Are Blue Light Glasses Helpful Or All Hype?

Over the last 10+ years, we’ve been slowly spending more and more time with our eyes in front of some type of digital screen. We use a computer for work or school for 8 hours a day, then come home and watch TV or stare at our phones for several more hours. In 2020 when many people were stuck at home sheltering in place during a global pandemic, we became acutely aware of just how much time we spend gazing into a brightly lit screen. Concerns started to surface about “blue light” exposure, and blue light glasses were created to help protect our eyes. Are they actually helping us, though? It depends on who you ask. 

What Is Blue Light And Is It Even Bad For You?

Blue light is all around us; it’s even in natural sunlight. Blue light is simply a short-wave light that falls within the visible color spectrum for humans. The problem is that before the digital age exploded, we were used to being exposed mainly to natural light during the day and darkness in the evening. Now we are bathed in bright artificial light day and night and get additional exposure from our digital screens. There is a theory that too much blue light could be bad for your eyes or at least make them more tired. There is also scientific evidence that blue light inhibits sleep, which is why experts are now recommending that you stop using screens at least an hour before bedtime. 

What Do Eye Doctors Have To Say About Blue Light Glasses?

This is a new development, and not a lot of scientific research has been done to prove, or disprove, the benefits of glasses that block or filter blue light. In fact, the official stance of the American Academy of Ophthalmology is that they are unnecessary. This is largely due to the lack of peer-reviewed research on the subject. 

Eye doctors think that computer vision syndrome (CVS) is actually to blame for the dry eyes and headaches people experience after a long day of staring at digital screens. CVS is caused by your eyes working too hard because they are shifting focus constantly. To combat this eye strain, you can become more mindful of how long you spend staring at your computer screen at a time. Doctors say that for every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, you should look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This lets your eyes relax. 

People Who Have Used Blue Light Glasses Have Positive Feedback 

Without enough experiments and data from the scientific community, we’re left with consumer reviews. Many people have shared positive experiences with wearing blue light glasses. They report that their eyes are less tired and strained at the end of the day and that they notice a bit better night’s sleep. The only way to know for sure if you’d benefit from blue light glasses is to try a pair yourself.

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