Are Blue Light Glasses Legit?

The issue of blue light exposure and blue light glasses is a nuanced one. There’s lots of talk about whether or not blue light glasses are legit, but why do we even need blue light glasses in the first place?

Before we see if blue light glasses are legit, lets take a look at the kind of harm blue light exposure can do.

Is Blue Light Harmful

The short answer to this question is yes. Too much exposure to blue light can damage your eyes and cause vision problems to set in quicker than they would normally. For a deeper understanding, lets take a look at how this process works.

Research from the Institut de la Vision in Paris has found that exposure to narrow-band blue light, which comes from a variety of sources including the sun and computer screens, can hasten the progress of Age-related Macular Degeneration. Another article from Harvard Medical School pointed to blue light as a cause for disrupted sleep patterns.

With more and more evidence pointing to blue light as a source of potential harm, how are we exposed to it?

How are We Exposed to Blue Light

As we mentioned earlier, blue light is much more common than you might expect. While much of the conversation around blue light has to do with computer, tablet, and smartphone screens, the number one source of blue light is the sun.

Exposure to blue light has more to do with intensity and duration than the source itself. If you are outside all day in the sun, your exposure to blue light will be higher from natural sources than from someone in an office with fluorescent lights and a glaring computer screen.

While the sun is the biggest source, night time use of screens is a particularly harsh source. Like many people, if you have a habit of falling asleep while scrolling through social media, you are exposing yourself to a lot of blue light that could be affecting your sleep. As reported in the Times, a recent study by Deloitte shows that American collectively check their phones 8 billion times per day. That is a lot of blue light.

Given the prevalence of blue light, how can you protect yourself from too much exposure?

Can Blue Light Glasses Help

Thankfully, the answer is yes! According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, blue light glasses can significantly lower the effects of blue light exposure in adults. An article from the organization Prevent Blindness notes that wearing blue light glasses at your computer can lower the impact of blue light from artificial sources. A growing consensus seems to show that blue light blocking lenses can help reduce the negative effects of too much blue light exposure.

Blue light glasses are available in many different forms. You can get blue light protective coatings on your next pair of prescription lenses. Some prescription lenses even come with blue light protection built right into the lenses. Blue light glasses are also available for sports and recreational glasses. Perfect for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. These varieties are available for both adults and children.