Key Takeaways
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Not all blue light glasses are the same, they can differ in lens tint, filtration level, purpose, and effectiveness.
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Your needs usually determine the best type of blue light glasses for you. For example, some glasses are made for reading, gaming, daytime use, or nighttime wear.
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Other alternatives can also help to reduce your exposure to blue light such as apps, screen filters, and dimming artificial lighting in the evening.
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It’s essential to choose a pair of blue light glasses that are comfortable, durable and filter out at least 90% of blue light.
If you’ve ever felt eye fatigue or struggled to fall asleep after a lot of screen time, you’re most certainly not alone.
The culprit behind these symptoms is often the artificial blue light emitted by devices and LED lights. The solution? Blue light blocking glasses. But no, not all blue light glasses are the same.
Some glasses block more blue light than others, some are tinted or clear, while some are designed for specific purposes like better sleep, reading or gaming.
In this article, we’ll break down the main differences between blue light glasses, types of lenses, and help you choose the best pair for your needs.
Are All Blue Light Glasses the Same?
The short answer? No, all blue light glasses aren’t the same. These differences usually come down to the types of lenses, how much blue light they actually filter out, the materials they’re made from, and whether they’re.
But first things first, what is blue light? Blue light has short, high-energy wavelengths between 400–500 nm and is heavily emitted by screens, LEDs, and natural sunlight.
Natural blue light plays an essential role in balancing your body’s circadian rhythm helping regulate sleep and energy during the day, however, too much artificial blue light at night can lead to digital eye strain, headaches, and melatonin suppression, which can disrupt your sleep.
The Function of Blue Light Glasses
So, how do blue light glasses work?
Blue light glasses are built to filter or block high-energy visible blue light from entering your eyes. This can help to ease some of the symptoms of eye strain, like dryness, irritation, and blurred vision, while also supporting better sleep patterns, especially when they are worn before bedtime. Find out more here on the benefits of blue light blocking glasses.
Some blue light glasses may also block UV rays and come with anti-reflective coatings to further support eye health and comfort. Others have clearer lenses for screen time during the day with minimal color distortion, while some have amber or orange lenses for nighttime use.
The goal is to limit the amount of light emitted from screens and artificial sources from reaching your retinas without negatively affecting your viewing experience.
Types of Blue Light Glasses
Blue light glasses come in multiple styles and designs, each tailored to a specific need or time of day. Let’s take a look at a few examples:
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Daytime Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Daytime blue light blocking glasses are designed for people who spend long hours in front of screens, whether working, studying, or simply browsing.
These glasses usually feature clear or light yellow lenses to filter out artificial blue light. They aim to reduce digital eye strain and prevent symptoms like dry eyes and blurred vision from excessive screen time during the day.
Unlike heavily tinted lenses, their clearer colored lenses help to maintain color accuracy. This makes them especially ideal if your work requires you to see true-to-life colors, such as in photo and video editing or graphic design.
Take a look at some of the best blue light glasses for men and the best blue light glasses for women here.
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Nighttime Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Nighttime blue light blocking glasses are made to be worn after sunset. With amber or red lenses, they block up over 90% of blue and green light, which can interfere with your sleep by suppressing melatonin production (your body’s primary sleep hormone).
These glasses are best for those who use screens in the evening or shift workers who work under artificial lighting at night. They support your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle by reducing the harmful wavelengths from screens, bulbs, and devices from entering into your retinas.
It’s best to wear them around 2 hours before bed to avoid blue light’s disruptive impact on your sleep.
Check out our guide on the best blue light blocking glasses for sleep.
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Prescription Blue Light Glasses
So, you’re wondering “can you add blue light filters to existing glasses?” The answer is yes!
If you need vision correction, prescription lenses combined with blue light protection are usually the way to go.
These types of lenses are great for anyone who already wears prescription glasses but also needs to reduce screen-related fatigue and boost their sleep quality.
Remember to always ensure you’re selecting a reputable provider that offers verified information on the percentage of blue light their lenses filter out.
If you need vision correction while reading, take a look at some of the best blue light blocking reading glasses.
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Clip-On Blue Light Filters
Clip-on filters are a flexible and affordable solution if you already wear prescription glasses.
