel much less fatigue and I do have better sleep patterns (hardcore insomnia, not much I can do), I have less headaches, and don't get dizzy as much. I feel like if I've been experiencing better overall health and wellness (minus my diet), this study may either be bullshit, or at the very least is not accounting for people with sensory integration disorder.

Could just as well be placebo. My mum swears every single "natural supplement" or special creme she uses does the same thing, even though there are no studies to prove any such stuff actually does anything and many of those products she has sworn are totally awesome and help her and I should also gobble up on them have turned out to be not much more than a bit of sugar and flour and then quietly withdrawn from the market.

[TempestCatto]

Just now, WereCatf said:

I've learned already a long time ago that most studies that claim some common thing is bad for you or some other common thing is good for you are bunk and only exist to create trends that can be monetized. If a study survives, say, 20 years without having been debunked then sure, it's probably fine, but most of these "studies" get debunked in just a few years.

Reminds me of eggs. Before I was even born there was a study done that showed eggs were really good for you, so eat the whole thing. Then a decade or two later, another study said only egg whites are healthy and to not eat the yolk. A few years ago came full 360. Now studies show the whole egg, once again, is healthy. I've been eating eggs my entire life. Hell, I ate 3 hard-boiled eggs per day, everyday, back when I lifted. If they were bad for us, I probably wouldn't be here right now.

[Founders]

The image is pretty cool though:

 

[TempestCatto]

Just now, WereCatf said:

Could just as well be placebo. My mum swears every single "natural supplement" or special creme she uses does the same thing, even though there are no studies to prove any such stuff actually does anything and many of those products she has sworn are totally awesome and help her and I should also gobble up on them have turned out to be not much more than a bit of sugar and flour and then quietly withdrawn from the market.

Beings that I actually do feel better when I use them vs when I don't (I don't like wearing them all the time) I don't think it's placebo, least not in my case. I have sensory integration disorder. You'll catch me wearing sunglasses even indoors, wearing earplugs at most events, and not wearing clothing with designs on them. For people like me, they do work.

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, TempestCatto said:

Hell, I ate 3 hard-boiled eggs per day, everyday, back when I lifted. If they were bad for us, I probably wouldn't be here right now.

Well, hard-boiled eggs are so tasty that even if they were a wee bit bad for you, I'd still eat them

[GoodBytes]

3 minutes ago, Poofu said:

The point still stands that it is easier on your eyes than sharper color pallets with blue by making things more mono-chromatic reducing the strain on your eyes. 

Mice are also nocturnal creatures primarily which means evolutionary they would have the opposite reaction from humans.

I think the point, the best, is to reduce the intensity of the display. The reality of things, is that most desktop/laptop displays and phones minimum brightness is actually still too bright. Dimmer the display, less it affects your eyes and sleep schedule. Make your room super bright, and do something to preoccupy yourself, and I am sure that you won't notice it is 4AM and still have energy. That has worked when I was at school.

 

Just now, TempestCatto said:

Idk. Personally, ever since I started using blue light filtering glasses, my eyes feel much less fatigue and I do have better sleep patterns (hardcore insomnia, not much I can do), I have less headaches, and don't get dizzy as much. I feel like if I've been experiencing better overall health and wellness (minus my diet), this study may either be bullshit, or at the very least is not accounting for people with sensory integration disorder.

I think that is the result of something else. Of course, I am no specialized by any means, nor know your case in particular, but removing blue light, makes your display dimmer as you have 1/3 of the sub-pixel being put to black (or near that). So the display might be too bright, or your are, like me, and many others, PWM sensitive. Your display may be using PWM circuit instead of actual dimmer circuit to remove the back light intensity. This creates flicker, and while you don't see the flicker, you may feel it, and that can cause headaches for some, and/or not blink as much or at all, causing dry eyes and such. PWM in displays is often used as a cost cutting measure over dimming circuit. And so, you need to look for displays that doesn't use PWM circuit, and you can only really know by looking at in depth monitor review

[givingtnt]

  C O N F U S E D   E Y E   S T R A I N 

[WereCatf]

Just now, TempestCatto said:

Beings that I actually do feel better when I use them vs when I don't (I don't like wearing them all the time) I don't think it's placebo, least not in my case. I have sensory integration disorder. You'll catch me wearing sunglasses even indoors, wearing earplugs at most events, and not wearing clothing with designs on them. For people like me, they do work.

I have quite a bit of sensory issues myself due to my Assburger's, so I believe I have an inkling of what you're talking about. If you say it's not a placebo, then it most likely isn't. That said, it most likely is placebo for most people.

[mr moose]

8 minutes ago, TempestCatto said:

Beings that I actually do feel better when I use them vs when I don't (I don't like wearing them all the time) I don't think it's placebo, least not in my case. I have sensory integration disorder. You'll catch me wearing sunglasses even indoors, wearing earplugs at most events, and not wearing clothing with designs on them. For people like me, they do work.

I hear you,  I also wear sunglasses most of the time.   However I am the reverse, the blue light or different frequencies/temperatures  of light make no difference.

[Arika]

i think people are misinterpreting the results of this study, it's not saying that blue light doesn't cause eye strain, it's saying that the whole "blue light before bed makes you more awake/messes with your body clock" is false.

