- Sarah Lindsey
Blue Light Glasses: Do They Work?
I read a stat recently that shocked me: Due to the pandemic, the average person's screen time has spiked to over 13 hours a day! This stat came from a study conducted by EyeSafe who stated that the increase in screen time has led to a concerning amount of “high-energy blue light exposure”. When exposed to this high-energy blue light for long periods of time your eyes become strained which can lead to macular degeneration, dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, disrupted sleep cycles, and even possible retina damage. Yikes!
After reading this I was super grateful for my trusty blue light filtering glasses but then I started to wonder: Do blue light glasses even work???? If you've had the same question or are wondering what are other screen-time eye solutions are, you've come to the right place.
Blue light is all around us; you can find it in the sunlight, LED lightbulbs, and of course any technology you are using. Blue light wavelengths are actually beneficial for you during the daylight hours. These wavelengths can boost attention, mood, and speed up your reaction times. According to Luan Ferreira, a writer at verywell health “The problem is not the blue light itself, but how people use the devices." So what are the bad screen habits we've picked up? Ferreira said, “blue wavelengths are most disruptive at night… checking your phone in bed seems harmless but blue light can influence the circadian rhythm.” I'm willing to bet that majority of us have committed this screen habit sin at least once before. So the question is- can a pair of blue light or computer glasses save you from the bad effects of late-night screen time?
Blue light glasses are non-prescription glasses coated in a yellow-tinted material and often have an anti-glare coating on them which helps prevent screen glare. The catch with blue light glasses is that there is no significant scientific evidence that supports the blue light glasses claims. Since these types of glasses are relatively new there is still time for science to research their effectiveness but for now, people remain divided on if they work or not.
So in conclusion- do blue light glasses really work? The answer is yes and no. While there is no significant scientific evidence to support that they make any difference many people (you can count me as one of them!) have seen enough improvements to swear by the use of their blue light glasses. Others say they can’t tell a difference between wearing them and not wearing them. One thing is for sure though- the trend is here to stay for a while. Blue light glasses sales have gone up 60% in 2020 alone according to the same EyeSafe study. Try them out for yourself and see if they make a difference for you. Check out our blue light glasses (these make for a great employee gift!) here.
Looking for some screen time tips that will help your eye health and sleep?
Keep your device at a distance (think socially distanced but device distanced) of 25 inches or the length of your arm.
Take breaks- Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes take a break of at least 20 seconds, 20 feet away from your device.
Use a matte screen filter, don’t forget about a matching matte case.
Don’t look at your phone before you sleep. Try to avoid screen time for 2 hours before going to sleep.
*This article was inspired by an article from Luan Ferreira and an EyeSafe study. Check out their respective articles here. Do Blue Light Glasses Work? and COVID-19: SCREEN TIME SPIKES TO OVER 13 HOURS PER DAY