Over time, close blue light exposure has become an inevitable part of our daily routine.
There is little one can do about it, given how integrated life has become and the core tools that lie behind our phones, computer, and television screens. We need to carry out work tasks, keep in touch with people, and stay informed. But it comes at a cost.
Eye strain, headaches, distorted vision, and sleeping difficulties are among the common consequences of prolonged screen exposure, especially at night and without enough breaks.
While some smartphones come with blue light filters or eye comfort shield options, blue light glasses have become the more conventional route to healthier vision and better sleep after prolonged exposure to devices with liquid crystal displays (LCDs). An inquiry into how beneficial these glasses are, necessarily follows.
Blue light glasses serve to sieve out blue light emitted by screens to forestall eye strain and the accompanying risks of prolonged, unfiltered exposure. As the name implies, these glasses feature blue tints. Blue light has a short wavelength, and blue light glasses lower the transmission.
The potential value of blue light glasses has informed nearly fifteen years of research to assess said value. Generally, studies are yet to arrive at a clear cut indication that blue light glasses alleviate eye strain. Conversely, blue light glasses have proven to be more efficacious with improving sleep. A user of blue light glasses is thus more likely to sleep better than to avoid eye strain.
Prescriptions and frames tend to compound the cost of blue light glasses. Less expensive options are also available.
In the final analysis, one must factor in existing symptoms of eye problems as well as finances and the daily level of exposure to blue light. A person who experiences frequent eye strain, dry eyes, red eyes, or headaches upon exposure to phone and computer screens, where such exposure spans many hours, may consider consulting an optician with a view to getting prescribed blue light glasses.
In any circumstance, it is advisable to purchase the less expensive, casual or over-the-counter blue light glasses to assess their contextual efficacy and the seriousness of any persisting eye problems.
