Are Blue-Light Protection Glasses Worth It?
Whether you’re soaking up some sunshine or using your computer for school, blue light exposure is inevitable. Blue light is a high-energy light wave that comes close to UV light on the visible light spectrum. While some exposure is okay, blue light goes right through the cornea to the retina, which can have a significant impact on the eyes, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA).
Are blue-light protection glasses worth it considering how much blue light can affect you? Here’s what our expert optical team has to say.
Are blue-light protection glasses worth it?
As time goes on, we use screens more and more. A large portion of people may even develop digital eye strain, a common effect of working on the computer for too long without breaks. Some of the symptoms of this condition include:
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Dry eyes
- Strained eyes
Blue-light protection glasses are worth it because they can prevent symptoms of digital eye strain, which can take the pressure off of your eyes when you work in front of a screen for too long. For students and office workers who spend a lot of time on the computer and other digital devices, these glasses are essential. However, you should also take breaks away from your devices at least every 20 minutes.
In addition to worsening digital eye strain symptoms, blue light has been linked with trouble sleeping. One week-long study showed that being exposed to more blue light than usual before bedtime can reduce sleep by as much as 14 minutes.
Using your Kindle or another electronic device too close to bedtime may also affect your attentiveness the next day, circadian rhythm, and melatonin production. We recommend limiting your blue light exposure before you go to sleep, giving your eyes a break from digital screens and using blue-light glasses.
Can I wear blue-light glasses all the time?
Wearing blue-light glasses all the time won’t hurt you. Feel free to wear them at your convenience or as often as your optometrist recommends. You can also add Blue Protect, a blue-light protective lens coating, to your prescription eyewear so that you can fight back against blue light at all times of the day.
If you don’t wish to have blue-light lenses on all the time, consider getting a second pair of glasses with a blue-light filter so that you can just them during screen time. Our associates would be happy to walk you through your options.
Summary: Should I buy blue-light blocking eyewear?
Blue light can impact you in many ways, such as by causing eye strain when you access electronic devices or use the computer for too long. It can also influence your sleep. For this reason, we recommend spending time away from the screen (especially before bedtime) and using blue-light glasses.
Are blue-light protection glasses worth it? Yes, they are, as they can help with symptoms of digital eye strain. If you’re experiencing eye strain or headaches after a long stint looking at digital devices, blue-light glasses can help to alleviate your discomfort. They may also prevent many digital eye strain symptoms altogether.
Blue-light glasses are safe to wear during the day. However, if you don’t want to wear them all the time, we recommend asking your nearest optical store for a backup pair of eyewear. That will give you a chance to swap out your glasses and only wear blue-light protective eyewear while using the computer or other digital devices.
If you need a solution for digital eye strain, blue-light protection glasses are the answer.
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