Are ‘Blue Light Lenses’ worth it?
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely been staring at a screen for a prolonged period of time — whether it’s in your hand or on your desk. And it’s emitting blue light waves: short, high-energy wavelengths that help you maintain a natural circadian rhythm. Blue light is everywhere and is produced by both natural and manmade sources, such as the sun, TV screens, computers and phones. Our increased absorption of blue light in recent years, and concerns regarding its effect on our eyesight, have become a popular topic in the news. These concerns have given rise to the invention of “Blue Light Lenses” to combat the potential strain on our vision. While trendy for the potential wellness benefits they may offer, we’re here to answer the question — are they worth it?
While there are some concerns that blue light could begin to cause retinal damage and increase the risk of macular degeneration, it’s important to note that at this time, there is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices actually damages your eyes (sunlight will damage your eyes). With that being said, many of our customers have found that the use of blue light lenses seem to alleviate discomfort and stress on the eye during screen time. Users also tend to see benefits when utilizing these lenses prior to bedtime. The lenses allow your body to maintain your circadian rhythm by avoiding these high-energy wavelengths in the evening.
Most blue light lenses are crafted with a coating on the lens, which cause a luminous, almost purple color to be seen (by both the wearer and passerby). This hue can be visually annoying to some, but without it, the lens is likely not blocking as many rays. The visual appearance of blue light lenses is something to keep in mind before adding to your prescription, or investing in a separate pair of glasses. The lenses that block the most blue light have a yellowish hue to the material. However, the coating alternatives (which we use at David Kind) have blue light blocking properties without the yellowish hue.
While there is no scientific proof behind the protective benefits of blue light lenses outside of sleep pattern normalization, we do offer this technology to our clients and encourage each customer to explore the effect it may have on his or her daily life. Many of our clients and employees love them and have noticed benefits themselves. Questions about blue light lenses or any other prescription issues? Send them our way at optician@davidkind.com.