How Blue Light Glasses Work

Let’s talk about exactly how blue light glasses work. When you go to the beach, you put on sunscreen. Why? Because if you don’t you’ll get sunburn. And if you get a sunburn often enough, UV radiation may cause skin cancer.

Just like your skin, the cells in your eyes can be damaged by UV as well. Fortunately, your eyes have evolved to naturally block much of the UV light they’re exposed to. Sunglasses block what’s left when you’re outside.

Ultraviolet light isn’t the only type of light that damages your eyes though. The wavelengths that make up the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum get through your eye’s natural protection and reach the retina. You know, so you can see things. Scientists have discovered that the highest energy wavelengths of visible light can cause similar damage to your eye as UV light.

The highest energy visible light, is blue light.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Just like sunscreen and sunglasses, blue light glasses are specially designed to protect your eyes from the harmful affects of blue light. They have a few unique features that allow them to do this particularly well in an indoor setting. But how do blue light glasses really work though?

How Blue Light Glasses Work

Just as a cheapy pair of sunglasses are less effective than a good pair of polarized sunnies, not all blue light glasses are created equally. Different brands use different coatings and materials that effect price, effectiveness, and general comfortability. Features that determine the effectiveness of blue light glasses are:

• How much blue light is blocked
• Anti-reflective coating
• Lens material
• Warranty options

How Much Blue Light Is Blocked

The real magic of how blue light glasses work happens when light passes through teeny tiny micro-layers built into the lens.

Multiple layers of special coatings are “baked in” to the lens. Each layer alters the way light transmits or is reflected. The particular coatings used in blue light glasses are engineered to absorb or/or reflect a very specific range of wavelengths that scientists have found to be most harmful (380 nm – 450 nm).

To minimize color distortion, a good pair of blue light glasses should be designed to let all wavelengths of visible light through, except the most harmful.

Some blue light glasses have better coating than others. You can generally expect lower quality glasses to peel or crack over time. Some may even block beneficial wavelengths, in addition to harmful ones.

Different brands also block different degrees of blue light, ranging from as little as 10% to over 90%.

Because blue light does have essential physiological benefits as well, lenses that block about 30% to 60% blue light are perfect for average users.

Glasses that block more than that may be better for people with especially strong sensitivity to light. If you believe you experience abnormal sensitivity to light, you should speak with your eye doctor.

Look for blue light glasses that block more than 50% of blue light.

Anti-Reflective Coating

Anti-reflective coating (a.k.a. AR coating or anti-glare coating) is a particularly important component of how blue light glasses work. Glare is one of the most common causes of eyestrain, and digital devices have prominent reflective surfaces that compound the issue.

AR coatings minimize the amount of light that’s reflected away from the eye, allowing more light to transmit through the lens. Doing so reduces distracting glare while increasing contrast for a better, less-straining experience.

Always look for blue light glasses that have an anti-reflective coating.

Lens Materials 

Eyeglass lenses have come a long way since they were all made of dangerous and heavy glass. Today, there’s a plethora of lens materials available. Each one has it’s pros and cons.

Taking price out of the equation, some lenses are lighter than others. Weight affects how comfortable your glasses are to wear throughout the day. Also, some are more durable, while others have better overall optical clarity.

The best lenses for computer glasses should be the least distracting (lightest weight) with the highest optical clarity (least color distortion and reflection).

We’ve tested and studied the most popular lens materials and found that Trivex and Nylon lenses are the best options for computer eyewear.

There’s also a special type of lens made specifically for absorbing blue light using natural melanin. Melanin is the pigment in your skin that naturally protects you from UV light. Lenses infused with melanin can filter up to 98% of blue light, but they often times do add a noticeable brownish-yellow tint to your eyewear.

Should You Wear Blue Light Glasses?

In a digital world that won’t slow down the exposure to blue light anytime soon, it may be beneficial to own a pair of these specs if you spend a significant amount of time at a computer.

What Benefits Can You Expect from Wearing Blue Light Glasses?

The benefits of blue light glasses include reduced risk of macular degeneration later in life, improved sleep as a result of a normalized circadian rhythm, and reduced symptoms of digital eye strain.

Digital eye strain affects more than 60% of Americans. Symptoms include sore eyes, wavering focus, major and minor headaches, blurred vision, and stained neck.

What Are The Best Blue Light Glasses?

After researching available options based on the criteria above, we couldn’t find an effective solution for the everyday computer user. So, we engineered a specially designed nylon lens with eight micro-coatings built in to reduce glare, enhance contrast, and minimize yellow tinting. Our glasses look great, wear super comfortably, and most importantly, they work.

If you’re interested in learning more, visit Legacy Supply Blue Light Glasses.