Could using your phone at night cause blindness?

Gazing at your smartphone in the dark may result in transient blindness, according to a recent study. This comes as a warning to people who sleep beside their smartphones.

The researchers have found two women transient smartphone blindness, a condition where they went blind in one eye after gazing at smartphones in the dark. The condition usually strikes between the ages of 50 and 70 - but scientists say an increasing number of young people are suffering from it and smartphones could be to blame.

Experts say starring at devices, such as phones and tablet computers, can put unnecessary strain on a person's eyes. Phone and tablet screens display light in a predominantly blue hue, and it’s now thought that the blue light emitted by these screens actually tricks our brain into waking up, when it really needs to fall asleep.

New research has found that night time exposure to the blue light that is emitted from our screens could hurt our eyes on a retinal level. High energy blue light waves easily penetrate the macular pigment found in the eye, which is responsible for clear vision. In practical terms this means your ability to do things like read or drive could be affected.

To delay the deterioration of our eyesight, we should refrain from using bright screens in the dark where possible. Leave laptops and tablets aside when it's time for bed, and turn off your phone for the night. Eat more fruits and vegetables, specifically ones that have been found to be beneficial to eye health such as blueberries, cranberries, or strawberries, or take supplements designed to help maintain eye health.