Blue light glasses, as the name implies, are designed to protect you from some of the high-energy blue light emission of electronic gadgets such as phones, TVs, consoles, computers, and tablets. You know, the kind of devices we usually stare at all day.
Did you know that blue light is not only emitted by gadgets? Even an average indoor light bulb can produce harmful blue light. The greatest generator of blue light is the sun which sends out massive amounts of blue light that can be harmful if too much is absorbed by our eyes.
So, will blue light blocking glasses really keep you protected? We’ll find out.
SEE RELATED: Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Strain Explained
What Are Blue Light Blocking Glasses?
As one object produces light, several colors vibrate at different wavelengths. The blue-violet light is known as high energy visible (HEV) light. That is the characteristic that most nearly resembles the potentially damaging blue light produced by the sun.
Generally, artificial blue light is much weaker and subtler than the sun’s blue light. However, the digital age has brought the average people to now spend extensive hours indoors while staring in front of digital screens. This has caused the lower rate of exposure to progressively add up. It still lacks enough scientific evidence to prove whether electronic blue light can directly cause vision problems, but one thing is for sure that it may contribute.
Dr. Sheri Rowen, an ophthalmologist and part of the Eyesafe Vision Health Advisory Board says that the average time in front of devices and digital screens for adults has now pushed to about 11 hours per day. This puts the eye for risks of digital light eye strain.
Dr. Rowen adds that the blue light blocking glasses are built to reduce the occurrences of digital eye strain. This also aims to help prevent circadian rhythm cycle disruption which may affect sleep and overall well-being negatively.
Blue light glasses are supposed to protect the eyes from potential harms of blue light. However, only a percentage of this light can block off blue light. The glasses are designed with a special coating that reflects some of the blue light away from your eyes. How high that percentage of protection depends on which glasses you buy.
There are various types of blue light blocking glasses available in the market. Some blue light glasses are covered in yellow tint, while others have a transparent look. Usually, lenses with more yellowish tint are believed to filter more blue light than their clearer counterparts.
In choosing the best blue light glasses, it is best to consult with an eye care professional first to help ascertain your protection needs, Dr. Rowen suggests.
The Potential Benefits of Blue Light Glasses
There is a lot we are yet to discover about how digital screens and blue light can affect the health of our eyes. This should put us in great worry of spending 11 hours a day with our eyes fixed on digital screens as this may be detrimental to our health.
Blue light blocking glasses are claimed to be correlated with two potential benefits: reduced eye strain and better sleep.
According to Caroline Dubreuil, the product marketing manager at EyeBuyDirect, we tend to tell our brains to keep our bodies awake every time we use our digital devices, especially late at night. This is why it gets hard to sleep at night after scrolling on your smartphones before going to bed.
Research shows that using blue light filtering glasses at least three to four hours before bedtime can induce better and more restful sleep, Dubreuil adds.
SEE RELATED: 5 Ways to Protect and Improve Eyesight Without Glasses
Are Blue Light Glasses Needed?
Since it lacks sufficient scientific evidence, it could be better to think of blue light glasses as a trial-and-error kind of thing. If you are experiencing eye strain or have trouble falling asleep (often after excessive screen time), it would help to look into trying blue light glasses.
They may or may not alleviate some of your eye strain or help you fall asleep a little more easily. It totally varies for each person. Some people swear by them, while others do not notice much of its benefits.
If you are wondering where to get blue light glasses, you could try looking at online retailers like EyeBuyDirect and Zenni Optical. Prescription and nonprescription blue light blocking glasses are available for significantly less than most eyeglass stores, so the risk to your expenses could be put to a minimum if in case they do not work out.
Practicing Good Screen Time Habits
With or without blue light glasses, following eye-friendly habits for screen exposure is a guaranteed way to reduce your eye strain and the symptoms of computer vision syndrome.
Symptoms to be aware of for digital eye strain usually include dry eyes and blurry vision accompanied by headaches. Too much strain from focusing on screens may even trigger ocular migraines.
This makes it vital to follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes that you have been using a digital screen, focus on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds – very easy to remember.
Keep in mind that a little lifestyle adjustment can go a long way in keeping the eyes healthy. Practice the 20-20-20 rule regularly, take extended screen breaks, and use your phone’s dark mode to supplement any benefits you experience with anti-blue light glasses.
