Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Blue light blocking glasses are a new trend that is being talked about more and more frequently. They are meant to block blue light from causing any eye strain or eye fatigue in wearers, and were designed specifically for those who spend a lot of time working on computer screens.
Are you interested in learning more, or do you perhaps think that these may be the right choice for you? Chances are, you're reading this article on a device that emits blue light. With the amount of time people spend in front of screens and after hearing about blue light glasses, you no doubt have many questions to be answered!
Read on to learn more about not only blue light glasses, but blue light itself.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is one of the colours of light on the visible wave spectrum. In fact, it is the highest energy wavelength in this spectrum, also known as high energy visible light (or HEV light). Scientists have discovered that different wavelengths of light have different effects– whether good or bad– on the human body. The primary source of blue light is our sun, though technological advances have seen the adoption of digital devices with blue light emitting screens, including cell phones and computers.
Blue light can also affect how you are sleeping, and the quality of your sleep. This is because blue light often blocks or suppresses melatonin. The correlation here between screens, blue light, and your sleep patterns are why many experts advise that you put a stop to any screen time at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Otherwise, the blue light from the screen can give you trouble sleeping.
However, blue light can also be good for you in small doses– preferably, doses that come from the sun, rather than from your digital screen. Natural sources of blue light are still important in dealing with seasonal depression disorder, as it helps to regulate our moods, and in regulating our sleep rhythms, among other things. The complete blockage of blue light is not what we are looking for here– rather, blue light blocking glasses are meant to filter any excess blue light coming from digital screens instead of from nature.
What Are Blue Light Blocking Glasses?
Blue light blocking glasses are a new optical tool for dealing with blue light emitting screens. They are important in guarding against artificial sources of blue light– rather than the natural blue light from the sun– and help to avoid overdelivering this blue light to the retina.
For those who spend a lot of time under artificial light or spend a lot of their time at the computer, such as office workers, it can be wise to invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses.
With a good pair of blue light blocking lenses you shouldn’t even know the difference between them and a regular pair of prescription glasses! As they become more popular, the options for different frames are vastly increasing, so you will be able to find a stylish pair of glasses to fit your personal flair!
At Respect Eyecare a local Calgary eye clinic, we only offer blue embedded light protection.
Many places offer a lens coating version for blue light protection. These typically block only 20% of blue light, while blue blocking technology embedded in the lens matrix blocks 80-100% of blue light. Blue light exposure causes digital eye strain, tired eyes, headaches, and migraines. Blue light lenses protect people from:
Ultra-violet damage from the sun
LED headlights on vehicles
digital devices
Frequently Asked Questions
Do blue light glasses really work?
Blue light glasses do work in blocking blue light or cutting down on blue light wavelengths. However, it is important to understand that not all blue light glasses function as they should, or as well as they should. This is dependent upon the quality of the glasses and how they are manufactured.
Which blue light glasses are best?
There are two types of blue light glasses– those with a lens coating and those that are actually embedded with lens material. Blue light glasses that are embedded with lens materials are the better glasses option. Blue light lenses filters more blue light and does not have a blue or purple reflection, as can occur with the glasses that only have a lens coating.
Are blue light glasses worth it?
If you spend a lot of time looking at a screen during the day for work or otherwise, blue light glasses can be a great investment– especially if you find that you are getting headaches or eye discomfort from too much exposure to screen time, for example. Blue light can also affect sleep patterns, so a pair of blue light glasses can also help to get your sleeping schedule back on track.
How long can you wear blue light glasses for?
Blue light glasses are not harmful if you wear them for long periods of time; in fact, they are cleared for regular, everyday use. They are most helpful when spending a lot of time looking at your phone or computer screen or even watching tv, but can be useful for more limited screen time, too.
Are blue light glasses only for the evening?
No, blue light glasses are not necessarily meant for the evening or for another certain part of the day. They can be useful at any time if you are looking at a screen. However, greater digital eyestrain or eye fatigue can occur when working on a digital screen in the dark or low light, so blue light glasses may be more helpful in the evening.
Do you need blue light glasses if you wear contact lenses?
If you wear contact lenses, you can also wear blue-light-blocking glasses simultaneously. It can be handy if you don’t want to buy specialty contact lenses or you need a contact lens break during computer work.
For more Blue Light Blocking resources and your eye health, click HERE