Anti Blue Computer Glasses in Uganda

What are anti-blue light glasses?

Anti Blue light glasses (occasionally referred to as blue light blocking glasses) are eyeglasses that contain lenses that are specifically designed to block blue light from reaching the eye. Blue light rays are filtered out by these lenses, preventing them from entering your eye and causing potential damage. Blue light lenses typically have a slight yellow tint (to balance the blue light), but this is usually undetectable.

How do you define blue light?

Sunlight contains a variety of different wavelengths and energy levels of coloured light (including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). When this spectrum of coloured light rays is combined, what we refer to as ‘white light’ is created (or sunlight).

Blue light is just one of the colours that make up this light spectrum — which is generally referred to as ‘visible light’. This means that its wavelength is short and its energy levels are high. Blue light is emitted at varying intensities by a variety of different light sources, the largest of which is the sun, from which we receive the majority of our exposure. However, there are numerous man-made sources, and blue light has gained prominence in recent years as a result of its association with digital screens. Blue light is emitted by computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital devices. Although this is a small fraction of the amount of light emitted by the sun, the amount of time people spend on these devices and the proximity of these screens to their eyes has raised concerns about the long-term effects of blue light on eye health.

Blue light has an effect on the eyes. Here’s how.

Blue light has a short wavelength, which allows it to easily pass through the eyes. This means that nearly all visible blue light rays are capable of passing through the cornea and lens and reaching the retina (the lining of the back of the eye). While there is little research to support this, some experts believe that excessive exposure to blue light may cause damage to the retina’s light-sensitive cells. Additionally, one animal study discovered that blue light exposure may result in phototoxic retinal damage. 

While digital screens do emit some blue light, research has found that the amount of blue light emitted by screens is significantly less than that emitted by natural sunlight — and neither level approaches eye safety limits.

This means that the potential harm caused by blue light from digital screens is very unlikely to be significant, if at all.

Are blue light glasses effective?

While blue light blocking glasses are effective at reducing the amount of blue light that enters the eyes, there is no evidence that they can improve or protect the health of your eyes at the moment. Simply put, there is no scientific evidence that wearing blue light blocking glasses improves eye health.

As The College of Optometrists puts it, ‘the best available scientific evidence does not support the use of blue-blocking spectacle lenses in the general population to improve visual performance, alleviate symptoms of eye fatigue or visual discomfort, improve sleep quality, or preserve macula health.’

Are blue-light-blocking glasses beneficial for reducing eye strain?

Some individuals may consider purchasing blue light glasses based on claims that they can help alleviate eye strain associated with the use of digital devices. However, there is insufficient research to suggest that blue light is the primary cause of digital eye strain. Eye strain can occur for a variety of reasons when using digital screens. If you spend an extended period of time concentrating and staring at a screen, your eyes may become fatigued. Additionally, your eyes must constantly shift focus while viewing screens, and sitting too close can strain your eye muscles as they attempt to focus on such a small image. If you wear glasses, glare from nearby light sources (such as bright office lights or a nearby window) can also cause your eyes to squint and strain.

While it is tempting to attribute these issues to blue light, it is more likely that they are caused by excessive use of digital devices, not by blue light itself. Eye fatigue is frequently caused by digital eye strain, and blue light damage is uncommon if it occurs at all. 

Do blue light glasses protect the retina?

Blue light has been shown in cell culture experiments and animal studies to cause damage to the retina of the eye.

However, there is insufficient research to suggest that blue light-absorbing devices (such as blue light lenses) are beneficial for lowering the risk or progression of retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 1

Additionally, numerous regulations have been enacted to limit the amount of blue light emitted by commonplace objects. As a result of these safety limits, the levels of blue light emitted by objects such as light bulbs and digital screens are below the threshold for retinal damage. This means that blue-light-blocking glasses are not absolutely necessary when using digital devices.

What are some possible replacements for blue light glasses?

Rather than wearing blue light computer glasses, there are a variety of other proven methods for reducing digital eye strain, ranging from clever screen-use techniques to lens treatments that can be added to your prescription glasses.

1. Best practices for screen use

Self-care is one of the most straightforward ways to prevent and reduce eye strain. For example, taking frequent breaks and adhering to the 20-20-20 rule (for every 20 minutes spent on a device, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away) can help to rest your eyes from close-up vision and allow them to focus on objects at a range of distances. Eye exercises can also be beneficial for reducing eye strain, provided they are used properly. More information about eye exercises and why you should avoid eye yoga can be found here. Additionally, you can adjust your computer’s or screen’s brightness and contrast settings to ensure that they are balanced properly. If you find yourself concentrating on small fonts or inspecting your screen in detail, try working at a zoom level of 125% to 150%. This reduces the amount of work required of your eyes to focus on extremely small text and images. 

2. Spectacles for computer use

Another way to keep your eyes comfortable while using digital screens is to wear glasses with anti-glare lenses. These can assist in mitigating the effect of light reflections on your eyes, thereby alleviating strain. For example, UltraClear SuperClean lenses are treated with a specialized anti-reflection coating that helps minimize reflections on your glasses lenses and screen glare. Additionally, they are smudge and scratch-resistant, which contributes to a more clear view of your screen.

Varifocal lenses are another option, particularly if you are over 40 and have noticed that your vision is deteriorating at all distances. Varifocal lenses transition seamlessly between close-up and far-away viewing, making them ideal if you have different prescriptions for distance vision, using a digital device, or reading. In contrast to traditional varifocals, some SuperDigital lenses were created with digital screens in mind. The near zone also accommodates the closer, higher position in which phones are held, and includes UltraClear SuperClean, which helps reduce the effects of screen glare.