Gadget use is unavoidable. Computers, mobile phones, and tablets are used daily for work, school, communication, and entertainment. This puts you at risk for digital eye strain resulting from constant and prolonged exposure to blue light emitted by digital devices.
This is because staring at a screen can lead a person to reduce how often they blink to around only four times per minute compared to the average norm of 17 times per minute. As a result, your eyes will exert extra effort, leading to symptoms like blurry vision, dry eyes, and headaches.
If you don’t address digital eye strain, it may lead to low productivity levels and discomfort. Fortunately, you can prevent this by wearing blue light glasses. Keep reading to know more about this type of glasses and how to choose the best pair to combat digital eye strain:
What are blue light glasses?
Eyeglasses usually correct your vision and address vision conditions like astigmatism. They work by changing the direction of how light waves enter your eyes through the shape or form of the lenses. In contrast, blue light glasses block the blue light emitted by digital devices as this can damage retinal cells and lead to vision problems, like cataracts and vision loss.
Specifically, OPSM’s Eye Protect System lenses not only filter blue-violet light to reduce digital eye strain but also offer ultraviolet (UV) protection.
This means you’re protected from multiple sources of this harmful light, even when using gadgets outdoors or near windows. Overall, these factors make blue light glasses perfect for spending long hours in front of a screen, allowing you to work or game comfortably without straining your eyes.
Now that you know what blue light glasses do, let’s move on to picking the best pair for you:
How to choose the best blue light glasses for digital eye strain
Consider the level of blue light filtering
Since different pairs of blue light glasses filter out different concentrations of blue light, it’s important to pick the one that suits your needs and lifestyle to guarantee optimal protection. When buying your glasses, you can choose the percentage level of protection they provide.
For example, blue light glasses that have a 30% level of protection will guard against minimal gadget use. Meanwhile, those with a filtering level of 60% and higher are recommended for people with excessive screen time—such as desk employees and graphic designers—as these filter a higher concentration of blue light that they’re constantly exposed to.
The higher the percentage, the more effective the pair will be at combating digital eye strain in line with your lifestyle.
Opt for a pair with yellow-tinted lenses
Yellow-tinted glasses are often recommended for drivers since these enhance visual sharpness and clarity. If you happen to drive an all-terrain vehicle or ATV for offroad adventures, this tint helps ensure road safety since you can properly detect traffic lights and road signals.
However, glasses with blue light coatings typically use this tint for another reason: it effectively blocks blue light better than clear lenses because yellow is on the opposite end of blue on the color wheel. In fact, you may notice that blue light glasses with higher filtration levels have a more noticeable yellow tint.
As a bonus, the same sharpness and clarity this tint provides will help you better look at screens without having to strain your eyes further. To benefit from these effects, ask your eyewear retailer or optometrist if they offer tinted lenses for blue light glasses.
Make sure the glasses fit comfortably.
Aside from being able to guard you from blue light and reduce digital eye strain, your blue light glasses should fit comfortably on your face. This is especially important if you clock in more screen time than usual for work or school, which isn’t surprising since people use digital devices 2.5 times more compared to the past decade.
If they’re too tight or pinch at your skin, you’ll most likely take them off and prioritize comfort over the risk of digital eye strain, so make sure you like the fit of the glasses before you buy them.
Consider getting a pair with stainless steel frames: these are lightweight and flexible, offering comfort for long hours of wear. You can also try plastic frames that are softer for the skin so that they won’t cause irritation.
Wearing blue light glasses is essential for preventing digital eye strain. Try the tips above to pick the best pair for your needs.
