Article updated on June 13, 2024 at 12:54 PM PDT
Do you spend hours every day looking at a screen? These blue-light-filtering glasses may help you. Blue Light Eye Protection Glasses
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Some blue light blocking glasses allow you to add your prescription to the lenses.
Blue-light-blocking glasses will vary in how much blue light they block out based on the tint of the lenses.
You get to choose the shape, style and material of your glasses.
Some blue-light glasses have additional features like anti-glare, UV protection and an anti-scratch coating.
Determining your budget will help you narrow down which blue-light glasses are within your price range.
We spend a lot of time in front of our screens, whether for school, work or play. Although screens are getting better every day, they expose us to a lot of light. There's a belief that not all of the visible light spectrum is good for you, and some of the harmful blue light may cause disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle, making it more difficult to fall asleep. There isn't any solid research backing the use of blue-light glasses for eye health, but many people turn to the best blue-light-blocking glasses to effectively filter blue light, reduce light exposure at night or lessen eye strain.
We're here to help you find the best blue-light-blocking glasses for your needs. We've been covering eye care for years on CNET, so we tested the top-rated blue-light-blocking glasses and narrowed the list to our favorite pairs.
Benicci glasses are our choice for the best overall blue-light glasses. They're a no-fuss option that gives you blue-light protection while looking good. They're the kind of blue-light glasses that will work for anyone because they have a classic look, no tint and are lightweight. If you stare at screens all day or watch TV late at night, you'll benefit from a pair of Benicci blue-light glasses.
The only drawback to the Benicci blue-light glasses is that they don't have a prescription option. So you won't be able to wear them all the time if you normally wear glasses. If you're new to blue-light glasses and looking for a dependable option, you'll like Benicci blue-light glasses.
If you're new to the blue-light glasses game, start with a simple, dependable option, like Benicci blue-light-blocking glasses. They're our pick for the best overall blue-light-blocking glasses because they're comfortable and neutral-looking. They have a classic frame style that just about anyone will like. Unlike many other blue-light glasses, this pair has no tint. (Not everyone likes the blue or yellow tint to the lenses. These have clear lenses.) They're also so light you almost forget you're wearing them. The Benicci blue-light glasses also include a case and cloth -- a nice addition that some brands don't have.
These glasses are not prescription glasses, so they're only suited for people who just want a pair of blue-light glasses to cut down on headaches and sleep better at night. They can't fix vision problems.
Many people want blue-light glasses that are also prescription glasses, so you just have to keep track of one pair. We found that the best prescription blue-light glasses come from Warby Parker. Warby Parker is a trusted glasses retailer known for quality and dependability. You can choose from a wide selection of blue-light glasses on the site. Don't worry if you don't know your current prescription; you can use Warby Parker's online vision test before you buy.
Warby Parker offers several lens coatings, like anti-scratch and UV protection. A virtual try-on is another feature you don't get from other brands. All you have to do is give the site permission to use your camera, and you can try on different glasses styles virtually. The price tag of blue-light glasses from Warby Parker is a little higher, starting at $145, but the quality and prescription lenses make it well worth it.
Peepers' blue-light glasses are our pick for the best budget blue-light blocking glasses. They're affordable (under $30) and with magnification, they can double as reading glasses.
The company says its blue-light-blocking technology can filter 40% of harmful rays from the blue-light spectrum -- ideal for when you're trying to avoid the pitfalls that come with overexposure to artificial light from a computer screen and prevent digital eye strain. These tortoise square frames instantly caught my attention. If you're like me and not looking to always be super-extra, these blue-light glasses also come in neutral tones like black and cream, so you look trendy while minimizing light exposure. These glasses also provide UV protection.
"Prive Revaux" sounds like I'm about to convince you to buy $300 glasses, but in reality, this swankily named eyewear brand sells its blue-light-blocking glasses for around $40. Its lenses have blue-light filters along with a scratch-resistant and antiglare coating.
The Alchemist blue-light-blocking glasses are a great affordable and stylish option. You can sometimes even find pairs on sale for as low as $10. These glasses are made from injection-molded cellulose propionate, which is a durable, yet lightweight material.
You might have recognized the Felix Gray brand name due to its impressive eyewear marketing featuring attractive people sporting these sleek frames. All of the company's models seem to instantly appear smarter just by sliding on a pair. You can get that in blue-light-blocking designs as well.
Along with great style, Felix Gray embeds blue-light-blocking filters directly into the lenses and adds an anti-reflective coating to help protect against artificial blue light. These classic round Roebling frames come in two frame color options, a fun blue or tortoise brown, starting at $98. Because of the price, they are considered one of the best luxury blue-light-blocking glasses available.
Eyeconic is the most high-end of the bunch, featuring designer brand selections. Most of the glasses are above $245, with frames from Calvin Klein, Nike and Cole Haan, to name a few.
You can add TechShield blue-light-blocking technology to any of its prescription styles, which the eyewear company says reduces blue-light exposure by up to 85%, making them one of the most protective and best blue-light-blocking glasses out there. I've chosen these thicker frames from Cole Haan because I like how prominent they are, but plenty of other options are available to fit your style.
