| July 27, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 228 |
DO YOU NEED BLUE LIGHT GLASSES?
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There’s quite a bit of screen time in many people’s lives, and some individuals opt to sport blue light glasses in efforts to protect their eyes and potential negative effects, such as headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision. However, research is ongoing, and not all professionals believe that blue light glasses are truly necessary. The American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend such glasses for eye strain, noting that the amount of blue light emitted from screens is not significant enough to cause damage and that the eye discomfort experienced after extensive time in front of a screen is not the result of blue light but of device misuse or overuse. Regardless, the global blue light glasses market was worth $2.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $5.1 billion by 2030. Dallas resident Rafa Aguilar said he wears his blue light glasses every day while he is working. “I wear contact lenses, and I noticed that my eyes would get dry after looking at screens for long periods at work,” he said. “That made me want to try blue light glasses. The dryness and headaches are gone. I started using them two years ago and feel really happy with my blue light glasses.” And while Aguilar acknowledged that not everyone is on the same page regarding blue light glasses, he said he believes that the positive impact they have had on him is valid. “I know there is some skepticism about how effective they are,” he said. “In my experience, they make my eyes feel more comfortable while I’m working.” Dallas-area resident and official NatNews fashion correspondent Megan England, who teaches high school advanced economics and government courses, said she dons her blue light glasses every single day in the classroom. “I basically treat them like indoor sunglasses while at school,” she said. England said she initially began wearing such eyewear while teaching during the pandemic, though not as a form of protection from COVID-19 itself. |
“This coincided with a technology refresh on my campus when they took our projectors and got us TVs with Chromebooks that mirror into them,” she said. “I was staring at the TV, Chromebook, and my monitor for eight solid hours a day and felt my eyes drying out.” For England, she said the use of blue light glasses on a regular basis has proven to be beneficial for her overall eye health. “I do think they have helped my dry eye,” she said. “I can literally feel my eyes drying and straining when I go a few days without them.” Southern California resident Tory Castillo doesn’t wear his blue light glasses during the workday, but he does put them to use every day at home after work. “[My friend] Missy said I needed them to protect my eyes, as I like to doomscroll in the dark,” he said. Though he might not have complete certainty to verify, Castillo said he has noticed some benefits from wearing blue light glasses. “My eyes don’t itch as much,” he said. “I’m not sure if that is tied to it or not, but I’m not wearing them right now as I’m sitting in a dark room on my phone, and my eyes are itchy.” Some research, including a National Institutes of Health study, support the notion that wearing blue light-blocking glasses improves overall sleep quality, as they block the melatonin-suppressing effects of blue light waves, which are emitted from many electronic devices. England said this is probably not the case for her, though she can’t be completely certain based on her use of the glasses. “Maybe if I wore them at home during the doomscrolling I would have a better answer,” she said. Like England, Aguilar also said he doesn’t think that wearing blue light glasses has made a noticeable difference in his sleep. “There are many factors that affect sleep, so I don’t think blue light glasses alone have a major impact,” he said. “This might change depending on the user, or they might see it as a placebo, too.” |
DID YOU KNOW?
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Cinnamon sticks are also called quills. |
SHARK TALES AND TAILS ARE HERE
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One of the most beloved seven-day spans of the year is officially upon us. Now in its 38th year, Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week began Sunday and runs through this Saturday, August 1. The highly anticipated weeklong programming includes documentaries, expert-led investigations, conservation specials, and more meant not only to entertain and educate but also to correct common misconceptions people have pertaining to sharks. Shark Week consistently draws more than 20 million viewers each year and generates more than $60 million in annual revenue through ads, product merchandise, and retail partnerships. Dallas-area resident Kirsten Towle said she usually records Shark Week and then watches the entire season so that she doesn’t need to worry about missing an episode amidst the busyness that life can often bring. For Towle, Shark Week is also a bit of a nostalgic experience. “My childhood TV consisted of Nat Geo and Animal Planet,” she said. “I found sharks to be fantastic with their prehistoric biology, behavior, and their effect on the environment in different ecosystems—not to mention, they are just cool creatures in general.” And though Shark Week is an annual occurrence, Towle appreciates that it always provides an opportunity for her to gain additional knowledge. “I enjoy learning about shark behavior and all of the mysteries still left unsolved,” she said. Like Towle, Dallas-area resident Carolyn Macduff Levanway gets excited every year when Shark Week comes around, noting that she typically watches at least an hour-long show each evening of the seven-day programming block. Macduff Levanway said her interest in sharks actually began as a fear of hers. “I’m a certified scuba diver and was always terrified that I’d see a shark on a dive,” she said. “But eventually, I saw sharks as just another species in the water. I got into Shark Week in the first place because I was channel hopping and stumbled on a Shark Week program. It was a cheesy shark show where a celebrity was in a cage surrounded by sharks, and I was invested.”
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Macduff Levanway said she also enjoys Shark Week because of the educational aspect involved. “I love learning about new species of sharks and new research about them and their behaviors,” she said. “Researchers are always on the hunt for the largest or oldest shark, and they’ll go all over the world to find them.” Macduff Levanway acknowledged that though she thinks that most of the Shark Week programs are “cheesy,” she has become less afraid of sharks the more she is exposed to them and the more she learns about them. “I love how excited people get during Shark Week,” she said. “Discovery Channel does an amazing job providing fun facts and actual encounters people have with sharks. Sharks are not dangerous if you respect them and their environment.” As further evidence of her love of this week, Towle was excited to participate in the Shark Week Showdown 10K Sunday in Little Elm, Texas. She managed to notch first place overall as well as a new personal best for that distance. Towle noted that she believes that Shark Week provides programming containing content and information that anyone can enjoy, even those not too interested in sharks. “Even if it’s not everyone’s preference, I believe the explanations based on research by marine biologists to deter misinformation about sharks is most important for everyone to hear,” she said. “With so much fanfare, it’s sometimes difficult to understand the differences between fact and fiction, and facts help protect the lives of both human and marine species.” WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  Thank you, Tacodeli, for bringing joy to the world |
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