Best Blue Light Glasses 2022
Blue light glasses (a.k.a. blue light blocking glasses) have become a must-have accessory, and it’s easy to see why: Between working from home, checking your phone and watching TV, the amount of screen time you’re logging can take a toll on your eyes. With blue light emitted from those same screens, your level of daily exposure (as well as your kids’) is likely at an all-time high. And while some think these screen protection glasses are gimmicky, others swear they’re a workday essential right alongside your sit/stand desk and office chair. Bottom line: At best, blue light glasses protect your vision, reduce eye strain and help regulate circadian rhythms; at worst, they make you look cool.
Zenni Optical has affordable, stylish blue light glasses starting at $17.
If you wear prescription glasses, you can often add blue light blocking technology as a lens upgrade for convenient all-day protection. And if you don’t, blue light glasses are an excellent, affordable solution to help your eyes stay more comfortable throughout the work day and beyond. Interested in trying them out for yourself? (Or maybe you need specs for the entire family, including the kids.) Here are some top retailers that offer the best blue light glasses you can buy online.
- Best Blue Light Glasses Overall: EyeBuyDirect
- Best Value Blue Light Glasses: Zenni Optical
- Best Blue Light Glasses Shopping Experience: Warby Parker
- Best Blue Light Glasses For Accessorizing: Nordstrom
- Best Designer Blue Light Glasses: Saks
- Best Blue Light Glasses For Screen Protection: Felix Gray
- Most Fashionable Blue Light Glasses: DIFF Eyewear
- Best Blue Light Glasses In A Pinch: Amazon
Best Blue Light Glasses Overall
EyeBuyDirect: A Myriad Of Options From A Trusted Retailer
Best Value Blue Light Glasses
Zenni: Budget-Friendly Glasses That Don’t Sacrifice Style
Best Blue Light Glasses Shopping Experience
Warby Parker: Celebrity-Endorsed Looks You Can Try On
Best Blue Light Glasses For Accessorizing
Nordstrom: Trendy Styles That Compliment Your Wardrobe
Best Designer Blue Light Glasses
Saks Fifth Avenue: Catwalk-Worthy Frames To Upgrade Your Zoom Look
Best Blue Light Glasses For Screen Protection
Felix Gray: Proprietary Technology Filters 15 Times More Blue Light
Most Fashionable Blue Light Glasses
DIFF Eyewear: Designer Looks Without The Designer Prices
Best Blue Light Glasses In A Pinch
Amazon: Basic Frames When You Need Them ASAP
What Should I Consider When Buying Blue Light Glasses?
From cheap, basic frames to prescription designer specs, there are thousands of blue light blocking glasses for every need and budget. Consider the points below to help you find your perfect pair.
Usage
First thing’s first: Do want frames you can wear all day, including to work meetings? It might be worth spending a little more for a decent pair that’ll hold up (and make you feel polished in front of your colleagues).
If you’re just looking for a pair for occasional use or you’re shopping for your kids, lower-cost styles that you can afford to lose and replace may be your best bet. That said, you don’t have to settle for generic, low-quality glasses. For instance, Zenni Eyewear (above) offers affordable options that are also well-made, stylish and affordable.
Prescription Options
Do you already wear prescription glasses? Consider getting a pair that does double-duty with prescription blue light blocking glasses. Several of the retailers above let you customize your lenses with upgrades like a blue light-filtering coating.
Return policy
Higher-end blue light glasses can be a splurge, especially if they include prescription lenses. For pricier specs, especially, be sure to check the retailer’s return policy. Some give you a two-week window, some allow a one-time return for store credit, some charge a restocking fee and some don’t allow returns on custom orders.
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is one of the colors on the visible light spectrum. It has a short wavelength, which means that it produces more energy than other light colors. There are two types of blue light—natural (from the sun) and artificial (from devices like your phone, computer, tablet, and TV). While exposure to natural blue light during the day isn’t much of a concern, regular exposure to artificial blue light has been linked to various problems, like eye strain, fatigue and headache.
Is Blue Light Really Bad For You?
But what’s so wrong with blue light? For one thing, it contributes to eye strain, and can also increase the risk of macular degeneration as well as other vision complications. It can also affect your sleep by disrupting your circadian rhythm. And while we’re all exposed to the blue light that comes from the sun (it’s the blue wavelengths in sunlight), which actually boosts attention and mood during the day, it’s our exposure to blue light outside of daylight hours that can affect us in less desirable ways.
Do Blue Light Blocking Glasses Really Work?
It depends who you ask. There isn’t a lot of research to support the use of these screen protection glasses says Phillip Yuhas, O.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. That said, the technology is still new. “Some patients do find that some blue light blocking glasses improve subjective comfort while viewing a screen,” Yuhas says.
Blue light glasses may also help you get a better night’s sleep, says Sunir J. Garg, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital. “For some folks, exposing themselves to intense blue light at nighttime can screw up their internal clock,” he says. “That can mess up certain people’s sleep-wake cycles. There may be some advantage to people using blue light glasses at night if they’re having trouble sleeping.”
Ultimately, the evidence is mostly anecdotal but wearing a pair of blue light glasses while looking at screens won’t hurt. However, if you have any additional concerns about your eyes or vision, your best bet is to consult with your eye doctor,