Your Guide to Blue Light-Blocking Glasses
It’s relatively common for people to spend most or even all of their workdays looking at a screen. After work, many people go on to spend a significant portion of their evening looking at a screen while gaming, watching TV, or using computers. In effect, people may bombard their eyes with blue light during most of their waking hours. Unfortunately, the blue light emitted by screens can negatively impact people’s ocular health and even their sleep cycles. Blue light is one of the most stimulating types of artificial light, and continual overexposure can disrupt your natural body’s circadian rhythm. Constantly being exposed to blue light from the technology that you use throughout the day may suppress your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that lets your body know when it’s time to go to sleep.
Special lenses that filter out blue light can counteract some of the negative effects of overexposure. Lenses designed for using computers and gaming will make you less vulnerable to eye strain and fatigue, and they can help to preserve your sleep cycle. Here are some important things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for blue light blocking lenses.
Blue Light Blockers Aren’t Just for Prescription Eyeglasses Wearers
People who have perfect vision and have never worn glasses may be reticent to get their first pair of specs. However, blue light-blockers are good for everybody who looks at a screen for work or gaming, not just people who already have to wear glasses to correct their vision. Much like sunglasses, blue light-blocking glasses offer vital protection against potentially serious damage.
Consider Weight Carefully
When you’re choosing a pair of glasses, you should look for frames that are lightweight so they’ll feel as comfortable as possible. You don’t want glasses that are so heavy that they form deep impressions on the bridge of your nose. Look at the specifications where there’s information about sizing to find a pair of frames’ weight in grams. If the weight isn’t included in the specifications, ask the retailer. Also, when you’re selecting lenses, choose a high index option. The thinner a lens, the less it will weigh.
Be Aware Not All Blue Light Blockers Have the Exact Same Tint
Each lens manufacturer’s blue light blocking lenses have a slightly different tint. Some lenses have a tint that’s barely noticeable at all. Others may have a tint that looks really yellow. If you try a pair of blue light-blocking lenses and conclude that they’re too yellow for your comfort, don’t give up on blue light-blocking glasses altogether. Bear in mind that you may find another manufacturer’s lenses to be more tolerable.
Add On Coatings
You’ll probably have the option to add protective coatings when you’re buying glasses online. There may be an additional charge for some coatings, but they can greatly enhance glasses’ functionality. An anti-glare coating shields your eyes from glare, so it’s particularly good for situations in which you’ll be looking at bright lights amid a dark background. Driving, gaming, and watching movies are examples of activities where an anti-glare coating can be a big help. An anti-reflective coating also helps to refract glare, but its primary purpose is minimizing the reflection that someone else sees while looking at your glasses. An anti-scratch coating will fortify your lenses against damage, and hydrophobic coating will repel oils and make your glasses a little easier to clean.
Trying to minimize your screen time may be difficult or impossible, but blue light-blocking glasses give you an easy and effective way to protect your eyes. Ultimately, safeguarding your eyes with blue light-blocking glasses will help to preserve your eyes’ health and spare you from discomfort.