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All of us have seen the billboards and TV ads. An attractive actor or actress flaunting perfectly fit blue-filter-light glasses. The ads promise you a lot of perks: lesser eye strain, better sleep quality and some even sell themselves claiming to be magic cures for headaches. However, one must wonder whether there is any truth to the claims or if it is just another urban hoax— like those skin whitening creams and hair glowing shampoos. Let us find out:
Why We Use Blue-Light-Filter Glasses
Yusra Asad, Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, says that people use the filter glasses to block out ‘blue-light’ as it is more likely to harm our eyes, than other types of lights are. The sun acts as the natural source of light and electricity, screens, and other electronic devices as the tertiary sources. And this light, whether natural or artificial, travels as a spectrum of colours. And each of these colours have different wavelengths that dictate the energy of that particular colour and blue light has the most energy compared to other visible lights. “Hence, people use blue-light filter glasses to lessen the strain on their eyes especially when it comes to exposure to screen lights for longer periods of time,” Yusra explains.
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Are Blue-Light-Filter Glasses Actually Useful?
“The question cannot be answered in binaries as there are a lot of variables involved,” says Yusra. However, there is no scientific study that substantiates the usefulness of such glasses especially when it comes to improving eyesight, reducing eye strain or helping people sleep better.
A recent study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology compliments Yusra’s apprehensions. In this study, they took 120 people who reported that they had digital eyestrain. They gave half of them clear glasses and the other half blue blocking glasses, but the research subjects didn't know which pair they got. Then they had each subject wear their glasses and work on a computer for a couple of hours and ask them about their eyestrain symptoms. At the end of the study, they found that the subjects who received the blue blocking glasses had no difference in their eyestrain symptoms compared to subjects who wore the clear glasses. The blue blocking lenses had no effect on digital eyestrain.
“Although, good quality glasses might help blocking the blue light to some extent, it is likely to have no significant improvement in your eyesight or eye strain,” Yusra.
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Tips To Reduce Eye Strain
- Keep at an arm's length, or 25 inches, from screens.
- Gaze slightly downwards at the screen.
- Employ the 20-20-20 rule, which is to glance away from the screen to an object that is at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds each 20 minutes, to take a break for the eyes.
- Employ artificial tears to supplement moisture if the eyes are dry.
- Alter the lighting within a room and contrast settings on the screen to make it easy on the eyes.
- Employ a matte screen filter if necessary.
- Wear glasses while operating a screen, if an ophthalmologist or optometrist has recommended them.
Bottom Line
Although the ads on TV, Social Media, or bill boards might let you believe that blue blue-light -filter glasses will magically make your strain disappear and give you the eyesight of a hawk, you should rather do your own research before making up your mind. And in case, the strains and headaches persist, you should consult a professional ophthalmologist.