Do Blue Light Glasses Work?

Have your eyes ever felt dry and tired after a long day of staring at a computer screen? If so, you’re not alone. Thanks to more accessible technology at home and at work, we’re all spending more time in front of digital screens. Digital screens emit blue light, which can cause strain, dry or watery eyes, and eye irritation. 

Blue light is also known to interfere with your circadian rhythm, which can disrupt your sleep cycle. Here we’ll talk about blue light glasses, which are gaining popularity.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light blocking glasses have specially crafted lenses that are said to block or filter out the blue light given off by digital screens. The lenses claim to protect your eyes from glare and help reduce potential damage caused by prolonged exposure to blue light. 

Are Blue Light Blocking Glasses Effective?

Most of the eye issues caused by digital screens aren’t caused by blue light. So, while they are effective at reducing exposure to blue light, there’s no hard evidence that they reduce the effects of exposure to digital screens on your eyes. 

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there’s “no evidence that the kind or amount of light coming from computer screens is damaging to the eyes.”

Are Computer Glasses Worth It?

Put simply, blue light glasses, also known as computer glasses, aren’t worth it for many reasons, but the main one is that blue light doesn’t cause permanent damage to the eyes. Instead of buying blue light glasses, try these tips:

• Practice the 20-20-20 rule. To help your eyes relax, every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 
• Use eye drops. Using eye drops throughout the day helps keep your eyes lubricated while working at a computer.
• Sit an arm’s length (about 25 inches) away from your screen. Many people sit too close to the computer, which can cause eye strain.
• Adjust lighting. Adjusting your room lighting and increasing the contrast on your screen can help reduce eye strain.
• Give your contacts a rest. Give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses for a while. 
• Reduce screen glare. Use a matte screen filter to reduce the glare on your screen.

Many eye symptoms caused by computer use are only temporary and will lessen when you stop using the computer.

Learn More About Computer-Related Vision Issues with Baptist Health

If you’ve experienced eye strain or dryness after long hours in front of your computer or another digital device, find a Baptist Health Occupational Medicine location near you.