Do Blue-Light Blocking Glasses Work?

By Austin Schoonmaker | February 24, 2019

Let’s face it, we’re addicted to our devices. We are constantly connected to the entire world through our phones, we use computers all day at work, read e-books, and watch TV. If you’re like me, you may have noticed your eyes to begin feeling the effects of staring at screens all day, like headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, and even difficulty going to sleep.

Recently, the blue-light emitted from digital devices has been pegged as the cause of all these symptoms. It has also been blamed for negatively affecting our sleep. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, blue light has been linked to sleep issues by hindering your bodies process of producing the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. This results in our natural circadian rhythm becoming thrown off, making it difficult to get quality sleep.

To get around this, companies have begun to sell specially crafted glasses that are made to block out harmful blue-light. They have quickly become the newest trend among health and wellness lovers who want to protect their eyes from digital strain. Some pairs come with yellow tinted lenses, while others are completely clear but still retain the blue-light blocking technology, but to a lesser degree.

Companies market these glasses as being the best line of defense we have against protecting our eyes from blue-light. This specifically includes defending our eyes against dry eyes, headaches, and blurred vision as mentioned above. There are studies that show blue-light blocking glasses can have a significant impact in improving sleep. However, the claims that blue-light blocking glasses alleviate digital eye strain are still up for debate. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye strain is actually caused by our eyes focusing on a screen for extended periods of time without blinking.

There has yet to be any concrete studies that have proven that blue-light blocking glasses actually make a difference in reducing eye strain. Most of the benefits of blue-light glasses have been anecdotal at best, with reports varying between people.

I purchased a pair two weeks ago, and have been wearing them ever since. As I’m staring at a computer for the majority of my day, I was beginning to notice the effects of digital eye strain. After two weeks of wearing them, I can say I have noticed some moderate benefits. My eyes no longer feel overly tired at the end of the day, and I really enjoy the subtle yellow tint they bring to the world when worn. Nonetheless, they are certainly not the wonder glasses they are marketed as being for alleviating digital eye strain.

So should you get a pair? In the end, it can’t hurt. Most blue-light blocking glasses are relatively cheap, and tons of different frames to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a pair that fits your style. The benefits may be mild to moderate at best, but if you’re on the fence, I say give em’ a try.