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The best blue light glasses effectively filter blue light, reduce glare, and provide comfort for all-day wear. blue light glasses clearly
Jaylyn Pruitt is currently an associate editor for Health.com, where she covers sleep products.
Blue light is everywhere, from our digital devices and fluorescent lights to the natural sunshine, making it one of the most common types of light we encounter daily. While blue light has some benefits—such as higher alertness and mood elevation —the negative side effects can include eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, and difficulty sleeping because our eyes are not well-equipped to block blue light, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
The best blue light glasses can help alleviate eye strain from increased blue light exposure and counteract its suppressive effect on the release of melatonin, the hormone that signals to your brain that it's time to sleep. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of blue light glasses is mixed, as Mark Fromer, M.D., a New York-based ophthalmologist at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, explains. So he advises taking 20-minute screen breaks and adjusting your brightness settings at night to reduce the stress on your eyes.
To determine which blue light glasses work the best, we tested 24 pairs at home for a week and evaluated each pair for fit, feel, clarity, and value. An ophthalmologist on our Medical Expert Board also reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy surrounding what to look for in blue light glasses, the potential effects of blue light, and whether the glasses succeed in blocking it.
As an Editor at Health, I spend a lot of time in front of a bright screen, and with my astigmatism, my eyes can get pretty worn out. After trying a few pairs of blue light glasses, I began to really notice a difference in the strain on my eyes by the end of the workday. So, I decided to upgrade my prescription frames with blue light filtering lenses, similar to the LensDirect Emory Glasses. This simple but effective addition has made my screen time more comfortable and provided much-needed relief for my eyes all day long.
The Felix Gray Jemison Glasses finished best overall thanks to their easy all-day wear. We wore the Jemison glasses to work and were impressed with how well their comfort and non-slip frames kept up even after 8-hour days.
While the frames are plastic and not easily adjustable, we felt the fit was just right. They also didn't pinch or dig into our noses.
If you’re worried about the yellowish tint that normally comes with blue light glasses, this pair offers clear lenses. We also loved the glare reduction, even on Zoom, though their comfort and style come at a price.
These glasses are pricier than others we tested.
The Warby Parker Beauford glasses stood out for their ability to noticeably reduce eye strain and fatigue, even after long hours in front of the screen. Our eyes felt better by the end of the day, with less strain and fewer headaches.
While the glasses didn’t provide an instant fix, they delayed the onset of eye fatigue, especially when worn for at least an hour. After using them consistently, we noticed a clear difference in how our eyes felt in the evenings and when waking up. The lightweight design of the glasses contributed to their overall comfort. Though the fit was a bit loose, requiring occasional adjustments, it didn't distract from their ability to reduce eye strain.
These glasses aren't adjustable, so they may slide down your nose and require several adjustments throughout the day.
The Felix Gray Nash blue light glasses earned top marks for comfort due to their lightweight build and seamless fit. The glasses are so light that we often forget we are wearing them, making them ideal for long workdays in front of a screen. With no noticeable rough edges and no pressure points when worn without headphones, these frames offer an effortless, all-day wear experience.
These glasses have thicker earpieces, which can cause discomfort when worn with over-ear headphones. Despite the minor issue with headphone use, the Nash frames excel at reducing eye strain and fatigue, allowing us to work without experiencing headaches or severe discomfort.
We wish these lenses came in larger sizes.
The Benicci Blue Light Glasses impressed us with their lightweight design and wearability. They were so light that we barely felt them, which people who don't wear glasses will appreciate.
Their clear lenses also make it easier for those who aren't used to wearing glasses regularly to transition. Since these frames aren't easily adjustable, they may work better on smaller faces.
The lenses include stickers that are a little difficult to remove.
The LensDirect Emory Glasses make it easy to add blue light filters to prescription glasses at about half the cost of other prescription frames. Lenses are available without a prescription, but you can also add your prescription for single-vision, readers, or progressive lenses. In addition to blocking blue light, lenses are also available with anti-reflective coating and scratch resistance.
Although these lenses are made from plastic, that didn't stop us from loving the fit of these frames. They were comfortable on our ears and only occasionally slid during the day. We also noted that the lenses helped to reduce glare from screens, lessening eye strain throughout the day.
Their plastic nose pads may require adjustment throughout the day.
The lightweight Warby Parker Thurston Glasses impressed us with how easily they fit into our daily routine, making them ideal for prescription lens wearers. You can buy the glasses in a non-prescription option, but you can also upload your prescription and have your blue light lenses custom fit to your eyes.
