Do Blue Light Glasses Work? And How to Tell if They Protect Your Eyes

Last Updated on January 2, 2025

Blue light glasses have gained significant attention in recent years, but do they actually work? The short answer is yes, blue light glasses work when designed and manufactured properly. 

They help reduce eye strain, improve sleep quality, and provide better comfort for individuals who spend hours in front of screens. 

Don’t believe us? Keep reading to understand how these protective glasses work and how you can verify their effectiveness.

From this article you’ll learn:

• What’s the deal with blue light glasses
• What are some practical benefits of blue light glasses
• How to tell if your glasses work
• What do I personally think about them
• Why choosing quality matters for your eye health

So, What’s the Deal With Blue Light Glasses?

The science behind blue light glasses is straightforward. Digital screens emit blue light, which falls in the short wavelength range of visible light and has higher energy than other colors. Excessive exposure to blue light can:

• Cause digital eye strain (symptoms include dry eye, irritation, and headaches).
• Disrupt sleep patterns by interfering with melatonin production.

Blue light glasses are designed with lenses that filter out blue light, preventing it from reaching your eyes. And therefore mitigating the impacts of blue light.

High-quality glasses specifically target the most disruptive wavelengths (400-450 nm). On the other hand, low-quality products often fail to filter significant amounts or the correct wavelengths of blue light, leading to disappointing results. So it’s important to understand the product you are using.

Want to learn more? Check out our other article on what blue light glasses are.

Practical Benefits of Blue Light Glasses

These glasses may help with the following: 

1. Relief from Digital Eye Strain

Blue light glasses help reduce common symptoms of digital eye strain, such as eye fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches. Digital eye strain is sometimes referred to as “computer vision syndrome.“

For anyone spending long hours in front of digital devices with screens — be that for your job, gaming, or entertainment — a pair of blue light glasses is practical solution that doesn’t require frequent breaks or constant adjustments.

2. Better Sleep Quality

Many users report improved sleep after using blue light glasses in the evening. Too much blue light affects the production of melatonin in your brain, along with signaling cortisol production, both of which interferes with your body’s natural circadian rhythm.

By reducing blue light exposure before bed, your body maintains its natural sleep cycle, helping you fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper rest.

3. Improved Productivity and Comfort

Busy professionals often find it impractical to take frequent screen breaks. Blue light glasses provide ongoing protection, allowing uninterrupted focus without sacrificing eye health or comfort.

Blue light glasses can help reduce eye strain, which may help mitigate headaches while looking at a screen.

Another eye health tip related to screen time: The more you “exercise” your eyes, the better they will be. Moving your eyes around and shifting focus often can benefit your eye health. We suggest that you practice the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a break.

How to Tell if Blue Light Glasses Work

Now that we’ve established that blocking artificial blue light is beneficial, the next question is: how can you confirm that your blue light blocking product is effective? Here are our suggested methods to test performance:

1. The Flashlight Test

Shine a blue light flashlight through the lenses onto a white surface. If the glasses are effective, you’ll notice a significant reduction in blue light passing through. If little to no blue light is filtered out, it’s a sign of low-quality lenses.

2. Lens Reflection

Hold your blue light glasses under a light source and look for a slight yellow or blue reflection on the lenses. High-quality glasses often have an anti-reflective coating that reflects harmful wavelengths away from your eyes.

3. Compare Screen Time With and Without Glasses

Spend an hour or two in front of a computer screen without wearing your blue light glasses, and then switch to using them for the same duration. You may notice a difference in eye comfort and strain when wearing quality blue light blocking glasses.

Our Testament to Effectiveness 

As a company concerned with digital wellness, of course we are going to recommend blue light glasses!

We have experienced first hand the benefits of blue light glasses. The nature of running a small business means we are constantly at the computer. Whether that’s fulfilling orders, creating our next Instagram post, or answering customer emails, and everything in between. 

Before wearing blue light glasses, I’d end the day with tired eyes and a lingering headache. Since incorporating a pair of DefenderShield blue light blocking glasses into my daily routine, I’ve noticed a marked difference — it’s a wonder how I ever used screens before wearing these glasses!

Why Choosing Quality Matters for your Eye Health

As with any product, not all blue light glasses are created equal. The market is flooded with cheap, poorly made options that may not provide the protection you need. To ensure you’re getting a product that works:

• Look for glasses tested to block wavelengths between 400-450 nm.
• Check for anti-reflective coatings and certifications.
• Purchase from trusted suppliers with a reputation for quality.

At DefenderShield, we offer a range of premium blue light glasses designed for maximum eye protection. Explore both our 50% blue light blocking lenses with a more subtle yellow tint, or our 99% blocking blue light glasses and experience the difference for yourself.

Already wear glasses? Take a look at our fitover glasses, or even our Versa glasses.

If you want even more eye health benefits, consider our blue light filtering Total Eye Health nutritional supplement.

Conclusion: Glasses that are Worth It

While it’s possible to manage blue light exposure without glasses — limiting screen time, using blue light filters, taking regular breaks, and taking an eye health supplement — blue light glasses offer a convenient, effective eye care solution while maintaining your productivity. 

So, do they work? Absolutely, but their effectiveness depends on quality. By choosing trusted products and testing them yourself, you can confidently enjoy the benefits of reduced eye strain, improved sleep, and enhanced comfort in your daily screen-filled life.

Frequently Asked Questions