Since September 8th, LMSD students have been sitting at home in front of their computers for class because of the virtual schedule. Although this approach to learning is what is best for the LMSD community amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students have found themselves sitting in front of a screen for elongated periods of time.

On normal days, Harriton students have four 60 minute classes, with 30-minute breaks in between them. While on special schedule days, students have four 60 minute classes with 15-minute breaks in between. For the entirety of each class period, students must pay attention on Zoom, or whichever video conference platform their teachers are using.

These extended hours in front of a computer may lead to symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, and inattentiveness. Solutions include trying to decrease screen time on phones, receiving more sleep, resting in between class periods, eating regular meals, and last but not least, using blue light glasses.

Blue light glasses limit exposure to blue light rays, emitted from the sun, computers, or phones, visible light rays within 380 to 500 nanometers on the light spectrum. Whereas the blue light from the sun does not always reach the retina of the eye, blue light from mobile devices always passes through the cornea and lens to reach the retina. This can cause eye strain.

Many students have started wearing blue light glasses and have experienced increased attentiveness, and their headaches have lessened. Senior Sarah Singer commented that she “[does] think that they help. I definitely get fewer headaches when wearing them.”

Fellow senior Gabi Korin agreed, saying, “they make it easier to look at the computer for so long.” Others, like Goldie Beck, are more skeptical and do not believe that they are effective, “I use them for homework, but I’m not sure how much my glasses are helping because my eyes feel the same.” Although she remarked, “they do make me feel smarter!”

While there is some controversy over whether or not blue light glasses work, many people have found them helpful, especially when using a computer for over six hours of the day.