Lenses come in reader, fatigue, single-vision, and progressive types, making it easy to combine regular glasses and blue light lenses for all-day strain reduction. Plus, their no-frills wireframe design makes them easy to adjust during daily wear.
The no-frills wireframe style might not be to everyone’s taste.
If you like to take your screens outside, transition lenses with blue light-blocking capabilities Eye Buy Direct’s Escape Glasses may be a great choice for you. These glasses transitioned seamlessly between indoor and outdoor work, with lenses that made it easy to see screens in either environment. These glasses are also prescription-ready in addition to their blue light and transition lenses.
The frames were among the most comfortable we've worn, and the lenses blocked blue light well. While the body is made of plastic and not easy to adjust, the frames only slipped when looking directly down at the phone during the day.
While the fit is good, the frames are not adjustable and may start to slip.
Blue light often causes headaches after extended screen use, but if the frames don’t fit your face well (whether they’re too tight or too loose), they can contribute to pain throughout the day. The Peepers Shine On Blue Light Glasses impressed us with their strain reduction and overall fit.
After one day, we noticed a slight difference in how we felt, with less tension and fewer headaches. That relief increased over several weeks.
We wish these glasses came with a case to put them in when we weren't wearing them.
We loved the Caddis Miklos Reading Glasses for their bold, oversized frames, which make a statement without sacrificing comfort. The thick frame design feels intentional, giving off a high-end, modern look, while the subtle details—like the print on top of the frames—add an unexpected touch of luxury.
Despite their heavier weight, they remained comfortable for long periods. Although there were some minor issues with frame adjustments out of the box, the overall design and function left our eyes feeling protected and strain-free after a full day of work.
The glasses' arms arrived uneven, and without a tool or instructions to make adjustments, achieving a perfect fit was challenging.
Gamers spend a lot of time looking at screens and need something that blocks blue light from all of their devices. The Gunnar Optiks Razer Glasses feature a more noticeable amber tint meant to reduce glare and eye strain for extended screen use.
We often experience negative side effects from screen use, but these tinted lenses make a noticeable difference in reducing eye fatigue and headaches. If you’re not looking at a screen, you may notice some slight distortion at the edges of the lenses, but this isn’t an issue while focused on a device.
The edges of the lenses are a little distorted, which may be noticeable when not looking at a screen.
To find the most effective blue light eye protection, we spent over 300 hours testing 24 pairs of blue light glasses. We began our test by working for four hours without wearing blue light glasses and noted any eye pain or discomfort experienced. In the second half of the workday, we tested a pair of blue light glasses for four hours and noted how our eyes felt after wearing them. Following this initial test, we wore each pair of blue light glasses for a week, working and interacting with screens as usual. We accessed each pair based on the following factors:
We consulted with five eyecare experts for their professional advice regarding what to look for when selecting the best blue light glasses. The experts we spoke to included:
While many people notice a difference in eye strain and headaches while wearing blue light glasses, research conducted in 2021 found that overall results remain mixed, with no definitive proof that blue-light-blocking glasses help with the negative effects of blue light exposure . Additional studies found that participants wearing blue light glasses and placebo glasses reported very little difference. While results are mixed, the good news is that blue light blockers don’t appear to have any negative effects.
You can wear blue light glasses for as long as you wear regular glasses—as long as you find them comfortable. The experts agreed that wearing blue light glasses won’t cause headaches, but if you are getting headaches while wearing them, consider the fit and, if applicable, power of your glasses. Some frames, especially plastic ones, can put pressure on your temples if they’re too small. Additionally, wearing the wrong prescription can cause headaches.
It's difficult to know how much blue light a pair of lenses blocks without specialized equipment. If you’re purchasing your glasses from an eyeglass store or manufacturer, it might be helpful to ask for the information on your glasses. Dr. Russo recommends asking for the transmittance spectrum report provided by the manufacturer that spells out the visible light spectrum protection the lenses have been tested to protect for. For an at-home test, hold your glasses up to a light source; if the light reflection on the lens appears blue, it will likely block some percentage of blue light, Dr. Russo adds.
We also tested these blue light glasses, but they didn’t make our top picks based on issues with fit and clarity.
Jaylyn Pruitt has a Master of Library and Information Science focused on health information. As an editor for Health, her goal is to provide easy-to-understand information with a patient perspective.
Suzie Glassman is a writer for Health who has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested many products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. She is especially interested in helping consumers make informed decisions to help them stay active and healthy.
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