Blue light filter glasses have gained popularity in recent years as a potential solution for reducing the negative effects of blue light exposure from electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. These glasses are designed to block or filter out a portion of the blue light emitted by these devices.
In this blog, we will discuss the blue light filter glasses. You must have heard this a lot in various TV ads, on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram that every person should wear blue light filter glasses today. And if you don’t have specs power in your eyes even then you should wear the blue light filter specs of zero power.
Blue Light Filter Glasses: What Are They?
Blue Light Filter Glasses are eyewear designed to block or filter out a portion of the blue light emitted by digital screens, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, as well as artificial lighting sources like LED lights. These glasses typically have special coatings or lenses that aim to reduce the potential negative effects of blue light exposure on our eyes and sleep patterns.
Purpose of Blue Light Filter Glasses:
The main purpose of blue light filter glasses is to mitigate the potential negative impacts of prolonged screen time and exposure to blue light. Here are some of the perceived benefits associated with wearing these glasses:
Reducing Eye Strain: Some people report experiencing eye strain, dryness, and discomfort after long hours of screen use. Blue light filter glasses aim to reduce these symptoms by filtering out a portion of blue light, which may contribute to digital eye strain.
Minimizing Disruption to Sleep: Blue light can interfere with our sleep-wake cycle by suppressing the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Wearing blue light filter glasses in the evening may help reduce the impact of blue light on sleep quality.
Preventing Potential Retinal Damage: There have been concerns about the potential cumulative effect of blue light on the retina. Blue light filter glasses are promoted as a way to protect the eyes from long-term exposure to blue light.
Here are some key points to consider:
Blue Light and Eye Health: Blue light is a type of light on the visible light spectrum, and it has shorter wavelengths and higher energy compared to other colors. Some studies suggest that excessive exposure to blue light, particularly in the evening or at night, may disrupt sleep patterns and potentially contribute to digital eye strain or fatigue.
Effectiveness of Blue Light Filter Glasses: While blue light filter glasses are marketed as a means to protect the eyes from the potential negative effects of blue light, the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited and mixed. Some studies suggest that wearing blue light filter glasses may help reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality, while others have found no significant benefits.
Individual Variations: The impact of blue light on eye health can vary from person to person. Factors such as age, pre-existing eye conditions, screen time duration, and personal sensitivity may influence how individuals respond to blue light exposure.
Other Strategies for Eye Health: Beyond blue light filter glasses, there are other strategies you can employ to promote eye health and reduce eye strain:
Adjust device settings: Reduce screen brightness, use night mode or blue light filters available on devices, and avoid using electronic devices before bed.
Optimize your workspace: Position your screen at eye level, maintain proper posture, and ensure appropriate lighting conditions.
Consult an Eye Care Professional: If you are concerned about the potential impact of blue light on your eye health or experience persistent eye strain or discomfort, it is recommended to consult with an eye care professional. They can provide personalized advice and recommend appropriate measures based on your specific needs.
While blue light filter glasses may offer some benefits for certain individuals, it is important to approach their use with a critical mindset and consider them as one of several potential strategies for managing eye strain and promoting overall eye health.
So, now we are going to discuss whether or not these blue light filter glasses have any benefit? Do they save you from anything or it is just a marketing gimmick? by which people are being fooled and the big companies are making money?
Do Blue Light Filter Glasses Work?
So, first, you need to understand that if you are wearing blue light filter glasses thinking that the blue light emitting from the mobile or computer will be filtered by these glasses and the blue light would not cause any harm to your eyes then let me tell you very clearly that till date no research has claimed that the blue light emerging from the mobile or computer causes any harm to your eyes.
In fact, the blue light emerging from the mobile or computer is so less that it does not affect your eyes at all. Instead, natural daylight contains a thousand times greater amounts of blue light. So, the blue light from the mobile cannot affect your eyes. Some people say it to the extent that if you don’t wear these blue light filter glasses and if you are using the mobile or computer for long hours, your eyes will get cataracts or the retina will get weaker. There is no truth to it all.
It’s merely a misunderstanding, forget about it. The blue light that emerges from mobiles or computers does not affect the eyes by even 1%. So, if you are wearing it to protect your eyes from mobile or computer, it’s useless.
If you are wearing these glasses because someone has told you that by wearing blue light filter glasses your eyes will not get any strain from working long hours on the mobile or computer then let me tell you it’s a misconception, a myth.
A lie is being spread. The reason for the eyestrain from working on the mobile or computer for a long… is that when you are looking at the mobile or computer for a long time your eyes blink less. A normal person’s eyes blink 16 to 18 times in one minute. But when you are looking at the mobile or computer screen for a very long time the rate of blinking your eyes gets reduced from the normal range of 16-18 to only 4-5 times a minute.
As a result, the eyes do not get lubricated correctly, and the tear film breaks, causing eyestrain. And the second reason is that when you keep the mobile close for a long time looking at the mobile while lying, then your eye muscles have to work to perceive near vision Whenever you stare at a close object, your eyes rotate inwards and the muscles have to work hard.
At the same time, the muscles inside our eyes contract too, and change the shape of the lens. So, if the eye muscles keep working for a long time, the strain occurs in the eyes.
So, strain in the eyes from working on the mobile or computer is caused because the eyes blink less and the eyes have to converge and accommodate to perceive a close distance. And that causes strain in the eyes. And thus eye strain has nothing to do with the blue light, even 1%. So, these things are clear; the blue light from the computer has no damage to the eyes… and second, filtering the blue light won’t protect you from eye strain.
How to avoid eye strain?
