Blue light blocking glasses are said to protect your eyes from staring at your phone and computer screen for hours. Electronic display devices and led lights emit blue light. People blame this blue light for sleeping problems, eye strain, vision, and health problems.
Blue light blocking glasses and the effects of blue light are controversial.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, blue light blocking glasses are not an effective tool for eye health and avoiding eye strain.
The Academy says there is no evidence that the light coming from computer screens is damaging to the eye. Therefore, the AAO does not recommend any special eyewear for computer use.
Not everyone agrees with the Academy of Ophthalmology. Bio-hackers believe that LED’s cause retinal damage and cell death in eye tissue.
Many people believe that blue light blocking glasses allow them to work longer hours in front of a computer screen
There are other issues besides eye health said to be caused by blue light.
Too much blue light has been linked to serious health issues like cancer, vision loss, diabetes, weight gain, and heart disease.
Harvard researchers conducted experiments comparing the effects of blue and green light exposure. The blue light suppressed melatonin for about twice as long as the green light. It shifted circadian rhythms by twice as much.
Samuel Pierce, OD, former president of the American Optometric Association, told USA Today he recommended using blue light glasses to lessen eyestrain.
One thing they all agree on is that digital eye strain is a real thing.
My experience:
I have been spending a lot of my time staring at a computer screen. About 20 hours a day on average. I work on several YouTube channels, websites, social media, and editing videos, etc.
This past week I realized my eyes were feeling extra strained. So I ordered, Cyxus Clip-On Blue Light Blocking Computer Glasses.
I also remembered I have the f.lux program installed on my computer. It’s free for personal use. I think I heard about f.lux from Aubrey Marcus, the founder, and CEO of Onnit, a lifestyle brand, on The Joe Rogan Podcast. I think it was on one of these episodes #809 or #878. If it’s not mentioned there I’m sure they will be entertaining nonetheless.
f.lux makes the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.
“f.lux makes your computer screen look like the room you’re in, all the time. When the sun sets, it makes your computer look like your indoor lights. In the morning, it makes things look like sunlight again.”
Excerpt from f.lux website
Set f.lux to 2300 kelvin at 100% of the time and you have a blue light blocker.
There is another blue light-blocking software available, Iristech.
They claim to be the world’s best blue light filter and eye protection software. I haven’t tried them yet. I became aware of Iristech through author and bio-hacker, Ben Greenfield. Ben says Iristech is superior to f.lux.
My blue light glasses arrived. I waited to try them out because I wanted to do an unboxing video.
The next day I noticed the vision in my right eye was hazy. I decided to see if sleeping it off would help. It didn’t, in fact it was at that moment I realized something was not right.
I was able to visit a retina specialist on the same day. Turns out, I have permanent eye damage. I am waiting on a call this week, so I can go into surgery.
As type this, I am now finally wearing the blue light blocking glasses. I don’t know if wearing the blue light blockers would have saved my eye. Still, the difference while wearing the blue light blockers is obvious. I can also confirm that f,lux definitely helps with eye strain.
Here are the blue light blockers I purchased. Some of the following may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Please feel free to use the links as it will also help pay for my upcoming eye surgery. They are blue light blocker clip-ons for your glasses:
Bio-hacker Dave Asprey, the man who popularized bullet-proof coffee recommends the TrueDark brand.
The designs on blue light blocker sunglasses have come a long way. I posted these below so you can see you have style options. You can also get blue light blocker screen protectors for your phone.
Ben Greenfield recommends Uvex computer glasses. They have almost 5,000 ratings on Amazon at 4-5 stars. He also recommends switching your computer monitor to a Eizo Flexscan. Apparently it is believed the led and light flicker causes a lot of the damage. These monitors are made to reduce eye strain and free of flickering.
In conclusion, don’t be a victim and at least get yourself a pair of blue light blocking glasses. If you know someone who works on a computer all day, a programmer/developer, an office worker, an entrepreneur, a blogger, or a gamer, please share this post with them. If its a friend or loved one get them a pair. Please encourage them to use a blue light blocker program on their computer and get some blue light blocker glasses or blue light blocker clip-on lenses like I did.
