Blog Layout

The Dangers of Blue Light Exposure and How to Turn Your iPhone Screen Red

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP • May 23, 2024

According to the Vision Council, 80% of American adults use digital devices more than two hours per day. Nearly 67% use two or more devices at the same time. Fifty-nine percent have symptoms of digital eye strain.



Since our eyes are not good at blocking blue light, nearly all visible blue light passes through the front of the eye (cornea and lens) and reaches the retina, the cells that convert light for the brain to process into images.


There is some "preliminary" growing research that constant exposure to blue light over time could damage retinal cells and cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration. 


WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT, AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Blue light is exactly what it sounds like — light that falls in the blue range of visible spectrum (the light that we can see). It has higher energy levels than most other visible light, similar to non-visible ultraviolet (UV) rays. 


SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE


SLEEP INTERFERENCE

Research has shown that blue light suppresses the production of melatonin (a hormone which regulates sleep) and messes with your circadian rhythm (your natural sleep cycle). 


DIGITAL EYE STRAIN

Digital eye strain is pain and fatigue caused by trying to focus on screens too much. 


LONG-TERM DAMAGE

Our eyes are actually fairly good at blocking high-energy UV light from penetrating too deeply into the eye. However, because our eyes try to perceive blue light, that blue light gets further into the eye. This has the potential to damage our eyes' inner structures over time, particularly the sensitive retina.


EYE DISEASE

Due to blue light reaching sensitive parts of the eye, there is concern that blue light can accumulate enough damage over time to cause retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 


Although the research appears to be somewhat inconclusive on the overall impact of blue light on eye health, I still suggest that one minimize their exposure to blue light and not wait for science to catch up with this pending issue


SOME IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN REDUCING BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE


How To Make iPhone Screen Red

Follow these steps to know how to change color on your iPhone.


For iPhone 8 and Older

Step 1: Find the "Color Filters" section by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations.


Step 2: Select "enable color filters" and then choose the filter "color tint" as your default setting. Scroll down and locate the sliders for intensity and hue. To get the most benefits out of a red phone screen, both should be set to the maximum setting.


Step 3: You may often need to toggle between your red filter and your normal screen. For instance, you could suddenly have to turn on your screen recorder for work. Save yourself the hassle of having to adjust your screen settings each time by creating a shortcut to your red iPhone setting.


Select Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Colour Filters. Once you're done, all you need to do is press the home button three times to switch between your default settings and your custom red screen.


For iPhone X and Newer

The accessibility features for newer iPhones (such as the iPhone 11 and 13) are further enhanced, making it easier for you to adjust the tint on your screen.


Step 1: Select Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size > Color Filters.


Step 2: Like with older iPhone models, you need to enable "Color Filters" and choose "Color Tint" for your screen. Next, scroll down and adjust the Intensity and Hue to bring out more of the red shades on your phone. Set both fields to the maximum capacity for a more pronounced redness.


Step 3: Create a shortcut by going to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Color Filters. This allows you to switch between your regular daytime screen and your custom red tint by just pressing the right side button three times.


After applying these changes, you may want to do a hard reset in order to restart iPhone. Even though your phone may be working properly, restarting it will give it time to refresh itself and avoid any slow responses.


Conclusion

There you have it - a simple solution to a bothersome health hazard. We cannot completely avoid the harmful effects of blue light, especially in our modern society. But, hopefully through further research and innovations, we can offset any damage caused by older technology.


I highly recommend installing Iris (https://iristech.co/) on your desktop to block blue light. I purchased the lifetime version.


You can find a qualified and certified functional medicine practitioner by going to: www.FunctionalMedicineDoctors.com


Reference


https://www.amymyersmd.com/article/dangers-blue-light

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288536/

https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/blue-light-there-risk-harm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8227611/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side


The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his functional medicine community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com for more information on our training in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University's Certification Program (CFMP) www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required


