Is this really true? Could anyone explain it? Maybe debunk it or just express your opinion on it?

So according to the business insider (Because I can't post a link ), smartphones don't just ruin our sleep (blue light and melatonin which triggers some kind of something in our eyes), it may also be destroying our eyes.

So the blue light is part of the full-light spectrum which means we are exposed to it everyday, and night thanks to out phones. It suppresses production of melatonin (hormone) and that throws off our sleep cues. When the levels of melatonin and our sleep cycle go haywire, our risk goes up for a wide range of ailments from depressions to cancer.

Here are some of the effects that can occur.

1. Retina damage.
Direct exposure to the blue light can cause damage to the retina, which may lead to macular degeneration which causes the loss of central vision or the ability to see what is in front of you. (I'm already worried about glaucoma... something else to worry about too now?) Thank goodness this effect is shown in studies with the phone very close to the eyes. Far to close for us normal folk.

2.A link between cataract and blue light.
All speculation here, more research needs to be done, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They way I see it, better to be safe than sorry. Apparently a doctor started noticing a 35 year old with eyes as cloudy as 75 year olds. No accounts to prove this yet, but we have all been warned.

3.It can ruin our sleep.
Our beauty sleep... so important and wonderful. So I mentioned how the suppressing/disruption of melatonin is not good for us because it's supposed to regulate our sleep cycle. It's fine during the day, but at night, our brains are supposed to start producing melatonin when we are ready to sleep. This all leads to health consequences like obesity and genetic disruption and memory problems.

4. Sleep disturbance and light at night have been linked to higher cancer risk.
Particularly for breast and prostate cancers. Again, no actual link, just that people whose natural melatonin production is suppressed are at higher risk for a variety of cancers.

5.Blue light may take a toll on mental health.
Not the psychotic kind mind you, the kind we all face at some point or another. Research shows (a bit ambiguous?) that people whose melatonin levels are suppressed and whose body clocks are thrown off by light exposure are more prone to depression.

That's all. I was getting a bit tired typing. So what do you guys think? Yes, no... oh  my gosh this is important. More importantly, does this affect our laptops too?

I can't really answer all of that, but I grew up learning that all electronics do something like this, phones, laptops, TV's, just simply because every device fives off some sort of small radiation.

first time i ever heard about that stuff about smartphones
but in this day and age, WHAT DOESN'T give people cancer? haha

Well, looking at any bright light is not a great idea for most people to do before bed. It stimulates you instead of sedates you.

As for all those other claims, to me it comes down to one important principle: Everything in moderation.

I totally agree with LK when it comes to keeping things in moderation.

Their connection, however, was melatonin suppression... and a lot of things suppress melatonin.
a) artificial lights
b) computer screens
c) white LED light
d) coffee

just to name a few. Anything you use to stay up when it gets dark outside probably suppresses melatonin.

Then, the suppression of melatonin was correlated with cancer. And their connection was very weak.

They could have easily made the article about:
1) computers screens causing cancer or
2) coffee drinking causing cancer or
3) using flashlights on your face at night causing cancer

Basically, they were looking for clicks. =P It's believable that phone usage could cause cancer, so we might be inclined to accept their premise before even reading the article, but their actual reasoning was very weak.

While I don't doubt the validity of the article, I do think it's jumping to conclusions. Really if you think about it, we get this kind of warning with every advancement in technology. Look back at the past few decades:

90's: cell phones cause cancer

Early 2000's: flat screen televisions cause cancer

Now: smart phone screens cause cancer

They even say now that soft drinks cause cancer, certain store bought meats cause cancer, even a bobber that my brother bought to fish with said it could cause cancer. xD

Now some things they suggested could cause cancer have now been proven --Tobacco for example. And who knows, these others may be right also. But what I figure is that we shouldn't live in fear of what everyday things may do to us (habits perhaps), lest we become afraid of living normal lives. And really, if flat screen televisions and monitors can cause cancer, we're out of luck as the internet/computers are becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives, and it'll just keep going that way. We can't avoid it by any means, so why worry? And look at Dr. Oz and his health studies reports: if we listen to him drinking water from the tap will kill us but so will drinking bottled water. Now if we follow that logic we should never drink any fluid again. lol A very small exaggeration there (very small) but it shows my point.

That's just my take on it. And I also agree with what EideticMemory said. Still, I'm not suggesting this article doesn't have valid points; it does. I'm just saying that I don't worry too much over it. It could be right, but it could just as easily be wrong. Who knows? Until we know for sure, let's just enjoy life how we always have, and worry about the dangers that we do know are real. Hope this made sense.

I've look up a few articles online that date back to last year and skimmed through them. Most of them mention blue light, but are actually referring to UV light from black lights and whatnot. Only a couple have mentioned how blue light penetrate deeper into the eye and how there are cases of macular degeneration as well as lower production of melatonin in our bodies. While I don't know if it's really harmful or not, I wouldn't start worrying too much about it just yet. Simply keep it in mind for now.


Alicia182u : Good topic. I think I read the same article as you, the one about the 35 year old eyes being like a 75 year old's.