Do Blue Light Glasses Work?

What Is Blue Light?

The largest source of blue light is sunlight, but to the human eye, it’s actually white light. Sunlight is made up of red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, and indigo light rays, but when combined, it becomes the white light we see.

There are other sources of blue light that don’t come from nature, including fluorescent light, LED light, and computer and phone screens.

So, what does blue light do to your eyes, and does blue light damage eyes?

The blue light exposure we receive from the sun is minimal, and actually good for our health. Natural blue light from the sun boosts alertness and helps regulate circadian rhythms (your sleep cycle).

The damaging effects of blue light come from the exposure we receive when staring at screens for too long and in close proximity. Too much blue light can cause digital eye strain, struggles with sleep, and damage to the cells of the retina, which leads to age-related macular degeneration.

What Do Blue Light Glasses Do?

Blue light filtration glasses (commonly known as blue light glasses) are glasses that have a special coating on the lenses to help block out blue light. The lens coating either absorbs or reflects the blue light to decrease your eye's exposure.

Typically, there are two types of blue light filtration glasses: yellow or red and orange. Red or orange-tinted glasses are designed to block blue light and often change the colour of a screen. Similarly, yellow-tinted glasses intend to block a narrow spectrum of blue light and are more suitable for daytime use.

So, do blue light glasses work for real? Although these glasses effectively reduce the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to, limited research exists on whether they have long-term benefits for protecting your eyes from blue light.

Can Glasses for Blue Light Damage Your Eyes?

Although there isn’t much evidence that showcases the extended benefits of wearing glasses for blue light, they are safe to wear and no side effects have been reported. Plus, if you wear them because you look at screens quite often, they could help reduce symptoms associated with digital eye strain, such as eye fatigue, dry eyes or headaches.

When Should You Use Blue Light Glasses?

There are a couple of scenarios where blue light glasses can be beneficial.

• Screen time: If you spend prolonged periods of time in front of a computer or phone screen, blue light filtration glasses can be helpful in relieving digital eye strain symptoms like dry eyes and headaches.
• Driving in the dark: Wearing blue light filtration glasses can help reduce the glare from LED headlights.
• PC Gaming: Gaming is often a time-consuming hobby that consists of staring at a screen for a long time. Blue light filtration glasses can help ease the strain on your eyes.

How Much Do Blue Light Glasses Cost?

The cost of blue light glasses will depend on the manufacturer or brand. It could also fluctuate depending on the style of glasses, what they’re made from, and whether the manufacturer is a renowned fashion brand.

After looking online, we saw that blue light glasses were on sale for around £10, with others costing up to £50.

Not sure if blue light glasses are right for you? We recommend talking to your ophthalmologist before purchasing a pair of blue light glasses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Blue Light Glasses

With so much information going around about blue light glasses, it can get confusing. Don’t worry, here’s a quick overview of the top advantages and disadvantages of wearing blue light filtration glasses.

Advantages:

• Can reduce blue light exposure for eyes.
• Can reduce symptoms associated with digital eye strain.
• Help to minimise glare when driving in the dark.
• Can help improve sleep and concentration.
• Blue light lenses can fit many types of spectacle frames.

Disadvantages:

• There is limited research on whether blue light glasses have long-term benefits.
• Glasses wearers may dislike the red, orange, or yellow tint glasses give screens.

If you’re still unsure whether blue light filtration glasses are the best choice for you or have symptoms of strained eyes, don’t hesitate to talk to our ophthalmologist.

By booking a free, 30-minute consultation, your vision will be assessed and options such as laser eye surgery could help relieve specific symptoms or vision problems.