Do Blue Light Glasses Work?

We are constantly bombarded with blue light. It’s emitted by the sun, our phones, our computers, and our TVs. A certain amount is essential for staying alert and focused during the day, but there are concerns that overexposure could be damaging our health.

Some people recommend using specialist eyewear to help protect our vision. The question is, do blue light glasses work? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at blue light, explain what blue light glasses are, and reveal how useful a tool they really are.

The science behind blue light

Sunlight doesn’t just contain one type of light — it’s made up of an array of coloured “visible” light, such as red, yellow, and blue. Compared with other colours on the spectrum, blue light has a short wavelength, which means it contains more energy.

Aside from sunlight, blue light is also emitted by digital screens. Given the increasing amount of time many of us spend using electronic devices in close proximity, the effects of blue light on eye health have become of increasing concern in recent years.

Blue light exposure: what’s the damage?

Since it has a short wavelength, blue light can easily penetrate the light-sensitive retina at the back of your eye. One animal study has shown that blue light can damage cells in the retina (1), but there is currently no evidence to suggest it damages the human eye.

Some health concerns commonly associated with blue light exposure include:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — AMD occurs when the centre of the retina deteriorates, leading to a loss of vision. Research is ongoing into whether blue light could speed up the process of macular degeneration.
• Digital eye strain — Using a digital device for long periods can cause digital eye strain, resulting in dry, sore, irritated eyes and headaches. However, eye strain can occur for a number of reasons (for example, sitting too close to the screen) so more research is needed to determine whether blue light is a direct cause.
• Disrupted sleep — Blue light has a direct effect on the brain’s ability to produce the ‘sleep’ hormone melatonin, which can delay or disrupt your sleep cycle. This can cause metabolic changes and lower levels of the satiety hormone leptin.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BLUE LIGHT GLASSES

So, how do blue light glasses work? The lenses are coated with a special film that reflects blue light away from the eyes, helping to block out or reduce the amount of blue light that enters your eyes. It’s thought this can help to reduce eye strain and fatigue, and may even help to improve sleep patterns. In one study, wearing blue light glasses for one hour before bed improved sleep quality and alleviated insomnia symptoms.

FOR BLUE LIGHT GLASSES IN AUSTRALIA, TRUST 1001 OPTICAL

At 1001 Optical, our range of blue light glasses are stylish and come in a variety of frame options to suit your needs. Or, if you’d prefer to keep your existing glasses, you can add a blue light control coating or anti-glare coating to your prescription lenses. If you need assistance or have any questions about our range of blue light glasses in Australia, don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team. We hope to hear from you soon.

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