Buying guide for Best blue-light-blocking glasses

Written by Jennifer Blair

Updated August 2023

We all spend plenty of time staring at computer, smartphone, and tablet screens. Unfortunately, all that screen time can leave you with aching eyes, blurry vision, and headaches unless you have a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses to help counter the effects.

All light might seem pretty much the same, but there are some differences among the types of visible light we encounter. Blue light has the shortest wavelength and is most commonly produced by computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital devices, as well as LED and fluorescent lighting. It can cause eyestrain and various types of irritation, including headaches and poor sleep. Blue-light-blocking glasses have lenses that filter or block the blue light, so the light is warmer and less likely to strain your eyes.

Not all blue-light-blocking glasses are effective, however. Our buying guide is full of tips to help you find the best blue-light-blocking glasses for all your screen time. We’ve also included some specific product recommendations to help make your shopping as stress-free as possible. 

Most American adults look at screens for over 12 hours a day, which is why they often get blue-light overload.

Key considerations

Benefits

If you’re thinking of buying blue-light-blocking glasses, it’s essential to understand what the glasses do so you can be sure that they will address your issues.

Sleep: Using a device that gives off blue light in the evening can affect sleep patterns. Studies suggest that the light can suppress the production of melatonin — a hormone released by the pineal gland that helps set your body’s sleep cycles — and lead to poor sleep. If you’re exposed to too much blue light before bed, you could have more trouble falling and staying asleep or toss and turn all night.

Eyes: Blue light can also cause eyestrain, resulting in tired, itchy eyes, dry or watery eyes, blurry vision, increased sensitivity to light, headaches, and even a sore neck, back, and/or shoulders. Eyestrain can also cause difficulty with concentration.

If you notice that you’re experiencing any of these issues after spending all day in front of your computer or texting on your smartphone, a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses may help alleviate the symptoms.

Lens color

Blue-light-blocking glasses have tinted lenses in a few different colors. The color affects how much blue light the glasses can effectively block.

Clear lenses block about 40% of blue light. If you need to wear the glasses at work or in other public settings, you might be more comfortable with clear lenses because they look like regular reading glasses.

Yellow lenses block up to 75% of blue light. For most people, blue-light-blocking glasses with yellow lenses are the best option because they let through just enough blue light to keep you awake and alert during the day.

Orange lenses block about 98% to 99% of blue light. In the evening before bed, orange or amber lenses are an effective option because they block enough blue light to encourage your body to produce melatonin for a good night’s sleep.

Red lenses block up to 100% of blue, green, and violet light.

Features

Frames

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Material: Most blue-light-blocking glasses have plastic frames made of cellulose acetate or cellulose acetate propionate. Plastic frames are lightweight and affordable, but they can break somewhat easily. Some blue light glasses have metal components that help make them sturdier, but you’ll pay more for these frames.

Color and style: Like other types of glasses, blue-light-blocking glasses are available with frames in various colors and styles. Most blue-light-blocking glasses have black or tortoiseshell frames that are neutral enough to work with nearly any outfit. If you want a bolder look, you can find frames in brighter shades like blue or pink. You should choose frames that match your personal style, so you don’t feel self-conscious wearing the glasses.

Coatings

Antiglare: The lenses on some blue-light-blocking glasses have a coating to reduce glare and minimize reflections from sunlight and artificial light. This feature can be particularly helpful if you work in front of a computer all day.

Antireflective: You can also find blue-light-blocking glasses with an antireflective coating to minimize glare from the lenses themselves. In some cases, the coating is applied to both sides of the lenses, but most blue-light glasses only have the coating on one side.

Fit-over design

If you wear glasses for a vision issue, you can have your prescription lenses treated to block blue light. However, if it’s not time for a new pair of glasses, you can choose a separate pair of blue-light-blocking glasses designed to fit over your corrective eyeglasses. That allows you to maintain the vision correction you need and block any blue light that’s causing eyestrain without getting a whole new pair of glasses.

Magnification

If you want blue-light-blocking glasses and also need reading glasses, you can find some pairs with magnification. They’re typically available in the same strengths as traditional readers, ranging from +1 to +6.
 

To ensure a good night’s sleep, put an end to screen time at least an hour before you go to bed.

Blue-light-blocking glasses prices

Blue-light-blocking glasses vary in price based on the quality of the frames, the color of the lenses, any lens coatings, and magnification. Most pairs cost between $6 and $108.

Inexpensive: The most affordable blue-light-blocking glasses feature lower-quality plastic frames and clear lenses. They typically don’t have antiglare and/or antireflective coatings and don’t offer any type of magnification. You’ll usually pay between $6 and $16 for these blue light glasses.

Mid-range: These blue-light-blocking glasses feature durable plastic frames that aren’t as prone to breaking. You can find glasses with clear, yellow-, and amber-tinted lenses in this price range, and some pairs have magnification for use as reading glasses. You’ll generally pay between $14 and $36 for these blue-light glasses.

Expensive: The most expensive blue-light-blocking glasses have frames made of the highest-quality plastic, and some also have metal components. Some glasses in this price range have clear lenses, but you can also find yellow- and amber-tinted lenses. Some of these glasses have magnification to work as reading glasses, too. You’ll usually pay between $40 and $108 for these blue-light glasses.
 

Tips
 

• Try to limit screen time. Even with blue-light-blocking glasses, it’s a good idea to limit your screen time when you’re not working. If you’ve already spent all day in front of a computer, spending hours checking social media accounts or texting friends in the evening can strain your eyes.
• Use a blue-light filter on your devices. If you use digital devices at night, consider using the blue-light-filter function or downloading a blue-light-filter app for the device. If your glasses don’t block 100% of the blue light from your screen, the filter can help block the rest.
• Practice the 20-20-20 rule. To prevent eye strain, ophthalmologists recommend that every 20 minutes you glance away from your computer screen and focus on an object that’s 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This break allows your eyes to rest and helps prevent eyestrain.
• Position screens correctly. The best distance between your face and a screen that emits blue light is approximately 25 inches. It’s also best to place the screen below your sightline, so you have to look slightly downward.
• Take care of your eyes. Make sure to get regular eye exams with a licensed eyecare professional to make sure there aren’t any issues with your eyes that might cause symptoms of eyestrain.

Blue light can alter your circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. That not only makes it more difficult to fall asleep but also reduces the amount of REM sleep you get, which is necessary to feel rested in the morning.

FAQ

Q. Do blue-light-blocking glasses really work?

A. There is some debate about the effectiveness of blue-light glasses. Ophthalmologists don’t believe there’s enough research to prove that the glasses can protect your eyes from digital eyestrain. That’s because it may not be the blue light that’s straining your eyes when you look at a screen, but the constant motion required to shift your focus on a moving screen.

However, anecdotal evidence from users suggests that blue-light glasses can help reduce the headaches, blurry vision, dry eyes, and/or watery eyes. If you have to spend all day in front of a computer for work, it’s worth giving blue-light glasses a try if you experience issues with eyestrain at the end of the day.

Q. When should I wear blue-light-blocking glasses?

A. You can wear blue-light glasses all day if you plan to use digital devices like a computer, smartphone, or tablet. During the day, it’s best to use glasses with clear or light-yellow lenses. They let in just enough blue light to keep your alert and energized. At night, amber lenses are a better option because they can block more blue light to stimulate melatonin production, so you’ll drift off to sleep more easily.

Q. Can I get my prescription glasses with blue-light-blocking lenses?

A. Many eyeglass manufacturers offer a blue-light-blocking option when you purchase prescription glasses. You might have to pay a little extra, but you won’t need a separate pair of glasses to wear over your existing glasses.