If you're into cool retro-grandpa vibes like me, you'll love these gold-rimmed aviator frames from Ray-Ban. The blue-light filtering technology can shield your eyes from digital eye strain during screen time and the thin metal frame won't weigh heavy on your temples.
Keep in mind that the Ray-Ban name does carry a higher price tag. These blue-light-blocking glasses are selling for around $126 right now, although we've seen them on sale for less than $100 in the past. The quality is worth it if it's the style you're looking for.
This curated list of blue-light glasses is based on product research and user reviews. Not all products on the list were tested in-house. Let's dig into the factors we considered when choosing the best blue-light-blocking glasses for this list.
When choosing the best blue-light-blocking glasses, we started the assessment of each pick on their blue-light absorption. In other words, do they do what they say they should? What level of blue-light blocking does each pair have? This information is noted in each of the product reviews.
It's not just blue-light-blocking capabilities that matter. There are several other factors that we took into consideration when evaluating blue-light glasses. One of the main additional features we looked out for was prescription availability. Not all blue-light glasses offer this, which often comes at a higher price, but it's an appealing feature for many people. Other features we looked for were lens coatings like anti-glare coating and UV protection.
How glasses look and if they help with headaches or sleep is subjective. We consider each product's price and customer reviews to ensure that our selections represent the full picture of the glasses.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to glasses. Some of which will be personal preference, like how they look. Most will be essential, like comfort and prescription options. Here are the key things to consider when shopping for the best blue-light-blocking glasses.
First and foremost, you must ensure that the blue-light-blocking glasses you like can be tailored to your prescription if you have one. Some options on the market can't be, making them unsuitable for people who need corrective lenses and blue-light features.
How often you plan to use your blue-light-blocking glasses will determine factors like weight and shape. If you are going to wear them all the time, comfort is essential. If they are something you wear every once in a while at your computer at night, then you have more versatility in your selection.
Deciding how much light you want to block out will help you decide which pair is best for you. Glasses with a yellow or orange tint will block out more of the light spectrum. They can distort colors on your computer. The clear blue-light glasses won't do this, but they won't be able to block out as much light.
This is mainly a personal preference, but your frame style matters. Glasses, while useful, are also a way to express yourself. The good and bad news is you have tons of options to choose from. In addition to shape and style, you can choose from different materials like plastic, acetate and wire.
Depending on how much you plan to use the glasses, you may be interested in features like anti-glare, UV protection or an anti-scratch coating. Not all options offer these features, so look closely to ensure your desired pair fits your needs.
Blue-light glasses are more affordable than prescription lenses, averaging anywhere from $15 to $100. Prescription options often cost even more. Finding your budget will help you determine which glasses are within your price range. The more additional features you want your glasses to have, the higher the price tag.
The human eye can see blue-light wavelengths. We're constantly surrounded by blue light, thanks to the exposure from the sun, laptops, TVs and phones. During the day, it's good to have blue light around; it can increase alertness and boost your mood.
The dark side of blue light is that it can interrupt sleep and strain your eyes. Blue-light-blocking glasses are recommended for people looking at screens for extended periods. Limiting your exposure to blue light before bed is also recommended since it can suppress melatonin production in the brain.
Blue-light-blocking glasses have filters in the lenses that block or absorb the blue light emitted by screens. So when you look at a screen while wearing them, less blue light will get to your eyes.
While some brands suggest that blue-light glasses will reduce digital eye strain, this hasn't been proven true. There's no harm in wearing them, especially if you are watching TV or on your laptop before bed.
Blue light is a short, high-energy wave of light that is said to keep us awake and alert. Blue light is all around us. It comes from the sun, artificial lighting and devices. The latest science suggests blue light might affect sleep less than yellow, but there's still evidence that squinting into digital screens all day can mess with your circadian rhythm and inhibit melatonin production, which can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep.
Blue-light-blocking glasses block out blue light from artificial sources like computers, TVs and cell phones and ease eye strain. Even if you're not sure if the hours staring at a screen are to blame for your insomnia and eye fatigue, mitigating some of that blue-light exposure by wearing blue-light glasses can't hurt.
The short answer? We don't know. Blue-light-blocking glasses have filters that block blue light waves given off by any light source -- the sun, screens, lightbulbs, and so on. They aren't recommended by medical organizations like the American Academy of Ophthalmology because research hasn't proven a health benefit.
Blue-light glasses remain popular, and some people do find them useful. Some folks may also want to do whatever they can to block blue light at night and preserve melatonin production.
First, you should always refer to whatever cleaning instructions come with the blue-light-blocking glasses you buy. In general, you can clean blue-light glasses the same way you would clean any other eyeglasses -- with a soft, lint-free cloth that won't cause scratches and a gentle cleaning spray designed for glasses.
Blue light generally energizes you, helps you concentrate and boosts your mood; all good things during the day. When you're winding down from your day in the evening and want to relax, blue light can interfere. For most people, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses in the evening while watching TV or staring at any screen will be the most beneficial.
Blue Protect Lenses Some people also find that blue-light-blocking glasses can help reduce eye strain, blurry vision and headaches that come from staring at screens while working. You can try both or either to see what works best for you.