Have you considered purchasing blue light glasses? Maybe you’ve seen co-workers wearing them but have been put off by the blue shadows on their faces. Personally, I like to think of it as built-in eye shadow! If you’re still on the fence, here are the pros and cons of having blue light protection glasses.
Anti-glare lenses pros and cons
There is technically a difference between anti-glare and blue light filtering glasses, though in some ways they accomplish similar things. Anti-glare is a benefit of sunglasses. Sunglasses block out UV rays. And while you’re probably making sure your kids wear their sunglasses when playing outside, nobody wants to wear them inside while watching TV.This wouldn’t accomplish much anyway, since sunglasses usually block UVA and UVB rays. A lesser known type is UVC, which is used to disinfect and is a brighter blue color. Blue light emitted from electronics is not technically considered ultraviolet, but it is the closest to it on the spectrum and has similarly shorter wavelengths, as described by the FDA. In short, this means that while looking at your computer is not as harmful as looking directly at the sun, it is still quite harmful. Blue light comes from computers, phones, and your TV.
So, we know our eyes need protection from multiple light sources, but nobody wants to wear their sunglasses inside! Blue light glasses were invented to solve this dilemma. Unlike sunglasses, they aren’t too dark to wear indoors, and they are lighter weight than regular prescription glasses, since they actually aren’t glass at all! The lenses are a type of plastic instead. This makes them much more comfortable and easier to wear for several hours a day. I’m wearing some right now! Pro tip: Buy some that come with a blue light and a test strip to make sure they block the rays. You can use these test strips on your regular sunglasses as well!
Another benefit of this technology is that it can be built into your prescription lenses. You can get up in the morning, roll over and groggily grab your glasses off your nightstand, and have blue light protection all day without having to think about it. Signing on to work for eight hours of screen time? Covered. Watching the news before heading to the office? Covered. Movie night with the fam? Covered again. Blue light lenses come in many forms now, so consider getting some soon if you haven’t already!
Is there a downside to blue light glasses? There really aren’t many cons to these types of lenses. As I’ve already mentioned, they are much lighter weight than regular frames, so even discomfort isn’t an issue. If you’ve been reading along but thinking, is it bad to wear blue light glasses all day? The general consensus is that they do not have any harmful effects. If you’re concerned, take them off for brief periods, like when you’re on break.
Common Questions
Do blue light glasses do more harm than good? Rest assured, they do not! Some have wondered about blue light being necessary for our eyes, especially when it comes to our circadian rhythm. Luckily, most specialists find that these glasses don’t interfere with sleep, just as wearing sunglasses for several hours outside wouldn’t affect it either. So, how long should you wear blue light glasses? As long as you are looking at a screen of any kind. However, you should step away from the desk periodically, anyway, since they won’t prevent eye strain. According to Dr. Relief Jones, eye strain is actually due to lack of blinking, so give your eyes a break (of that Kit Kat bar…).
Do blue light blocking glasses actually work? Some work better than others but most filter blue light to some degree. This will benefit your eyes, even if they block out only a portion of the rays.
Knowledge Is Power
Troomi is here to help keep you informed about what tools are available for your family. We believe technology can be a gift in your life, and your kids’ lives when seen as a tool—not a tyrant. Roses are red, screen lights are blue, but with Troomi, you can know what to do. (OK, so we’re not poets…)