Blue light glasses are a popular topic of discussion, especially in the digital age where screens are a significant part of our lives. These glasses have specially crafted lenses that are said to block or filter out the blue light given off from digital screens. The lenses are often marketed with claims that they protect your eyes from eye strain and can help reduce potential damage to your retina from prolonged exposure to blue light.

However, a recent study determined there was little evidence to support the use of blue-blocking filters in the prevention of digital eye strain. Many eye issues that are caused by digital screens aren’t due to blue light. Most of the issues actually fall under a term called computer vision syndrome (CVS), which is a broad range of eye strain and discomfort issues.

Your eyes are constantly shifting focus and moving while looking at the screen, and the glare and contrast can be tough on your eyes. So, although you may be experiencing eye irritation from a long day working on your computer, your eye discomfort is not directly from the blue light itself.

Though blue light glasses aren’t effective at preventing digital eye strain, there is no harm in wearing them. Blue light is known to sabotage your sleep schedule because it messes with your circadian rhythm. So if you’re scrolling through your phone late at night or have insomnia, blue light glasses might be a good option.

Research has suggested that excessive exposure to visible blue light also can cause eyestrain. However, no significant improvement in vision performance or sleep quality has been found from using blue-blocking lenses. Since the amount of blue light from the devices used at work, school and home is less than that of natural sunlight, and eyestrain hasn't been found to be related to blue light, what can be done to prevent it?

Prolonged screen time decreases your natural blink rate, which reduces the film of tears covering your eyes, making them dry. You can prevent this by taking frequent breaks during screen time, using artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry, and getting a vision exam to evaluate an uncorrected eyeglasses prescription or refractive error.