Blue Light Glasses

Improved Visual Comfort In A Digital World.

What is Blue Light? 

In today's digital age, the term "blue light" has become synonymous with concerns about eye health. But what exactly is blue light? Essentially, blue light is a colour in the visible spectrum characterized by its short, high-energy wavelength. Naturally emitted by the sun, it's also prominently produced by our digital screens, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. While blue light during the daytime can be beneficial—boosting alertness and regulating our circadian rhythm—the prolonged exposure, especially in the evenings, raises eyebrows among eye care professionals. Excessive blue light exposure can interfere with our sleep patterns, lead to digital eye strain, and may contribute to some long-term eye health concerns, although the research is still unclear. As our reliance on digital devices grows, understanding the implications of blue light on our eye health becomes ever more crucial.

What Are Blue Light Glasses? 

Blue light glasses have rapidly become a must-have for the digital age. But what are they, and how do they function? Simply put, blue light glasses are specially designed eyewear that filters out or reduces the blue light emitted from digital screens. They use coatings or specially crafted lenses that absorb or block a portion of the blue light spectrum. Notably, these glasses come in varying intensities, meaning they can filter out different amounts of blue light depending on your needs or preferences. Whether you're an occasional tablet user or glued to your computer screen for work, there's a pair tailored to your level of exposure, ensuring optimal eye comfort and protection.

Do Your Eyes Feel Strained And Tired After Work or School?

Schedule your eye exam with one of our optometrists today and talk to them about blue light glasses, including our most popular blue light lens Recharge®. This lens provides the same scratch resistance, visual clarity and cleanability as EX3+™ while also providing protection against blue light.

A man smiling at his computer wearing Hoya Recharge Blue Light Lenses

Recharge® Features

  • Filters blue light by absorption and reflection

  • The blue reflex colour of Recharge® is how this treatment provides most of its effectiveness

  • Blue reflex colour shows you that the blue light is being reflected off the lens instead of passing through it

Recharge® Benefits

  • Provides blue light protection in the proper range
    (380nm – 460nm) emitted by most LED screens

  • Reduces the amount of blue light that reaches the eyes

  • Greater comfort for prolonged amounts of time in front of back lit displays

  • Includes the same scratch and smudge resistance benefits as EX3+™, including Substrate Matching Technology

Is There Any Research Showing that Blue Light Glasses Reduce Digital Eye Strain?

Yes. Blue light glasses can reduce symptoms of digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome). Digital eye strain is characterized by symptoms like dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and eye fatigue after prolonged screen use. The idea behind blue light glasses is that filtering out the high-energy blue light emitted by screens might reduce some of these symptoms.

In studies, many individuals report subjective improvements in comfort when using blue light-blocking lenses during screen use. They often mention reduced eye fatigue, fewer headaches, and a more comfortable visual experience.

However, the research on blue light lenses and digital eye strain is mixed. Some studies suggest that these lenses can reduce symptoms of eye strain, while others find no significant difference. It's worth noting that various factors, including screen brightness, screen distance, duration of screen use, ambient lighting, and blink rate, can influence digital eye strain. This makes it challenging to isolate the effects of blue light alone.

Some benefits of blue light glasses might be due to other factors. For instance, many blue light glasses also have an anti-reflective coating, which can reduce glare from screens and ambient lighting. This reduction in glare, rather than the blue light filtering, might be responsible for some of the reported benefits. 

FAQs About Blue LIght Glasses

  • While blue light lenses offer potential benefits, they have drawbacks. One notable concern is their impact on colour perception. By filtering out blue light, these lenses can sometimes cause colours to appear slightly altered or less vibrant, which might be problematic for graphic designers, photographers, or anyone reliant on precise colour accuracy. Additionally, the coatings or tints used for blue light protection can alter the appearance of eyeglasses. This may result in a noticeable reflection or hue, changing the cosmetic appeal of the glasses and potentially clashing with personal style preferences.

  • Many optometrists recommend blue light lenses due to the growing concerns about prolonged digital screen exposure in today's tech-centric world. They believe these lenses can help reduce digital eye strain, presenting symptoms like dryness, fatigue, and blurred vision. Additionally, filtering out blue light might help you regulate sleep patterns, as excessive blue light exposure, especially in the evening, has been linked to sleep disturbances. Given the significant hours many individuals spend in front of screens, these protective lenses are seen as a proactive measure to maintain optimal eye health and comfort.

  • While blue light lenses are designed to reduce digital eye strain and potentially mitigate sleep disruptions caused by excessive screen time, they do not directly address or prevent the development of myopia (nearsightedness). Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, leading to blurred distance vision. Factors contributing to myopia include genetics, time spent indoors, and potentially close-up tasks like reading. Blue light lenses can enhance visual comfort during digital device use, but they aren't a solution for preventing or slowing myopia progression.

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in North America. As such, many people will have a family member who may have suffered from this eye condition and want to do everything possible to reduce their own risk. However, at this point, no scientific evidence supports that BlueLight lenses can reduce or prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).