[Bombastinator]

The egg thing is a classic one:

who funded the study?  For example, Was it the egg council? (It’s actually a real thing.  Lobby group for chicken farmers. Lots of money)

What did the study actually test? Was it long term health effects on people? Or some sort of thing they’re deriving “possible” health benefits or problems from based on the existence of one chemical? How derived?
Where was the study published? 
 

Science works, but it is manipulatable.  Especially after the game of telephone begins where an article references a study and another article references that article.

[williamcll]

40 minutes ago, Caroline said:

If you rotated 360° you'd still be in front of the monitor.

>2007+12

>still cannot moonwalk

Unbelievable tbh smh fam

[amdorintel]

Quote

Blue light filter is actually bad for you, new study shows

what a waste of money the study was, its been known for quite some time!

[vanished]

Interesting.  I think it will take some time for this to fully play out.  After all, the original idea that blue light should be reduced at night* wasn't just made up, that too was based in studies, so who's right?

 

Whether or not to get rid of it may not be as simple as what it does to your sleep cycle though.  Daylight and bright lights that are often used during the day tend to have (relatively) cooler, more neutral colour temperatures (~6000K range) compared with dimmer indoor lighting like lamps that you might use at night (~3000K and under), and therefore a warmer colour temperature on your devices will look more natural and fit in better when used in such an environment.

 

I guess the best solution is also the oldest and simplest - dim the lights and get off your devices entirely.  Surely nothing can go wrong with that...

 

* Not to be confused with claims that blue light is bad for your eyes which is completely unsubstantiated and debunked, despite how often people will try to sell it to you.

[GoodBytes]

10 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

Interesting.  I think it will take some time for this to fully play out.  After all, the original idea that blue light should be reduced at night* wasn't just made up, that too was based in studies, so who's right?

 

Whether or not to get rid of it may not be as simple as what it does to your sleep cycle though.  Daylight and bright lights that are often used during the day tend to have (relatively) cooler, more neutral colour temperatures (~6000K range) compared with dimmer indoor lighting like lamps that you might use at night (~3000K and under), and therefore a warmer colour temperature on your devices will look more natural and fit in better when used in such an environment.

 

I guess the best solution is also the oldest and simplest - dim the lights and get off your devices entirely.  Surely nothing can go wrong with that...

 

* Not to be confused with claims that blue light is bad for your eyes which is completely unsubstantiated and debunked, despite how often people will try to sell it to you.

At the very least, we need to wait for peered review studies of either, and a double blind test with humans. So far, that was done to my knowledge.

[vanished]

Just now, GoodBytes said:

[...] and a double blind test with humans.[...]

This is a very important thing to remember that's often overlooked.  There is an enormous number of studies that have found certain effects or cures for things in mice that didn't end up translating to people.  Make no mistake, while there are many similarities between mice and people, they're used because they're cheap, have quick lifecycles, and for some reason are not subject to the same ethical rules covering many other animals, not because they're a perfect analog.  Plenty of things turn out to not make that leap.

[Letgomyleghoe]

1 hour ago, GoodBytes said:

Welp, you can put the blue light is bad for you in the same bucket as carrots are bad for you, lettuces are bad for you, and just about everything else that is silly.

 

A new study conducted by the University of Manchester, found that blue light filter doesn't help you sleep at night, doesn't play with your internal clock, nor is blue light (unsurprisingly) is bad for you. The study has found that actually, we respond more to red/yellow light.

 

In the university website which talks about the research, it says:

 

The study suggest that instead to use brighter light during the day, and dimmer light in the evening to help you sleep.

 

Source: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/researchers-discover-when-its-good-to-get-the-blues/

 

So turn off Blue Light filter in Windows, uninstall Flux, turn is off on your phone, as clearly all this is useless.

 

However, based on this study, I have already made a new pair of special glasses that will remove all bad and evil colors from hurting your eyes and help you sleep!

Made from rare (compared to rocks) material found in a special remote area in Asia that was specifically tuned and sewed together for maximum effect and comfort:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Legend says that this magical material is called polyester.

Only 4 payment of $29.99, BUT WAIT! Order in the next 15min and I'll remove a payment! So only 3x payment of $29.99!

 

But HANG ON! We will also include Hide-A-Poo! Your dog poop outside? Don't pick it up! Hide it with Hide-A-Poo!

 

Studies have shown that picking up dig poop can result in back pain, knee pain, possibility of other injuries, and the activity of bending down itself might cause you to have a heart attack. Hide-A-Poo solves all that! Just pay separate shipping and handling. CALL NOW!!!

 

 

 

arent mice nocturnal??

[Bombastinator]

6 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

This is a very important thing to remember that's often overlooked.  There is an enormous number of studies that have found certain effects or cures for things in mice that didn't end up translating to people.  Make no mistake, while there are many similarities between mice and people, they're used because they're cheap, have quick lifecycles, and for some reason are not subject to the same ethical rules covering many other animals, not because they're a perfect analog.  Plenty of things turn out to not make that leap.

True.  If you happen to be a mouse medicine is amazing.  They can cure broken spines and all sorts of stuff.

[BuckGup]

Remember they made people take salt tablets and denied them water when working out as it was shown to be good for them? Or what about the food pyramid? Oh yeah and fat is terrible dump sugar in it instead. Lol life gives you cancer, just enjoy it