You may be looking at a computer, phone, or tablet that emits blue light right now. Staring at any of these devices for an extended period of time can lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS), a type of eyestrain that can cause symptoms like dry eyes, redness, headaches, and blurry vision.
One solution that eyeglass manufacturers have proposed is blue-light-blocking glasses. These glasses are purported to block the potentially harmful blue light that electronics emit. But whether these glasses actually reduce eyestrain is controversial.
What is Blue Light?
Blue light is a type of light that is found naturally in sunlight or from red light therapy. It has a shorter wavelength than other types of light, which is why doctors often associate it with causing more eye damage.
Many electronics emit blue light, but computer screens and TVs usually release more blue light than other types of electronics. This is because they usually use LCDs, or liquid crystal displays.
Too much exposure to blue light has been linked with some less than ideal side effects, like:
affecting your circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep at night
causing headaches
increasing eyestrain
leading to visual fatigue
But blue light isn’t all bad! Because this wavelength is produced by the sun, it can actually promote alertness and help you feel more awake during the day.
A lot of studies on blue light and eye damage have been conducted on animals or in controlled laboratory settings. So we don’t know for sure how blue light affects humans in everyday life scenarios.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that blue light from electronic devices will not cause eye disease. However, they do suggest avoiding screens altogether in the hour or two before bedtime in order to get better sleep.
What are blue-light-blocking glasses?
In an attempt to reduce the possible harm of extended blue light exposure, eyeglass manufacturers have developed eyeglass lenses with special coatings or tints. The idea behind blue-light-blocking glasses is that wearing them can reduce eyestrain, eye damage, and affected sleep. However, more research is needed to confirm if the glasses actually work.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that, if you’re going to spend a lot of time staring at screens, you should wear glasses instead of contacts. This is because glasses are less likely to cause the eye dryness and irritation that can come from wearing contacts for extended periods of time.
How Do I find Proper Glasses?
There many counterfits in the market. After a lot of research I found these blue light blocking glasses a perfect fit.
Final Words
While there isn’t a ton of research to back up the effectiveness of blue-light-blocking glasses, if you spend a lot of time in front of screens, you may still want to give them a try to see if they help reduce symptoms like eyestrain, dry eye, and redness.
In addition to possibly wearing blue-light-blocking glasses, you can also help reduce eyestrain by taking 10-minute breaks from your computer or digital device every hour, using artificial tears or eye drops, and wearing glasses instead of contact lenses.
