Do Blue Light Blocking Glasses Really Work?
April 29, 2019More people are experiencing eye strain, dry eyes, and blurred vision due to increased exposure to blue light. Blue light is present in many different areas, which can make it easy to experience harmful effects over time that can eventually lead to permanent vision loss. Many people are resorting to wearing light blocking glasses each day to protect their eyes from exposure, but it’s important to know if they really work.
Blue Light Exposure
Although blue light is released from the sun, more people have increased exposure to it due to the prolonged amount of time they spend using electronics. From tablets to flat-screen TVs to computer screens, blue light is released from different types of devices, which the eyes cannot block. Fortunately, blue light blocking glasses are useful in protecting the cornea and retina without having to limit exposure to sources of blue light. Both prescription and non-prescription lenses are available to benefit those who want to filter blue light as they read, work, and spend time outdoors each day.
Do Blue Light Blocking Glasses Work?
Blue light blocking glasses are constructed with special lenses that block high-energy visible blue light from both natural and manmade sources, which includes smartphones and the sun. The lenses have a yellow tint, but some lenses appear clear and are more transparent. Research is currently limited on if the glasses work to reduce digital eye strain, but they are proven to promote better sleep, which blue light is known to disrupt. Blue light can often lead to blocking the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone in the body, because it causes the mind to think that it’s daytime, which can make it challenging to fall asleep at night. Fortunately, blue light blocking glasses allow melatonin to continue to be produced for those who want to continue using their devices in the evening. Studies show that individuals who wear the glasses for at least three hours before bedtime experienced longer and deeper sleep for three consecutive weeks, due to a 58 percent increase in melatonin. Sleep subjects also slept for an extra 24 extra minutes each night. Many of the participants expressed feeling more rested and awake the next morning.
Still, studies are promising when it comes to how useful blue light blocking glasses are for individuals. There are visible differences between wearing blue light blocking glasses and traditional lenses. The light from computer screens can have more contrast and appear less harsh. This can prevent headaches or migraines due to eye strain. The eyes can also feel more rested after several hours of staring at a tablet, smartphone, or computer screen.
Types of Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Glasses with custom tint and a lens coating can be most effective by softening the look of light-emitting devices while also reducing screen glare. They can benefit individuals who work late at night and are prone to going to bed at a later time. Viewing images on the computer or television screen may take some time to get used to due to the yellow filter that is present on the lenses. Different lens tints are available via prescription, depending on what the glasses will be used for.
Glasses that have a blue light absorbing polymer are useful for reading emails, as less light penetrates through the lenses. They may be less effective in protecting the individual’s sleep cycle since they still allow some blue light through, but they prove to be effective for those who don’t spend too much time on the computer.
Other types of glasses include a blue light filtering solution that is baked into the lenses to prevent it from chipping or wearing off over time. They can also include anti-glare protection for improved visibility. These glasses can be useful when staring at bright screens for a prolonged amount of time.
Different types of blue light blocking glasses may have various effects on each person but are still worth wearing to limit exposure to blue light and avoid long-term vision impairment.