Blue Light Blocking Reading Glasses – is there any truth behind the hype?

Stay at home mandates has hurled a change into our lives that even as we try to go back to the way things used to be, things will never be the same- in many ways.

The way we work, school, play, shop and socialize has changed. Even those who were reluctant to use any type of digital device came to count on them like a best friend; keeping them entertained and in touch with others, feeling productive and cared for with a variety of services available with just a click of a button.

But this always present digital connection has also presented us with a new problem- eye strain. Eye strain is not just the tired achy feeling that you get around or in your eyes. It can also be dryness or excessive tearing - to the point of severe impairment or blurred vision and it's often combined with neck pain, achiness and fatigue. Added to that mix is the question whether all this screen time is harmful; more specifically is the blue light emitted from our digital devices harmful to us?

Here’s what we do know:

Some blue light is good for us but it’s the low end of the blue light spectrum that is considered to be bad and the effects of even small amounts of daily exposure is still uncertain.

There is to date no definitive proof that blue light causes harm to the structures in the eye according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Blue light throws off sleep patterns- so if you’re on your computer or even your phone at night it’s going to take some time for you to fall asleep.

Not to be confused with eye strain:

Increased computer time does put the eyes muscles in a state of tension and strain. Students, children, and young professionals have realized the necessity of low lens strength readers to relax taut and strained eye muscles and keep them working comfortably. Think of someone who runs every day; often for long distances. Eventually their muscles get overworked leaving them feeling achy and tired; sometimes feeling exhaustion and often incurring injury. Eye strain, if not addressed, can build up to the point of feeling incapacitated.

Taking breaks, minimizing glare, and wearing readers made with high quality optical lens material in the proper lens power will eliminate your eye strain.

Too much of a good thing is not always good so a little behavior modification will go a long way and since digital everything is here to stay it’s a good idea to start to implement some healthy habits.

The case for blue light blocking reading glasses:

-they do block out the known to be harmful spectrum of blue light,

-they will minimize sleep disturbances from stimulating digital devices

-they do eliminate glare and eye strain when coupled with the appropriate lens strength

Our blue light lenses are made from high quality optical grade plastic with technically precise interferential filters that reflect light and block out harmful rays without sacrificing transparency and color resolution. An amber colored lens will not offer the same protection and lenses made from anything other than optical grade CR-39 plastic will not provide best clarity and reading comfort.

Since we do not know for sure and probably will not know for some time if there is some degree of eye damage from all the hours we spend at the computer I think it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Happy Computing,
Renee
Licensed Optician
New York