They work by easily attaching to bridge of your existing frames, allowing you to convert your current pair into blue light blocking glasses right away.
These are perfect if you don't want to invest in a second pair of glasses or frequently switch between different frames.
Depending on the brand, they may offer amber/orange or clearer tints for different times of the day.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Blue Light Glasses
When it comes to choosing the right pair of blue light glasses, there are a few factors that you’ll need to take into account, such as lens tint, comfort, and efficacy. Let’s dive in:
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Lens Tint and Filtration Percentage
The tint of your lenses impacts both the amount of blue light blocked and how colors appear when worn.
Clear lenses or light yellow lenses are ideal for daytime use, while amber or orange lenses are ideal for nighttime when you want to block as much blue light as possible (these darker-tinted lenses also block out some green light, which can further support sleep).
The deeper the tint, the stronger the filtration of blue light, but this can also affect your viewing experience by disrupting colors. So you’ll want to stick to lighter lenses when you need to see true-to-life colors.
Don’t forget to always check the filtration info provided by the manufacturer, not just the color of the lenses.
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Fit and Comfort
A pair of glasses is only helpful if you’ll actually wear them, right? Fit, weight, and comfort are all super important, especially if you’re wearing them for several hours a day.
Look for flexible nose pads, lightweight frames made from materials like Italian Mazzucchelli
Acetate, as used by Dream Recovery, and durable materials that don’t dig into your ears or nose. Overly tight frames can also lead to pressure headaches or leave marks on your skin.
If you already wear prescription glasses that you find really comfortable, you might want to consider blue light blocking clip-on lenses.
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Additional Lens Features
Beyond blocking blue light, some lenses include anti-reflective coatings, UV protection, or scratch-resistant surfaces.
These features may help to enhance your visual clarity, prevent glare from screens, and even extend the life of your glasses.
Learn more here about UV protection vs blue light glasses.
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Verified Testing and Certification
Unfortunately, not all glasses claiming to block blue light actually do…
Therefore, it’s essential to look for products that come with third-party testing certification indicating the percentage of blue light blocked.
Reliable companies will also provide lab data and often specify the wavelength range they target (typically 400–500nm).
With Dream Recovery, you can have total peace of mind that you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for. These blue light glasses have been third-party tested and shown to block out at least 98% of blue light for amazing results.
Get your hands on Dream Recovery Blue Light Glasses now.
Alternative Methods to Reduce Blue Light Exposure
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Screen Filters and Blue Light Apps
Apps like f.lux, Night Shift, or Night Light all work to change your device’s color temperature after the sun sets. This can help to reduce blue wavelengths emitted from your screen to better support healthier melatonin production.
For added support, there are physical screen filters that can be applied directly to phone screens and computer monitors. While these are usually not as effective as glasses, they’re still helpful for reducing your exposure to artificial blue light.
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Adjusting Screen Brightness and Settings
Dimming your screen or turning on dark mode reduces blue light intensity and can help to prevent eye fatigue. While not perfect, it’s a step toward protecting your eyes, especially if you don’t have blue light glasses.
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Reduce Screen Time Before Bed
Cutting your screen use 1-2 hours before bed is one of the best natural (and free!) ways to help prevent blue light from affecting your sleep.
Try to avoid scrolling at night or binge watching into the evening. Instead, go for for activities like reading, listening to an audio book, or meditating.
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Use Red or Dim Lighting at Night
Add some red or amber-toned light fixtures in your bedroom and bathroom to reduce blue light exposure before sleep. Unlike bright white lights, red tones won’t suppress the sleep hormone melatonin.
If you can’t get red or amber-toned lights, dim your existing lights as much as possible in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Protect Your Eyes with Dream Recovery’s Blue Light Glasses
Blue light exposure is real, and so are its negative effects. But not all blue light glasses are created equal. The effectiveness depends on lens quality, fit, and your specific needs.
Whether you need blue light glasses for gaming, general work use, or sleeping, Dream Recovery offers trusted, lab-tested blue light glasses that are not only effective but comfortable and stylish.
Transform your health with Dream Recovery Blue Light Glasses.