Blue light is a part of the light spectrum mainly given off by LED lights and electronic devices such as smartphones, computer screens, and televisions. Wearing blue light glasses can make those long hours we spend staring at our screens more bearable, especially at nighttime.
We rounded up some of the best blue light blocking glasses that can double as prescription glasses, cater to gamers, help you get a better night’s sleep, and more.
Ample styles and color choicesBlue light blocking add-on available for framesCompany offers virtual try-on or have five pairs shipped to try for free
Warby Parker offers a blue-light blocking add-on to their popular frames if you already wear prescription glasses. With plenty of different styles and color options, you can get a functional pair of prescription glasses that also double at blocking the harmful blue light. A free Virtual Try-on app uses augmented reality to see how the glasses would look on you. Or, you can opt to choose five frames you’re interested in and get them delivered to your home for free to choose which pair looks the best on you in person. Warby Parker can even help you book an eye exam. Each pair of lenses are custom-cut and made and include impact-resistant lenses and scratch-resistant coating. In addition, they block 100% of UVA and UVB rays and up to 34% of blue light from the frequency of LED screens. Pros
Virtual and home try-on options For every pair purchased, a pair is donated to someone in needCountless styles, colors, and sizes to choose from
Cons
Blue light blocking add-on costs an additional $50Most expensive option on our list
Add up to four times magnificationSimple design to accommodate diverse face shapesLightweight frame
A more low-cost option is Gamma Ray Optics blue-light blocking glasses. Their simple frames are a classic style that should compliment most face shapes. You can add up to four times magnification so that your blue light glasses will block your screens’ blue light while also reducing your need to squint. The glasses themselves are super lightweight – you can barely feel them when you have them on – and they also come with anti-UV glare. Just be sure to double-check these glasses’ measurements since they only come in one size. Pros
Low cost Lightweight frames
Cons
Glass size cannot be adjusted, so they may not fit everyone Slight yellow tint
All glasses feature 100% UVA/UVB protection Designed to block the highest blue light wavelengthsFilters 90% of the most harmful wavelengths
Felix Gray allows you to choose from plenty of frame styles, colors and sizes to fit all types of face shapes. You can also choose from clear- or amber-tinted blue light glasses, but all glasses come with 100% UVA/UVB protection and double-sided anti-glare coating. These glasses are designed to block the highest energy blue light wavelengths (in the 380-440nm range). Felix Gray claims that its glasses filter over 50% of the entire range and almost 90% of the most harmful wavelengths. You can also add an RX prescription to your blue-light glasses or magnification if you need a little more clarity. Some Felix Gray purchases may be eligible for HAS or FSA reimbursement, so it’s worth seeing if your health insurance provider will help cover the cost. Pros
Can add magnification or an RX prescription Choose from amber or clear blue-light tints So many different styles and colors to choose from
Cons
On the expensive side No virtual try-on
Blocks 65% of LED blue lightAdds magnification to glassesComes in gamified-limited edition pairs
Since gamers stare at screens for hours, they need a reliable pair of blue-light blocking glasses. Gunnar’s gaming eyewear collection claims to reduce eye strain and prevent dry eyes from long hours of gaming. These glasses block 65% of the LED blue light from screens and have smudge and anti-glare coating on the lenses. You can also add magnification to your glasses, so you don’t have to squint as much while playing farther away from your screen. What’s unique about these particular glasses is their gamified limited-edition pairs, such as Razer editions, 6-Siege editions, and an Assassin’s Creed edition. Pros
Long-lasting quality You can virtually try them onFun, video game-themed frames
Cons
Some model’s noise pieces can dig into the bridge of the nose when wearing certain headsets Prescription models are expensive
Blocks shortwave frequenciesFeatures NightShift setting to prepare eyes for sleepDiverse frame choices
While many wear blue-light glasses during the day, it’s also important to consider wearing a pair at night, especially if you’ve made late-night scrolling a habit. Just like you have a Night Shift setting on your phone set for the evening hours, these BLUblox Sleep+ glasses help prepare your eyes to go to bed while still being able to use your smartphone or watch TV. These glasses work by blocking shortwave blue-violet and green frequencies to reduce the amount of light in the eye. Research shows that amber lenses reduce time awake during the night and improve the overall quality of your sleep since amber tints specifically filter the range of blue light that impacts melatonin production (440-550 nm wavelengths). Wear these glasses two-three hours before bedtime so as not to disrupt your circadian rhythm to fall asleep easier. Pros
It helps to improve the quality of your sleepDifferent frame styles to choose from
Cons
Frame material is not as high quality as other options
Gamers should opt for the Gunnar blue-blocking glasses since they were made with gaming in mind. And those looking to get a good night’s sleep without giving up their technology should look into the BLUblox Sleep+ glasses. ZDNet also considered factors like price, how much blue light each pair of glasses claim to block, and other features like if they had anti-glare, magnification, prescription options, etc. Blue light is measured in nanometers, and there are different types of blue light. For example, one kind of blue light is emitted from the sun and low-energy indoor light, which comes in at 400 nanometers – most of the glasses on this list filter 100% of this type of blue light. However, blue light that is emitted from LED screens is 420-455 nanometers, and we’ve listed the percentage of blue light each brand claims can filter this type of blue light. The most important research about blue light shows that continued exposure to low-intensity blue light before bedtime may affect sleep quality, circadian phase, and cycle durations. There are other negative effects of blue light on your health as well. While there are conflicting reports, other studies point to the long-term exposure that blue light can cause to your vision, including accelerating eye diseases like macular degeneration. In addition, one study suggests that blue light (along with white, amber, and red lights) can worsen a migraine or headache. Some people are also reported to have less sensitivity to light and less light-sensitive-triggered headaches and migraines when wearing blue light glasses. Most importantly, you should wear blue light blocking glasses in the evening hours if you are working on a late-night project on your computer or texting on your phone. While the studies out there differ on the effectiveness of blue light blocking glasses, there is no harm in continuing wearing them if you notice a difference.
