Medlin Law Firm June 2018

THE HAZARDS OF BLUE LIGHT

How to Protect Your Eyes and Minimize Exposure

The high energy output of blue light and our eyes’ inability to protect the retinas from it appears to cause damage similar to macular degeneration, an eye disease mostly affecting people over 65 that can lead to blindness. These similarities to macular degeneration have scientists worried that our increased exposure to blue light could lead to more cases of it. HOWCAN YOU MINIMIZE EXPOSURE? Many computers and electronic devices have a “night shift” option built into them. Enabling this feature will dim the screen and lower the amount of blue light that your device emits. There are also removable filters you can put on your computer screen. Brands like RetinaShield/Tech Armor and Eyesafe are designed to limit the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to. To avoid eye strain, talk to your eye doctor about blue light glasses. These tinted glasses, which come in prescription and nonprescription versions, reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. Remember, blue light itself is just a natural form of light and isn’t inherently bad. During the day, it can even be beneficial to get some natural blue light from sunshine —while wearing sunglasses, of course. But it’s also a good idea to take precautions to protect your eyes from artificial blue light, especially if your work environment and hobbies expose you to it frequently.

You may have been warned about blue light and its impending threat to your eyes. It comes from your computer screen, your phone, and even from the sun. Why is this form of light harmful, and how can you keep your eyes safe? IS BLUE LIGHTA NEWTHING? Blue light occurs in nature and is nothing new. However, because many electronics emit blue light, it’s more of an issue now than it was just 10 years ago. Backlit LED screens emit strong blue light waves, so our use of devices like cellphones, tablets, and flat-screen TVs means we are exposed to more blue light than ever before. WHYARE EYE DOCTORSWORRIED? Blue light isn’t inherently bad — it’s found in sunlight and lightbulbs — but our increased exposure to it might be. Our eyes are pretty good at blocking UV rays but not so good at blocking blue light. Blue light has a higher energy output than other forms of light, so instead of being filtered by the corneas and lenses, almost all of it reaches the more sensitive retinas. Filing a motion is a fixture of courtroom dramas. On TV, it usually goes something like this: During a particularly heated exchange, one lawyer will ask the judge for a motion to strike evidence from the record. While this common scene is a pretty accurate representation of one type of motion, it fails to depict the incredible variety of motions available to attorneys before, during, and after a case is heard in court. In essence, a motion is a procedure that allows a disputed issue to be resolved by the presiding judge. The motions that are filed prior to the beginning of a trial are called pretrial motions. The most well- known of these is a request for the dismissal of a case, called “motion to dismiss” for short. Other pretrial motions include arguing for a reduction of bail, change of trial venue, and the examination of police evidence. You can also file a motion to exclude evidence that might have been gained through improper means, like a forced or dubious confession. MOTIONS ARE A GREAT TOOL In The Hands of an Experienced Attorney

Once court is in session, attorneys can file trial motions for a wide variety of reasons. The defense may file a motion in limine, which attempts to keep inadmissible evidence from being presented in court before introduction. If a defense attorney feels that the evidence presented is inadmissible, that is when they would file a motion to strike it from the record. In rare instances, a motion may also be filed to allow the judge and jury to view a crime scene. Finally, once a case is concluded, both sides have the opportunity to file post-trial motions. If the defendant is found not guilty, the prosecution cannot file a motion to retry the case under any circumstance. The defense, on the other hand, can file a number of motions after a guilty verdict. An attorney can request that a verdict be overturned or that the case be retried or appealed to a higher court. Motions are tools in the toolbox that experienced attorneys, like those at The Medlin Law Firm, use to ensure that your trial is fair. Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation and find out howwe can help you.

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