Blue light blocking glasses are designed to protect your eyes from excessive screen exposure. But do they actually work? It’s a fair question—how do you know if you’re not just falling for the latest marketing gimmick? We’re breaking it all down, point by point, so you can separate fact from fiction and make sure you're getting the best eye care.
Are blue light blocking glasses worth it?
Why filter blue light? ⚡
The dangers of blue light have been widely debated, but many experts agree it can lead to some significant risks and serious side effects. Here are the big ones:
- 😴 Sleep Disruption: The scientific community is in agreement on this one - blue light suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. Therefore, too much blue light exposure at the wrong time of day can mess with your circadian rhythm and your health.
- 🫣Eye Strain & Headaches: Some studies suggest blue light contributes to Digital Eye Strain (also known as Computer Vision Syndrome), headaches, blurred vision, and even long-term retina damage (like AMD - age related macular degeneration). Not everyone in the scientific community agrees, but research is leaning in that direction.
UV protection ☀️
Despite the name, blue light glasses do more than just block blue light—they also filter out UV rays, aiding your overall eye health.
You might think UV exposure isn’t a big deal indoors, but they're still there! Plus, if you’re staring at your phone outside in bright sunlight, those extra rays can be very harmful. Quality blue light glasses also block UV rays, helping to prevent conditions like cataracts, photokeratitis, and even eye cancer.
Anti-glare protection
Screen glare strains your eyes and can cause anything from mild eye discomfort to full-on dizziness and eye fatigue. High-quality blue light glasses come with anti-reflective coatings that reduce this effect, making screen time easier on your eyes.
Good anti-blue light glasses usually have an anti-reflective lens coating, reducing this unpleasant and dangerous sensation.
Do blue light blocking glasses work? How to tell
If you want to test them, simply stare at a screen for 24 hours straight without blinking.
…Just kidding. Don’t do that.
🕵️ But seriously, avoid gimmicky “tests” like the little blue laser or an on-screen blue light filter—these don’t prove anything because much of the filtered spectrum is invisible to the naked eye.
Instead, here’s what actually matters:
✅Check for compliance with ANSI standards (in the USA)
Look for compliance with international standards to confirm that the basic minimum standards have been met. Anti-blue light glasses are considered medical devices and must meet certain specific criteria indicated by mandatory ANSI clearance.
Check the arms of your glasses. Those that have been inspection will be stamped with a logo or marker of either Z87 or something similar.
✅ Ask for certification by an independent laboratory
To get certified, an independent laboratory must test the blue light filtering glasses. That means you can ask for a copy of their test report and it should confirm the glasses filter the right blue light wavelengths. No report? Sketchy company.
✅Confirm its anti-reflection works
Simply hold the glasses at an angle where they will reflect light. If the reflections are the same color as the ambient light, you don't have an anti-reflective coating. If they reflect in a color like green, gold, purple, or blue, congrats - you've got the coating.
✅The ultimate test: the spectrometer
If you’re really committed, you can have your glasses tested with a spectrometer, but this requires specialist equipment or a lab test (read: expensive).
How to choose effective blue light blocking glasses [+BONUS Picks]
Not all blue light glasses are created equal. Here’s what to look for:
First, the essentials:
- Blue light protection between 380 and 450 nanometers
- 100% UV A, B and C protection
- Powerful anti-reflection
- All certified to international standards by an independent laboratory
Extra considerations:
- The price 💰: Blue light blocking glasses cost between 30 and 80 euros. Anything cheaper probably doesn’t work. Anything more expensive is pushing it (unless you need prescription lenses).
- Fit & comfort👓 : Check the size of the glasses, the thinness of the temples (especially if you want to wear headphones )and the materials used (we recommend polycarbonate frames as they're lightweight, durable and hypoallergenic.
- Guarantee 🔄: If a company offers a money-back or lifetime guarantee (like Horus X), that’s a good sign they stand by their product.
[BONUS: Our top picks]
🎮 For gamers: Check out this selection of blue light blocking gaming glasses.
🧑💼For office work: The stylish anti blue light nomad collection of computer glasses is ideal.
🚸 For the kids: There's a whole range of kid's blue blocking glasses to choose from.
🤓 For prescription glasses: If you need a prescription, just add our clip-on shield to your existing glasses.
😎 For sunny days: Our blue light blocking sunglasses collection protects you from harmful rays and dangerous blue light at the same time!
Can you wear blue light blocking glasses all the time?
We can, but we don't have to . Blue light can be broken down into two types of light: The good and the bad. The good one is essential for your body and doesn't require filtering. The bad artificial blue light is harmful and does.
Do blue light glasses work? Final thoughts
Blue light blocking glasses can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep—but they’re not a magic fix for everything. The real solution? Manage your screen time.
Overexposure to screens is difficult to avoid, but it is relatively simple to set up a small personal curfew during the day, do some simple eye rests or exercises, or if you want to go really wild, have a caveman day. No screens, no tech.... just talk to the people in your life.
.....Yeah, that sounds awful to us, too.