The average American spends roughly 7 hours looking at a screen each day. As this number rises and begins to affect younger and younger individuals, many are concerned about potential health impacts and the negative effects it may have on our vision.
To mitigate this, people have turned to blue light glasses as a promised option for saving our eyes from screen damage. But do they work? And how do you pick a pair?
If you’re unsure whether blue light glasses are right for you, consider purchasing a product protection plan for them. You’ll be able to try them out without having to worry about returning them, and you’ll get a replacement if they become damaged in some way. Shop with the Mulberry browser extension to view all the product protection plans available for your items.
What do blue light glasses do?
Many artificial light sources that we encounter, like our screens, give off blue light, which is the highest energy of any light wavelength. As a result, blue light can impact your eye health, and the increasing use of digital screens is thought to impact eye strain, which shows up through side effects like blurry vision, dry eyes, headaches, and more.
Blue light glasses are intended to block some of these wavelengths and cut down on the potential for strain and discomfort. Although the science is mixed, many experts say that a high-quality pair will have some benefits, as long as you don’t suffer from other chronic issues that are contributing to the discomfort you experience.
For lower-quality glasses, however, they may not do anything at all. So, if you want to see the blue light glasses benefits, talk to your eye doctor so they can advise you about where to shop.
Why should you wear blue light blocking glasses at night?
Blue light can help us stay alert in many contexts, so over exposure to this type of visual stimulation at night has the potential to negatively affect our circadian rhythms. Therefore, by blocking some of this blue light in later hours of the day, it can potentially help with insomnia, although studies are still somewhat inconclusive.
Can prescription glasses have a blue light filter?
Yes, most opticians can add a blue light filter to lenses within prescription glasses, which is good news. Simply request this next time you go to get glasses, and you will avoid having to have two separate pairs of glasses.
Does insurance cover blue light glasses?
While insurance wouldn’t cover blue light glasses from typical vendors like Amazon or Walmart, if you’re opting to get a blue light filter on your prescription glasses, your vision insurance may cover that within their contribution to your overall glasses and vision needs.
Typically, there are blue light glasses options at standard retailers that are at a low enough price point that insurance wouldn’t make a difference anyways, as you can get trendy clear blue light glasses for as low as $9.99, with most pairs on Amazon available for under $20 (although, as we mentioned above, they may not be high enough quality to actually have the desired effect).
What are the cons of using blue light glasses?
There truly are no cons to using blue light glasses in terms of your health or well-being, as it’s a simple color filter applied to the glass. However, if you’re in an industry where having precise interpretation of color is essential, it may hinder your ability to accurately interpret colors on the screen, as they may appear warmer with the glasses on.
Is it bad to wear blue light glasses all day?
Since blue light filtering glasses don’t have an effect on your eye well-being, they are fine to wear all day and won’t have any negative impacts.
Protect your purchases with Mulberry
If you want to get the most out of your blue light glasses, definitely invest in a higher-quality pair. To get the most out of your purchases, make sure you shop with the Mulberry browser extension. You’ll be able to find available product protection plans as you shop, and you’ll have the opportunity to earn rewards.
