Blue light glasses are a popular solution for anyone who spends long hours in front of computer screens. But, some people wonder if it’s safe or effective to wear these glasses all the time, whether you’re in front of a screen or not.
As a rule of thumb, you can always wear blue light glasses while indoors. Artificial blue light, which comes from LED lighting or computer screens, can disrupt your sleep cycle. However, some exposure to natural blue light is important to maintain good health.
Blue light can have both positive and negative effects on your health, so it’s important to know when to block blue light with glasses and when to let your eyes absorb it. Read on to learn more about how blue light works!
When Should I Wear Blue Light Glasses?
Blue light glasses can be used daily for protection against blue light screens, LED lights, and fluorescent lights. However, you should not use blue light glasses constantly since some blue light is necessary to stabilize your mood and energy levels.
Is Blue Light Bad for You?
Even though blue light glasses are designed to filter out excess blue light, blue light is not inherently harmful to humans.
A certain amount of blue light is needed for the human body to do the following:
- Regulate mood and energy levels
- Regulate the circadian rhythm, or the body’s natural cycle of sleep and alertness
- Improve alertness, memory retention, and general cognitive function
In regular doses during the day, blue light is important for maintaining your body’s homeostasis. When people are overexposed to blue light, it can disrupt their circadian rhythm and potentially trigger mood-related disorders.
What Are the Health Benefits of Blue Light Glasses?
Blue light glasses protect your eyes and brain by filtering out excess amounts of high-energy blue light.
This artificial blue light is often emitted by digital devices, such as LED screens and fluorescent lighting.
Health benefits associated with wearing blue light glasses include:
- Increased melatonin production
- Reduced eye fatigue
- Protection from ocular damage over time
While there are many negative impacts of blue light absorption, blue light glasses can help reduce these risks.
Increased Melatonin Production
One of the biggest challenges of blue light over-exposure is that it decreases the production of melatonin in the brain, a hormone needed for quality sleep.
Wearing blue light glasses while working on a computer can increase natural melatonin production, reducing insomnia and leading to more restful sleep overall.
Reduced Eye Fatigue
Many people who spend long hours in front of blue light screens report eye strain and fatigue.
Blocking some of the blue light emanating from digital screens with blue light glasses can help reduce eye fatigue during long hours of artificial light exposure.
Protection from Ocular Damage Over Time
It is still not conclusive whether or not long-term exposure to excess blue light from digital screens can cause eye damage.
However, many people wear blue light glasses as a preemptive measure to protect against the potential negative effects of long-term exposure to artificial light.
Because of their potential vision benefits, blue glasses are becoming increasingly common among gamers and people who spend a lot of time in front of computer screens.
Do Blue Light Glasses Work Against Screens?
Blue light glasses are a trendy solution for eye strain and fatigue related to staying up all night working on the computer.
Despite this, recent scientific studies have suggested that these glasses have no real effect on the eyes that could result in visual improvement.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend any special eyewear related to reducing blue light or computer-related eye strain.
Despite all this, regular wearers of blue light glasses swear by their anecdotal benefits, so they’ve remained a popular choice among consumers.
Other Solutions for Blue Light Exposure
The American Academy of Ophthalmologists does not recommend blue light glasses as protection against LED and blue light screens.
However, they do recommend some alternative therapies to prevent over-exposure to blue light.
- Take frequent breaks
- Use artificial tears
- Change ambient lighting
These solutions can help you reduce the effects of blue light without blue light glasses.
Take Frequent Breaks
Ophthalmologists recommend reducing eye strain and fatigue by taking frequent breaks from the computer screen while working.
This helps your eye muscles relax and reduces your blue light intake after dark.
Use Artificial Tears
Dry eyes are one of the leading causes of eye strain and fatigue related to screen use.
Lubricating your eyes with artificial tears can prevent painful eye dryness related to staring at screens for too long.
Change Ambient Lighting
While you can’t do much about the blue light emitted from your computer screen, you can reduce exposure to excess blue light by replacing the lighting around you.
Instead of overhead fluorescent or LED lights, use soft, ambient lamp lighting to give your eyes a rest.
Blue Light Glasses Are New Technology
Despite a lack of conclusive research, there is enough belief in blue light glasses that they are earning thousands of new wearers each year.
If you spend much of your time in front of screens, these specialty lenses may be worth checking into.
