Blue Light isn’t the bad guy—let’s treat the real problem

The Conversation You Know by Heart:

Patient (waving phone): “I heard this is frying my eyes. Do I need blue-blocker glasses?”
You (in your head): Here we go again…

3 Fast Truths to Share

1. Blue light from screens won’t melt retinas. Daylight delivers 10–20× more HEV light than any laptop.

2. Digital eye strain is behavior-driven. Reduced blink rate, lousy ergonomics, uncorrected Rx—that’s why eyes burn at 4 PM.

3. Circadian sleep matters. Blue wavelengths after dark can delay melatonin. That’s the one arena where tint or Night-Shift modes help.

The Exam-Room Pivot (in <60 seconds)

1. Validate first
   “Eye fatigue at the end of the day is brutal—I get it. Let’s chase the root cause, not just the trending solution.”

2. Offer a menu, not a miracle
   • For daytime strain → anti-fatigue or computer progressives, scheduled blinking, + ergonomic tweaks.
   • For bedtime scrolling → screen dimmers or low-blue filters only after habits fail.

3. Package it as a protocol, not a product
   Patients pay for clarity, not coatings. Present a short written plan (“Screen Survival Kit”) so they leave with strategy—not just specs.

Your 5-Point “Screen Survival Kit”

1. 20-20-Blink: Every 20 min, 20 ft away, 10 rapid blinks.

2. Monitor math: Top of screen = eyebrow height; arm’s-length distance.

3. Ambient > gadget glow: Match room lighting to screen brightness.

4. Task-specific lenses: Mild add power beats yellow tint for focus fatigue.

5. Tech curfew: Off screens 60–120 min before sleep; if not, enable Night-Shift.

Why This Pays Off

• Higher trust → Patients see you as a wellness strategist, not a lens salesperson.
• Stronger referrals → “My OD actually fixed my headaches.”
• Ethical revenue → Computer progressives, dry-eye care, ergonomic consults—all evidence-backed, all billable.

Bottom Line

Selling fear is easy. Solving the actual problem is why we became doctors. Keep the message short, the science straight, and the patient at the center.

Now go rescue Mrs. Davis from her $19.99 amber glasses—and ... from the Internet.

The OptometristPortal Team