John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 11.03.2022 18:Nov PM EDT

Blue Light Filters for Eyeglasses: Do They Really Prevent Eye Strain?

Modern technology has made everything easier and simpler for us to do everyday things. With the aid of fast and accessible internet, smartphones, and computers, we can work for extended periods and access the internet whenever we want.

This accessibility means that we spend more time in front of a computer than a smartphone's screen for a long time - enough to cause eye strain or even deterioration of sight.

To prevent people's eyesight from deteriorating further, experts recommend adding blue light filters to eyeglasses to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by computer monitors and smartphone screens.

However, do these blue light filters work? Are they even worth their asking price?

Blue Light - What It Is And How It Affects Our Eyes

Before we answer these questions, let's look into what Blue Light is and how it affects a person's eyes.

According to EyeSafe, Blue Light, also known as high-energy visible (HEV) light, is a color in the visible light spectrum that human eyes can see. This type of light is produced naturally, like the sun, and artificially through computer monitors, smartphone screens, and LED lights.

Additionally, Blue light has very short, high-energy wavelengths, per Healthline. It has a slightly longer wavelength but is less powerful than UV waves, which are too short for people to see.

Interestingly, Blue light has both benefits and detriments. Exposure to blue light promotes alertness, boosts memory and cognitive functions, and even elevated mood.

However, it can also cause eye strain and be one of the factors that cause blurred vision, headaches, and even dry, irritated eyes.

Too much blue light exposure also leads to trouble sleeping, reduced alertness during the day, and a negative impact on a person's circadian rhythms - the cycle a person's body uses to know when to sleep and when to wake up naturally.

What Does A Blue Light Filter Do?

This is where blue light filters on eyeglasses come in. According to All About Vision, blue light filter glasses block some of the blue light from its sources using a special coating that reflects some of it away from a person's eyes.

These glasses, which are also known as blue light-blocking glasses or blue light glasses, sometimes have a yellow tint, while others look clear. However, as a rule of thumb, the more yellowed a blue light filter is, the more blue light it reflects.

Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence that using a Blue Light Filter on eyeglasses can lower eyestrain or improve eye health.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology doesn't recommend getting blue light filters based on its findings.

As such, it is safe to say that blue light filters are not worth their asking price. You're better off taking the 20-20-20 rule to prevent bad eyesight.

This rule states that if a person looks stares at a computer monitor or a smartphone screen, they must take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.

Do they work? In the context of preventing bad eyesight, the answer is a no in the meantime. There are not enough studies proving that it can improve eyesight.

However, some have come forward saying that blue light glasses work insofar as eye strains and trouble sleeping is involved. If you think you need blue light glasses to solve eye strain and trouble sleeping, try it out for yourself.