What Are Blue Light Glasses? And Why Should Non-glasses Wearers Consider Getting a Pair?
With screen time continually rising, there’s been a lot of talk about blue light filtering lenses. However, people still have questions about them. What exactly are blue light filtering lenses? Who really benefits from getting a pair of blue light glasses? And, can you get non-prescription blue light glasses?
The Visionworks team is here to explain the technology behind blue light filtering lenses, how it works and the benefits of getting a pair of blue light glasses—even if you don’t need them for vision correction.
Why Should You Be Concerned About Blue Light?
First things first. Why should you be concerned about the effect blue light may be having on your eyes? Let’s take a closer look at what blue light is, where we encounter it and some of its potential effects.
What Exactly Is Blue Light?
Blue light is also known as high-energy visible light. It’s located at the far end of the visible light spectrum, with a wavelength between 380 to 460 nanometers. This places it close to ultraviolet (UV) light, which is the short-wavelength, invisible light emitted from the sun’s rays.
You already know it’s important to wear sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from UV light. Blue light filtering lenses work similarly and may be just as important! While sunglasses protect your eyes by blocking UVA and UVB rays, blue light filtering lenses may protect your eyes by reducing blue light exposure.
Where Are We Exposed to Blue Light?
We encounter blue light daily, maybe even more than we realize. Blue light is emitted from computers, smartphones, tablets, video games, TVs and even LED light bulbs. In this digital age, both children and adults typically spend much of their day in front of screens.
Think about how long you spend looking at your devices at work, school, home and even outside. The average American spends up to 12 hours a day staring at a screen of some kind. Not only do many of us spend much of our workday in front of screens, we also spend time scrolling social media on our phones, catching up on our favorite TV shows and even reading full books on tablets. All that screen time adds up.
Smart Phones
Tablets
Video Games
TV/Computer
LED/CFL Bulbs
HEV Bulbs
How Does Blue Light Affect Us?
Why should we be concerned about all this blue light exposure from our screens and devices? It may contribute to digital eye strain.
Digital Eye Strain
Digital eye strain is a modern eye health concern that affects up to 90% of computer and smart device users. The condition can result in symptoms including:
- Dry eyes
- Blurred vision
- Tired eyes
- Sore eyes
- Headaches
- Watery eyes
These symptoms are uncomfortable and may make it difficult to focus and be productive when working in front of a screen.
Do Blue Light Filtering Lenses Actually Work?
At Visionworks, we’re leading the way and setting a new standard for blue light filtering lenses. Our Smart Screen lenses are made with blue light filtering technology and appear visually clear. Now, you can get blue light reduction and style all in one beautiful pair of glasses.
Smart Screen lenses reduce blue light by up to 45% and filter 3 times more blue light than industry-standard clear plastic lenses. These lenses are backed by Visionworks’ 100-day guarantee and may help defend your eyes from the devices you use every day.
What Are the Advantages of Blue Light Glasses?
Blue light filtering lenses are an easy way to help defend against the risks posed by prolonged use of screens and devices. Blue light lenses filter a portion of blue light in the 400–455 nm range.
Should Non-Glasses Wearers Get Blue Light Filtering Lenses?
Many people can benefit from blue light filtering glasses, even if they don’t use prescription lenses. Since correcting vision is not the purpose of these lenses, whether you wear glasses or not has no bearing on your need for blue light filtering lenses.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether to get computer glasses without a prescription.
How Much Time Do You Spend Looking at a Screen?
Screens are one of the main ways people are exposed to blue light. Children are frequently exposed to blue light at school, and many adults spend hours a day on a computer for work. Many leisure activities involve a screen, too. If you spend a lot of time looking at screens, you’re a good candidate for blue light filtering lenses.
Are You Experiencing Digital Eye Strain?
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of digital eye strain, talk to your doctor about blue light filtering lenses. They are designed to filter high-energy visible (HEV) light emitted by digital screens and natural sources.
Do You Prioritize Your Eye Health in Other Ways?
If you already do your best to care for your eyes in other ways—with sunglasses, light-reactive lenses, eye drops and annual eye exams—eye health is clearly important to you. Blue light filtering lenses are a great way to strengthen your care routine. If you don’t use many other protectants, blue light filtering lenses are a great place to start being proactive about your eye health.
Are Blue Light Glasses Covered by Insurance?
Wondering whether your vision insurance covers the cost of your blue light filtering lenses? The answer depends on your insurance plan and specific circumstances.
Some insurance plans cover blue light filtering lenses, and some may cover them if you meet certain criteria, like having a medical condition that necessitates their use or a job that involves a lot of screen time. Some plans only provide coverage with a prescription.
Carefully review your plan or contact your insurer to see if you can get your lenses covered.
Do You Need a Prescription for Blue Light Glasses?
If you have a prescription, we recommend upgrading your lenses to Smart Screen to ensure all-day defense from blue light rays. If you don’t wear glasses, don’t worry! At Visionworks, you can receive free non-prescription Smart Screen lenses with an anti-reflective coating with the purchase of a stylish pair of frames.
Visit your local Visionworks for a glasses fitting and see why a chic pair of Smart Screen glasses will quickly become your favorite new accessory. You already wear sunglasses to defend your eyes from the sun. Make sure to defend your eyes from all those screens, too!
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
