When to Consider Blue Light Lenses
Would you like to improve your eye comfort, reduce eye strain symptoms, or even improve your sleep? Blue light lenses might be a good option for you.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is found naturally in sunlight and produced by LED lights, digital screens, and fluorescent lights. Blue light helps you stay alert and focused during the day and boosts your mood.
Although blue light is beneficial, it may also have a few disadvantages. According to a research study published in Sleep Medicine in 2021, blue-light exposure before bedtime may affect sleep quality. Study participants who wore glasses that blocked blue light or were only exposed to incandescent light experienced deeper sleep compared to those exposed to blue light
Some research studies have shown that too much blue light can damage the light-sensitive retina in the eye and cause eye strain and discomfort. Other research studies have found no link between blue light and eye health and sleep.
Should You Wear Blue Light Lenses?
Although scientists are divided about the benefits of lenses that block blue light, it may be worth trying these lenses if you:
- Use Digital Devices Every Day. Frequent use of screens can lead to digital eye strain, a condition that causes sore, tired eyes, headaches, blurry vision, burning, itching, and light sensitivity. Digital eye strain is common and affects 68% of U.S. workers, according VSP Vision Care's Vision Health Report survey. Blue light lenses block blue light produced by digital devices and could improve eye comfort while you use your laptop, tablet, smartphone, and other devices.
- Want to Protect Your Retinas. A healthy retina is essential for good vision. Damage to the light-sensing layer of cells at the back of the eye can cause permanent vision loss. Although it's not clear yet if blue light affects the retinas, wearing blue light lenses could offer a simple way to protect your vision.
- Struggle with Dry Eye. Wearing blue light lenses may be helpful if your eyes frequently feel dry and irritated. The lenses could reduce dry eye symptoms by relieving eye strain.
- Can't Sleep. If it's hard to fall asleep, or you find yourself waking up frequently during the night, slipping on a pair of blue light lenses may help. Switching to blue light lenses during the day could offer an effective remedy for your sleep issues.
- Work or Play Under Artificial Lights. LED and fluorescent lights can irritate your eyes and cause eye strain, blurry vision, and headaches. Exposure to high levels of blue light may also trigger migraines in some people. Putting on a pair of blue light lenses could improve your comfort if you must work or study using these types of lights.
Blue light lenses may be recommended by your vision therapist to improve eye comfort and reduce eye strain. For example, vision conditions like strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), or focusing problems increase your risk for digital eye strain. When you're already likely to experience eye strain, blue light exposure might make the problem worse. Blue light lenses, in addition to hands-on therapy activities, specially designed computer games and other vision therapy tools, could offer the solution to eye strain.
Ready to try blue light lenses? We'll help you choose the ideal pair for you and also identify any issues that could affect your vision during a comprehensive eye exam. Contact our office to make an appointment with the vision therapist.
Sources:
Science Direct: Sleep Medicine: Effects of Pre-Bedtime Blue-Light Exposure on Ratio of Deep Sleep in Healthy Young Men, 8/2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945721003257
Healthline: What Are Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses?, 3/31/2022
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-are-blue-light-glasses#takeaway
Scientific American: Do Blue-Light Glasses Help with Eyestrain?, 8/24/2023
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-blue-light-glasses-help-with-eyestrain/
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Should You Be Worried About Blue Light?, 3/10/2021
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-be-worried-about-blue-light
VSP Vision: New Research from VSP Vision Care and Workplace Intelligence finds nearly 3 out of 4 of employees struggle with digital eye strain, 59% say it affects their productivity, 2/25/2025