If you want to avoid eye strain, you must follow the 20-20-20 rule. After every 20 minutes, take a break for 20-30 seconds, look 2o feet away, blink the eyes 20-30 times, and the eyes will get relaxed and fresh. And then resume your work. If you want to avoid eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule.
You can use basic lubricating drops so that the eyes remain moist and no strain will occur. But the blue light has nothing to do with these two problems. Then, you might wonder why Blue Light is receiving so much attention.
Role of blue light in the Body
Why does everyone claim that blue light damages your eyes in this or that way? So, let’s first understand the role of blue light in the body. Look, the body contains a hormone… the hormone is called Melatonin. This hormone regulates our sleeping and waking time. And the production of this hormone depends on the blue light outside.
So, when the sun rises in the morning the sunlight otherwise looks white but the white light is made up of seven colors… and one of its areas contains blue waves which we call the blue light. So, when this blue light enters the eyes… the melatonin hormone in the body reduces and when this hormone reduces the body becomes active and energetic.
The body learns that it’s daytime. And when the sun sets in the evening the white light reduces with the sunset the blue light in present around reduces too. And the body gets the signal to increase the melatonin hormone… and when the melatonin hormone increases, you feel sleepy.
Now, the problem is when it’s time to sleep at night… people start using their phones scrolling Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. Mobile phones emit the white light which contains the blue light… so when you use your phone at night… the blue light emitting from it signals the body that it’s daytime because the eyes are getting the blue light.
So, because of this blue light, the body’s melatonin hormone… which is supposed to increase at night, fails to increase and remains low. And then people complain that they can’t sleep at night… or they fall asleep late at night and don’t feel fresh when waking up in the morning.
So, to avoid these problems, blue light filter glasses were introduced. So that when you wear the blue light filter specs, the blue light will get filtered through it at night and there will be no effect on the melatonin hormone, causing you to sleep. But today, we see that all mobiles, computers, or laptops contain a built-in blue light feature or software.
Let’s see the picture of the phone below. Suppose I want to activate the blue light filter on my phone… so you can see an icon here called ‘Eye Comfort Shield’. Some phones will have ‘Eye Comfort Shield’ written, some phones will have ‘Blue Light Filter’, and some phones will have ‘Night Mode’ written. So, you can see when I turned on the eye comfort shield, the whole screen has become yellowish. And on turning it off, the screen goes blueish.
So, today, the blue light filter glasses have no role at all. The blue light filter was made to wear while using mobiles at night… but now you can just turn on the blue light feature on your phone and get your problem solved.
In fact, we are seeing that blue light filter glasses cause more damage to the eyes. Look, you wear these blue light filter specs 24 hours… it filters out the blue light from the morning sunshine So, when the sun rises, we need the sunlight to activate the body… but because of these specs, the blue light gets filtered.
And people complain to me that they don’t feel energetic in the morning. That the body feels lazy and they don’t feel like working. And at night, when the sun has already set and the blue light is no more… there is no use for the blue light filter. The only role is to filter the blue light coming from the mobile or computer… which you can achieve from the in-built feature.
Let me tell you an important thing… young kids below the age of 18 must not wear these blue light filters at all. Because when you wear these blue light filters… you will realize that– say you are seeing the white color the real color is pure white… but when you wear the blue light filter the same white color seems a little yellowish, off-white. So, young kids below the age of 18 whose eyes are still developing… must not be given blue light filter glasses. Because their color perception will be ruined.
The body must see all the colors when it’s developing… and if you wear the filters, it will damage the body. The eyes will never see the original colors and will be developed accordingly. So, kids should not wear them and even adults have no use.
So, basically, after analyzing and researching everything we learned that… the blue light filter serves no purpose. It is just a marketing strategy by the big companies for making money.
The blue light filter has no benefits but more drawbacks. Wear good glasses, wear antiglare glasses; they have benefits… but blue light filter glasses have no advantages. Neither does it give you comfort, nor does it serve any purpose? People are just being fooled by false claims and benefits.
Scientific Evidence and Controversy:
The effectiveness of blue light filter glasses has been a topic of debate in the scientific community. While some studies suggest that blue light exposure may have negative effects on sleep and eye health, other research indicates that the levels of blue light emitted by digital screens are not likely to cause significant harm.
While blue light filter glasses can reduce the amount of blue light reaching the eyes, it’s essential to note that other factors, such as screen brightness, viewing distance, and duration of screen use, also play a significant role in eye strain and sleep disturbances.
Who Can Benefit from Blue Light Filter Glasses?
People who spend prolonged hours on digital devices, especially in the evening, and are concerned about potential eye strain or sleep disruption, may find blue light filter glasses beneficial. Individuals who already experience discomfort or sleep issues related to screen use might consider trying these glasses as part of their overall eye care and sleep hygiene practices.
Conclusion:
Blue light filter glasses have become popular due to the increasing use of digital devices and concerns about their impact on eye health and sleep. While scientific evidence on their effectiveness is still inconclusive, many users report positive experiences with reduced eye strain and improved sleep after using these glasses.
If you’re considering using blue light filter glasses, it’s essential to consult an eye care professional to ensure they are appropriate for your specific needs and to address any underlying eye health concerns.
Please remember that the information provided here is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have specific questions or concerns about your eye health, it’s best to seek advice from a qualified eye care professional.
Love,
Saurabh Goel
Saurabh Goel
He is the Founder and CEO of the Training and Counselling Company ‘Brain Soul & You’. He is an NLP Wellness Coach, Life Coach, Brain analyst, and Trainer for Education, Corporate, and Entrepreneurship. For more than 7 years, he delivered presentations on entrepreneurship, mind programming, and motivation. He did his B.tech in IT and later choose to be a successful psychologist. He is helping people in various ways through his counseling and training sessions.