Blue Light Blocking Glasses — Are They Worth It?

They promise better sleep and less eye strain. But what do the experts have to say about the latest work-from-home trend?

In this digital age, everyone is on their digital devices for nearly the entire day; from office workers, teachers, and software engineers to game developers, customer service reps, and people in the IT industry — you name it. 

The ongoing pandemic only added more digital nomads with millions of office workers now spending their days online.

This is not to mention the time we spend on our laptops and our smartphones all day long. All of that screen time can bring serious effects to our bodies like eye strain, headache, and insomnia.    

And now, not only desk jockeys have to worry about those ill effects. Numerous parents have also expressed worries for their children as online classes take into full effect, which is not to even mention the time these children spend on playing computer or mobile games. 

A popular remedy to combat these problems these days is blue light blocking glasses. Every day, there seems to be some new story about them — but do they really make a difference?

Is staring at a screen for hours each day bad?

Experts have chimed in on both sides of the argument. The experts’ contradicting opinions mainly focus on two things: digital eye strain and blue light exposure. 

The American Optometric Association says that digital eye strain can cause issues like blurry vision, dry eyes, headache, and neck pain which all are rooted in the prolonged use of digital devices. 

Although there is insufficient evidence on the effects of blue light exposure to our eyes, doctors and researchers all agree that it affects our circadian rhythm. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm#:~:text=A%20circadian%20rhythm%20is%20a,oscillation%20of%20about%2024%20hours.)

What is blue light?

Blue light, of course, has been around even before the digital age took over; it mainly comes from the sun. But devices like smartphones, televisions, laptops, and tablets which dominate our modern lives emit a brighter and more bluish kind of light. 

What gives off blue light?

Any source of light gives off blue rays. The only difference is that we get plenty of natural amounts of blue light exposure from the sun, but after sunset, when we have to do our jobs online, we still expose ourselves to critical amounts of  artificial blue light from our devices. 

How does blue light affect sleep?

During old times, we only had the sun to regulate our sleep schedules. But with gadgets giving off artificial lights, researchers agree that the blue light from these LED devices interrupt our body from producing the sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin, which can lead to sleepless nights.

So, what does my phone or computer screen have to do with this?

Most digital screens use LEDs, which emit great amounts of artificial blue light. 

With the domination of today’s technologies, LEDs are practically everywhere. They are used in smartphones, TV, laptops, and tablets. 

Is blue light harmful?

Experiments on mice have proven that overexposure to blue light could lead to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or in other words, eventual vision impairment. This is because blue light places enormous stress on the retinal pigments. 

Although there is no direct evidence that blue light can cause AMD, there is certainly evidence that increased exposure to this kind of light makes a person more prone to this type of condition. 

What are blue-light blocking glasses? 

Blue-light blocking glasses are practical glasses that filter the allegedly harmful blue rays coming from our smartphones and monitors.

You can use them during daytime while doing your tasks in front of a computer screen, and at night to block the blue lights from messing with our body clocks. 

In other words, they are mostly used to stabilize our circadian rhythm and melatonin production, and they also help reduce eye strain from staring at our digital screens all day long.

Should I get blue-light blocking glasses?

Several experts agree on one thing when it comes to blue light: it blocks our body from producing sleep-inducing melatonin. So if you are someone who works on a daily basis and just wants to have some rest time come sundown, these glasses might help you. 

People who use these blue-light blocking glasses have attested to it helping them decrease the amount of strain they feel in their eyes after working compared to when they used to stare at their screens without the filter these glasses have to offer. 

So even if you’re unsure whether this blue light is to blame for your abnormal body clock or insomnia or not, with the positive testimonies of users we can see online, getting a pair of blue-light blocking glasses can’t hurt.

Spotlight Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels