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I think the science around blue-light-blocking glasses is being seriously questioned (and in my own experience, detailed in my other comment, most of the models

by veidr 5y ago

I think the science around blue-light-blocking glasses is being seriously questioned (and in my own experience, detailed in my other comment, most of the models on the market don't have any discernible effect). But I believe the science does indicate that circadian rhythm regulation by the human body is strongly influenced by external light, and specifically blue light. This doesn't mean that "blue light blocker" glasses work, though. And most of them don't even actually block blue light, they just diminish it somewhat. I read the book Why We Sleep, by UC Berkeley professor and sleep researcher Matthew Walker, and that is one of the topics covered in the book. (In addition to sleep being fascinating topic generally that book has a number of practical suggestions for better sleep which have helped me, such as setting your bedroom temperature colder and using blackout curtains), so I recommend it if those things are of interest. [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316 https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501...

copperx 5y ago
Required additional reading: https://yngve.hoiseth.net/articles/why-we-sleep-institutional-failure/ https://yngve.hoiseth.net/articles/why-we-sleep-institutiona...
- veidr 5y ago
  Hmm that is indeed very interesting. I’ll have to read through it more thoroughly (and Prof. Walker’s subsequent errata/responses) to make a judgement about whether the errors cited rise the the “actually, fuck that book” level or not. Thanks for the pointer, though, I was not aware of such criticism.
  - pedalpete 5y ago
    The criticism of Dr Walker are often harsh. He made the subject accessible to the general public. He did make some poor connections, and drew conclusions that maybe aren't completely agreed upon across the sleep community, but the anger against him and people calling him a charlatan, I believe, is misguided. I've found when confronted with new evidence, or evidence of his errors, Dr. Walker has been very good about owning up to his mistakes.
    - veidr 5y ago
      Yeah, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because the very first time I heard from him (in an interview series in the Waking Up meditation coaching app), he talked about various mistakes and regrets about his book, or things he wished he’d done differently. Blue light didn’t come up then, but talking about the stark alarming tone he sets in the book, about what the detrimental effect of not sleeping well can be on your body. He said that he later realized how unhelpful this is for people who have real insomnia problems, and can’t sleep even though they do understand and take it seriously. So my first impression of him was of a guy that is willing to own up to his own mistakes (partly why i bought his book).
pedalpete 5y ago
I can't find the link now, but when asked about things he has changed his mind on since writing the book, Dr Walker says he highly over-stated the impact of blue light. Yes, circadian rhythm has an impact, and it is influenced by light, but that isn't the only influence. Dr. Huberman says it is actually the amount of light you get early in the morning, which sets up your sleep cycle later in the day.

by veidr 5y ago

copperx 5y ago

Required additional reading: https://yngve.hoiseth.net/articles/why-we-sleep-institutional-failure/ https://yngve.hoiseth.net/articles/why-we-sleep-institutiona...

veidr 5y ago
Hmm that is indeed very interesting. I’ll have to read through it more thoroughly (and Prof. Walker’s subsequent errata/responses) to make a judgement about whether the errors cited rise the the “actually, fuck that book” level or not. Thanks for the pointer, though, I was not aware of such criticism.
- pedalpete 5y ago
  The criticism of Dr Walker are often harsh. He made the subject accessible to the general public. He did make some poor connections, and drew conclusions that maybe aren't completely agreed upon across the sleep community, but the anger against him and people calling him a charlatan, I believe, is misguided. I've found when confronted with new evidence, or evidence of his errors, Dr. Walker has been very good about owning up to his mistakes.
  - veidr 5y ago
    Yeah, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because the very first time I heard from him (in an interview series in the Waking Up meditation coaching app), he talked about various mistakes and regrets about his book, or things he wished he’d done differently. Blue light didn’t come up then, but talking about the stark alarming tone he sets in the book, about what the detrimental effect of not sleeping well can be on your body. He said that he later realized how unhelpful this is for people who have real insomnia problems, and can’t sleep even though they do understand and take it seriously. So my first impression of him was of a guy that is willing to own up to his own mistakes (partly why i bought his book).

pedalpete 5y ago

I can't find the link now, but when asked about things he has changed his mind on since writing the book, Dr Walker says he highly over-stated the impact of blue light. Yes, circadian rhythm has an impact, and it is influenced by light, but that isn't the only influence. Dr. Huberman says it is actually the amount of light you get early in the morning, which sets up your sleep cycle later in the day.