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These glasses effectively filter blue light, reduce glare, and provide comfort for all-day wear. pc polycarbonate eyeglasses lensesoptical lens blue light polycarbonate
Jaylyn Pruitt is currently an associate editor for Health.com, where she covers sleep products.
Whether you have a vision impairment that requires a prescription or not, blue light blocking may be useful if you experience eye strain. Blue light is everywhere, from our digital screens to the natural sunshine. And while blue light has some benefits—such as increasing alertness and elevating mood —the negative side effects can include eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, and difficulty sleeping, 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, as Mark Fromer, MD, a New York-based ophthalmologist at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, explains, the evidence on the effectiveness of blue light glasses is mixed. 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, effectiveness, 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 Benicci Blue Light Glasses impressed us with their lightweight design and wearability. Our editor, who never wears glasses, said she barely noticed these glasses on her face because they were so light, making it easy to transition to daily wear. And while they're lightweight, they're incredibly durable. Even though we tugged and pulled on them to test their durability, they felt almost indestructible.
Because they fit so well above the ears, we didn't experience any aches during long-term wear. Due to their nearly textured material, they also don't slip throughout the day.
We loved that they have clear lenses with no annoying tint. When we put these glasses on, our vision didn't change at all. Plus, they come with a nifty little blue light tool that lets you check the blue light refraction, so you know your glasses are working effectively.
The lenses include stickers that are a little difficult to remove.
An often unfortunate side effect of wearing blue light glasses to digital meetings is that they can often create a reflective glare. This isn't the case with the Felix Gray Jemison Glasses. We wore these glasses all day as we worked from home, and they never created a reflective glare while we were on Zoom. Their lenses are incredibly clear and don't have an annoying yellowish tint.
We also love how the Jemison glasses are super comfortable comfort, and the 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 work in front of computer screens for long hours and you'd like a pair of comfortable blue light blocking glasses that won't interrupt your meetings, the Felix Gray Jemison Glasses are your best bet.
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 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. The lenses come in reader, fatigue, single-vision, and progressive types, making it easy to meet most people's diverse needs. Because their options are so versatile, they're also 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.
We couldn't think of anything negative to say about the fit; they're lightweight, the nose grip doesn't pinch, and they stay put all day. About four days after wearing them, we realized our eyes felt less tired than they usually do midweek. We also love how they're incredibly clear, with no perceivable tint to distract you throughout your day.
The no-frills wireframe style might not be to everyone’s taste.
Blue light often causes headaches after extended screen use. Our editor, who frequently experiences headaches and achy eyes after long days of staring at screens, said she no longer experienced headaches after just one day of wearing the Peepers Shine On Blue Light Glasses.
We love how the deep nose bridge helps them sit well on the face. These glasses also have a solid weight, which keeps them from sliding down throughout the day. In fact, they don't budge at all. We even shook our head from side to side to really test their stability, but they sat planted firmly on our face.
To top it off, the arms didn't cause aches behind our ears, and the arms flex outward so they're easy to put on and take off. Overall, if you experience headaches during screen time, you can't go wrong with Peepers Shine On Blue Light Glasses.
Even though they're durable, we wish these glasses came with a case because they feel a bit too high quality to just toss in our bag on their own.
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.
If you play video games frequently, you know you need to be able to visually focus on a large screen for long periods of time. The Gunnar Optiks Razer Glasses feature a more noticeable amber tint meant to reduce glare and eye strain for extended screen use, and they also offer wide lenses to help you block out blue light from a large screen.
And while these may not be the most attractive lenses, the deep tint, comfortable feel, and super clear lenses will help reduce eye irritation and fatigue so you can perform your best in your game of choice. What's more, because they block blue light so well, you may be able to fall asleep faster after late-night gaming sessions.
The nose pads started to dig into our nose and left small marks after extended use. However, the arms didn't dig in above our ears so we didn't experience any real discomfort.
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.
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.
Faraut, B., Andrillon, T., Drogou, C., Gauriau, C., Dubois, A., Servonnet, A., Van Beers, P., Guillard, M., Sauvet, F., Chennaoui, M., & Léger, D. (2020). Daytime Exposure to Blue-Enriched Light Counters the Effects of Sleep Restriction on Cortisol, Testosterone, Alpha-Amylase and Executive Processes. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, 496164. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01366
Vaggia a, Ferro desired l, of walnut C, of mola i, mayor d, traverse ce. Blue Light Filtering Ophthalmic Lenses: A Systematic Review. Semin Ophthalmol. 2021 Oct 3; 36 (7): 541-548. DOI: 10.1080/08820538.2021.1900283. Epub 2021 Mar 18. PMID: 33734926.
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