Blue Light: What It Is and How It Affects Sleep

The screens of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, and televisions can emit blue light that disrupts our natural sleep cycles. Research shows that a majority of Americans use electronic devices within an hour of going to bed, which can lead to unsatisfactory sleep. Decreasing exposure to light in the evening, and blue light in particular, is an important way to help your body naturally prepare for sleep and get quality rest.

What Is Blue Light?

Light is composed of electromagnetic radiation, which is an invisible form of energy. Our eyes interpret colors of light based on the amount of energy they contain. White light, including some light emitted by the sun, is the combination of all the colors of the visible light spectrum.

Blue light is a portion of the visible light spectrum that can influence alertness, hormone production, and sleep cycles. This wavelength of light is emitted by LED and fluorescent lights, as well as many electronic devices.

How Does Blue Light Affect Circadian Rhythms?

Circadian rhythms are finely tuned, 24-hour cycles that signal our bodies to carry out essential functions Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , including sleep. Light is the most important factor in aligning circadian rhythms Trusted Source Harvard University Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. View Source and, for much of human history, these rhythms were closely aligned with sunrise and sunset Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

With the advent of artificial light and electronics, people are being exposed to increased amounts of light before bedtime. While all types of visible light can affect circadian rhythms, blue light has the largest impact Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

We get most of our exposure to blue light from the sun. Blue light stimulates parts of the brain that make us feel alert Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , elevating our body temperature and heart rate. During the day, blue light can improve performance and attention, tuning our circadian rhythms and setting us up for a better night’s sleep after the sun sets.

Strategically timed exposure to blue light can help treat several sleep disorders. Circadian rhythm disorders occur when a person’s circadian rhythms are not in alignment with their environment. Light therapy, and blue light in particular Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , can help realign the body’s circadian rhythms and improve sleep.

Inversely, exposure to blue light in the hours leading up to bedtime can hinder sleep. Blue light suppresses the body’s release of melatonin Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , a hormone that makes us feel drowsy. While this promotes wakefulness during the day, it becomes unhelpful at night when we are trying to sleep. Being exposed to blue light in the evening can trick our brain into thinking it is still daytime, disrupting circadian rhythms and leaving us feeling alert instead of tired.

Chronic misalignment of circadian rhythms can also lead to many negative health impacts Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , including metabolic disorders and mental health conditions such as depression. Being mindful of the sources of blue light and daily exposure levels can help reduce the risk of these negative health outcomes. 

What Devices Emit Blue Light?

Many people work under artificial lights and constantly interact with the screens of electronic devices. Being aware of these common sources of artificial blue light can help you strategically time exposure and avoid circadian rhythm disruptions. 

Common sources of blue light include:

• Fluorescent lights
• LED lights
• Smartphones
• Televisions
• Computer screens
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Video game consoles

The good news is that the risks of nighttime blue light exposure can be reduced through relatively simple methods.

Mitigating the Effects of Blue Light

The most effective way to reduce exposure to blue light in the evening is to simply turn off the sources. This means dimming or reducing LED and fluorescent lighting in your home and turning off electronic devices after it gets dark outside.

Specialty glasses may also be helpful in reducing exposure to blue light. While they may not work for everyone, blue light blocking or amber glasses can reduce the melatonin-suppressing effects of bright light Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

It may not always be feasible to turn off sources of blue light after dark, but there are a variety of ways to reduce blue light exposure that may be interfering with your sleep.

• Make it a routine: Set an alarm that reminds you to turn off electronics two to three hours before bedtime.
• Use a different lamp: If you enjoy reading in bed, try a lamp that emits red or orange light rather than blue. 
• Learn to dim: Dim the brightness of your electronic screens, or use the “night mode” feature found on some devices. 
• Try an app: If you need to use devices before bed, try out one of several smartphone and computer applications that can help reduce blue light emission.
• Improve your sleeping environment: If there are light sources in your bedroom that you are unable to dim or turn off, try using an eye mask to block them out once you are in bed.

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