Do Blue Light Glasses Really Work or Are They Just a Hype?

Blue light may be environmentally friendly, but it has its dark sides too. Harvard Medical School' Harvard Health Publishing reports that blue light affects the circadian rhythm and potentially cause diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Long ago, humans tend to spend their night in darkness. The main source of light back then was the Sun, which is up only in the daytime. But with the technology available in this era, access to light is much easier, and most of the time, people tend to abuse it without realizing its price.

For instance, blue light can cause strain, irritation, and dryness of the eye after a long day of staring at the screen. But since most people nowadays cannot escape having to use computers or gadgets, it has become hard to manage the adverse effects of blue light on the eyes.

The trendy blue light glasses might help people suffering from these effects. But many are asking if these glasses would genuinely help them handle blue light or using blue light glasses is just another hype?

Blue Light Glasses: Do They Really Work?

Blue light glasses are specially crafted to block or trap blue light from the screens of computers, phones, tablets and other gadgets. The lenses help reduce potential damage to the retina from prolonged exposure to blue light, according to Cleveland Clinic.

But because blue light glasses are somewhat new, there is only a little research about them, and the FDA does not regulate the eyewear because it is not sold as a medical device.

According to the American Academy of Opthalmology, people need not wear blue light glasses or any eyewear for those who frequently use the computers. They said that digital devices do not lead to eye disease and do not cause eyestrain. The problem is that the eyes tend to be overused in using digital devices, hence the eyestrain.

"The symptoms of digital eye strain are linked to how we use our digital devices, not the blue light coming out of them," they added.

But some experts agree to the benefits of the blue light glasses like Greg Rogers, a senior optician at Eyeworks in Decatur, GA. He said that customers in their shop have benefited from the glasses and would opt to wear one or use a special screen for their computers when staring at screens.

Moreover, the American Optometric Association's former president Samuel Pierce, OD, said that he recommended using blue light glasses to lessen eyestrain.

Digital Life Means More Blue Light

The digital era has brought more blue light to the world than ever. From televisions, smartphones, laptops, and tablets, everyone is surrounded by blue light, WebMD reported.

In a survey in 2018, it was found out by Acuvue that office workers work about six and a half hours per day sitting in front t of a computer. While another survey by Pew Research Center found that 28% of American adults say they go online almost always, and younger ones are online the most.

But still, most research suggests that digital overuse and not the blue light causes eye problems, although those who wear blue light glasses tend to report less eyestrain than those who do not.

However, Susan Primo, OD, an optometrist and professor of ophthalmology at Emory University is more worried about how blue light glasses are used in some misleading marketing.

According to her, companies may use words that will not mislead their customers into believing that the glasses can cure them of their eye problems.

"They can use words like 'may' and 'might.' Marketing can take things to a level that might not be a sound recommendation, sound science, for people to go out and get them," Primo said.