February 1, 2025
Originally posted on January 30,2023, this article has been updated on August 24, 2024 to reflect the latest research and statistics. Our editorial team has ensured you’re viewing the most current data on this topic. Need help or have a question? Email us.
By Advanced Back and Neck Care May 24, 2024
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. For years, dietary cholesterol was implicated in increasing blood cholesterol levels leading to the elevated risk of CVD. To date, extensive research did not show evidence to support a role of dietary cholesterol in the development of CVD. As a result, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans removed the recommendations of restricting dietary cholesterol to 300 mg/day. This review summarizes the current literature regarding dietary cholesterol intake ...
May 23, 2024
https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/2017.cfm ** Feel free to use this article on your website. and have it linked back to www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com ** Read my past articles: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/department88.cfm ATTENTION DOCTORS AND ALL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS  Tell your friends and colleagues about Clinical Rounds . This is a great introduction to the field of functional medicine. Here is the webpage to subscribe: http://www.clinicalrounds.com Take care, Ron P.S. Please visit our facebook page and " Like It " Of course if you really like it. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Medicine-University/161486170671332
May 23, 2024
https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/2012.cfm ** Feel free to use this article on your website. Compliments from Functional Medicine University. ** Read my past articles: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/department88.cfm View Rick Bramos Fitness YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x4I27Z0DfYkfcroXxAhcA/videos Here is Rick's New Video of the Week: https://youtu.be/Pk9FeTKlufU Rick is now offering phone consultations for those wanting to lose weight or simply to improve their fitness. Rick can be reached at 2days2fitness@gmail.com for more details. ATTENTION DOCTORS AND ALL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS Tell your friends and colleagues about Clinical Rounds . This is a great introduction to the field of functional medicine. Here is the webpage to subscribe: http://www.clinicalrounds.com Take care, R on P.S. Please visit our facebook page and " Like It " Of course if you really like it. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Medicine-University/161486170671332
May 23, 2024
https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/2006.cfm ** Feel free to use this article on your website. All I ask is to add at the bottom of the article: Compliments from Functional Medicine University and have it linked back to www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com ** Read my past articles: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/department88.cfm ===================== View Rick Bramos Fitness YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x4I27Z0DfYkfcroXxAhcA/videos Here is Rick's New Video of the Week: https://youtu.be/Pk9FeTKlufU Rick is now offering phone consultations for those wanting to lose weight or simply to improve their fitness. Rick can be reached at 2days2fitness@gmail.com for more details. ===================== ATTENTION DOCTORS AND ALL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS Tell your friends and colleagues about Clinical Rounds. This is a great introduction to the field of functional medicine. Here is the webpage to subscribe: http://www.clinicalrounds.com Take care, Ron P.S. Please visit our facebook page and "Like It" Of course if you really like it. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Medicine-University/161486170671332
By Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP May 23, 2024
https://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/2000.cfm ** Feel free to use this article on your website. Compliments from Functional Medicine University. ** Read my past articles: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/department88.cfm ===================== View Rick Bramos Fitness YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x4I27Z0DfYkfcroXxAhcA/videos Here is Rick's New Video of the Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W__EwtXJkyY Rick is now offering phone consultations for those wanting to lose weight or simply to improve their fitness. Rick can be reached at 2days2fitness@gmail.com for more details. ===================== ATTENTION DOCTORS AND ALL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS Tell your friends and colleagues about Clinical Rounds. This is a great introduction to the field of functional medicine. Here is the webpage to subscribe: http://www.clinicalrounds.com Take care, Ron P.S. Please visit our facebook page and "Like It" Of course if you really like it. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Medicine-University/161486170671332
May 23, 2024
At the very least, you'll want to keep this to a minimum. Inflammation is often visible—think red skin or a swollen knee. However, inflammation can also occur on the inside, and it's not always so easy to detect. "Inflammation is a physiological process involved in the defense of our body and the repair of tissues," says Jenna Stangland, RD , a Momentous advisor. Stangland explains that inflammation can be triggered by infections, trauma, toxins or allergic reactions. Sometimes, it becomes chronic in the muscles and tissues. Unfortunately, Stangland says chronic inflammation carries risks. "Chronic inflammation can end up stimulating the development of cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disease, neurological disease or cancer," Stangland says. "This type of inflammation can last several months as a result of inability to combat and reduce it." Diet isn't a cure-all for chronic inflammation or the diseases it can trigger. However, it's an important tool. "Diet plays a significant role in inflammation, as certain foods can either promote or reduce inflammation in the body," says Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN , a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com . One food in particular is worth avoiding. RDs shared the food to limit if you have chronic inflammation. Related: The One Diet That Will Actually Lower Your Heart Attack Risk, According to Cardiologists
By Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., DACBN, MS, CFMP May 23, 2024
What does the medical peer reviewed literature say may be at the root of the following diseases: Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance/Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Cancer Obesity Depression Autoimmune Disease Neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease) Osteoporosis Immunosenescence (the progressive decline in immune function with increasing age) The Answer is: INFLAMMATION
By No Author May 23, 2024
18 or 80 most anyone can do these. Remember create a habit first. Perform these exercises just twice a week.
More Posts
Share by: