How Do Blue Light Glasses Work, and Should You Invest in Them?

Let’s face it — blue light exposure is only increasing in today’s digital era, and if you’re wondering about its potential health effects, you’re not alone. From your phone to your computer screen or television, blue light is hard to avoid… but is it something you should be protecting yourself from?

Concern surrounding this type of light has already brought blue light glasses to the market. Today, we're diving into how these glasses work and whether they're really worth the investment. We'll also shed light (pun intended) on the possible effects of blue light on your overall eye health.

What Is Blue Light?

Pardon us while we get a little scientific. Blue light is part of the visible light on the spectrum. Around one-third of all visible light you see is blue light, and this type of light has the highest energy and the shortest wavelength.

The sun is the most significant source of blue light (no surprise here), but there are also plenty of sources of artificial blue light, including LED TVs, fluorescent lights, computer monitors, tablets, and smartphones.

How many of these have you looked at today? If you’re thinking a lot, we are too.

Dark Side of Blue Light

While blue light has plenty of benefits, there is also cause for concern. Overexposure to blue light may have long-term consequences. One of the main worries is that it can cause eye strain, which can contribute to other problems down the line.

Your eyes can't block out blue light — it passes through your cornea right into your retina. Because of this, overexposure to blue light can damage your retinal cells, contributing to vision problems like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and even cataracts.

If all of this sounds pretty concerning, it is — but don’t fret. Blue light glasses are a great solution to help keep your eyes protected from damaging blue light.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses are designed to reduce some of the blue light emitted from digital devices. Traditionally, this type of eyewear had a special coating to block out the blue light wavelengths. Some blue light glasses are clear, while others come with a yellow or amber tint, which enhances contrast and reduces the glare from screens. At Pair Eyewear, we use an in-mass additive to create our blue light-filtering lenses. That means your lenses stay perfectly clear.

Blue light glasses are available in various styles and designs, with options for both prescription and non-prescription for those who don't require corrective lenses.

While blue light glasses have grown in popularity, their effectiveness varies depending on many factors. For example, the quality of the lenses will affect the amount of blue light filtered. Each person also has various degrees of blue light sensitivity.

Another important note is that eye strain can be caused by many things not related to blue light. Reading a book in a dark environment, driving long distances, or being exposed to glare can all cause eye strain. If you’re dealing with eye fatigue, it’s a good idea to talk to your optometrist to narrow down the causes, as blue light glasses won't be able to mitigate all of these potential culprits.

Who Should Wear Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses can benefit people of all ages who spend a lot of time on digital devices. However, certain age groups may benefit even more from blue light glasses — children, for example, are more at risk of harmful effects because their eyes absorb more blue light.

As technology has become more and more integrated into education and entertainment, children are now spending a significant amount of time in front of screens. Research shows a substantial increase in nearsightedness in the population in the last 30 years, and it’s believed that the highest risk for developing nearsightedness is during childhood.

Eye doctors are also noticing computer vision syndrome in children, which results in eye strain, headaches, and discomfort. Parents may be able to help relieve some of the strain by providing children with blue light glasses.

Additionally, those who work in professions that require continuous use of digital devices, such as office workers, graphic designers, and editors, may also benefit from wearing blue light glasses. Eye strain from work can negatively impact productivity and comfort.

Research is ongoing regarding the overall efficacy of blue light glasses, but the truth is that any reduction in blue light exposure can be beneficial for all age groups.

What Are the Benefits of Blue Light Glasses?

More research is still necessary on the benefits and efficacy of blue light glasses. However, blue-light-blocking glasses may have a few key benefits to your health.

Prevents Eye Strain

As we mentioned, one of the biggest possible benefits of wearing blue light glasses is easing eye strain caused by blue light exposure. Blue light glasses help block or absorb blue light, which enables you to focus more efficiently and avoid eye strain and other side effects.

Supports Sleep Quality

If you notice you're tossing and turning all night, it may be due to overexposure to blue light. Looking at your phone and watching TV before bed can disrupt your sleep by preventing your body from properly producing melatonin. So yes, that nighttime doom-scroll on TikTok really might be doing more harm than good.

Blue light can also mess up your body's natural body clock. When you don't get enough sleep, it can contribute to a range of health problems, spanning from issues with cognitive function and energy to a weakened immune system. In other words, sleep is essential for your overall health, and your body’s natural clock is essential for proper sleep. Wearing blue light glasses if you’re using your phone or other devices before bed may help prevent interferences with your circadian rhythm.

Prevents Dry Eye

Dry eyes can cause serious discomfort. People can experience dry eye after only a few hours of using their computer or smartphone. Dry eyes may cause you to rub your eyes, resulting in soreness, and wearing blue light glasses may help prevent these issues.

​​What To Consider Before Investing

With all of this in mind, there are a couple of factors to consider before getting yourself a pair of blue light glasses.

Sensitivity

Blue light exposure doesn’t affect everyone in the same way, and not everyone experiences the same level of discomfort or adverse effects. If you are particularly sensitive to blue light and feel the strain on your eyes, experience headaches, or have difficulty sleeping, blue light glasses could be the perfect choice.

Professional Recommendations

Before buying blue light glasses, consider consulting your eye doctor, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can update you on your eye health and discuss any concerns regarding blue light exposure, as well as give you personalized recommendations based on your needs and lifestyle.

Cost

Blue light glasses are available at a range of prices. Many factors, such as the brand, lens quality, and other features, can affect the cost. That said, there are plenty of affordable options. At Pair Eyewear, our blue light-filtering lenses are a simple addition to any pair of glasses for only an extra $49. Alternatively, if blue light is your only concern, you can also purchase a pair of glasses with blue light lenses for a total of $60.

Where To Find Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses are rising in popularity, which means there are plenty of options that range in terms of price and appearance. From brick-and-mortar stores to online shops, many eyewear brands offer blue-light lens protection — but finding a high-quality option is essential if you want the most protection at a great price.

If you ask us, shopping online means you get to browse a wider selection of options, read customer reviews, and narrow down your search without ever having to leave your house (and that’s a win-win). At Pair Eyewear, we offer a wide selection of blue light glasses and lenses, no matter what your needs are — and you can even try on frames virtually, with an option for every face shape and personal style.

We offer a variety of premium-quality Top Frames made from extremely light material, These clip magnetically to your Base Frame, allowing you to play with different colors and styles. If you love to switch up your look, our Top Frames will be your new best friend.

With our range, you can find more than just your standard prescription glasses. We offer single-vision, reading glasses, progressive lenses, and non-prescription glasses. You can customize all of our glasses to include blue light filters, ultra-thin premium plus lenses, and responsive lenses.

Plus, all of our lenses come with UV protection and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare… because we thought of everything.

How Else Can You Deal With Eye Strain?

Blue light glasses are one option for dealing with eye strain. However, there are also some other steps you can take to give your eyes some relief.

Practice the 20-20-20 Rule

You may not be able to cut down on screen time, but you can practice the 20-20-20 rule. This rule means that every 20 minutes, you should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. By focusing on something further away, you can force your eyes to relax and reset. This rule also helps you blink again at your normal rate, as infrequent blinking is another common cause of dryness and eye fatigue.

Use Artificial Tears

If you're experiencing dry eyes, consult your eye doctor to see if using eye drops is a good idea to help keep your eyes lubricated and comfortable. However, try to make sure you're using preservative-free eye drops, and keep in mind that conventional artificial tears should only be used four times a day since eyes can be sensitive to the preservatives and additives.

It’s also important to note that eye drops and artificial tears are more of a “blanket” solution — they won’t address the underlying cause of your dryness (like blue light).

Arm’s Length Rule

A common issue is that people are sitting too close to their computers. Instead, make sure you're sitting at arm's length from your monitor. You want to be at least 25 inches away from your screen. You can increase the font size on your screen if you're struggling to read from this distance.

Proper Lighting

Glares and harsh lighting can also contribute to eye strain, so try moving your desk away from direct sunlight or use a curtain to block the sun. You can also use adjustable lighting to reduce glare and shadows.

Final Takeaway

From eye strain and fatigue to more serious conditions over time, too much exposure to blue light can negatively impact your eye health. Thankfully, blue light glasses can help you address your concerns and get back to going about your days comfortably.

If you’re in the market for a pair of blue light glasses, Pair Eyewear has you covered with a wide range of high-quality eyeglasses with blue light protection.

Sources:

How blue light affects your eyes, sleep, and health | UC Davis Health

How To Help Children Avoid Computer Vision Syndrome | All About Vision

Do Blue Light Glasses Work? | Cleveland Clinic

Blue light has a dark side | Harvard Health

Myopia: A close look at efforts to turn back a growing problem | NIH