Blue Light Blocking Glasses have been an upwards rising trend over the last few years and for a good reason. Blue light exposure can not only strain your eyes when you’re looking at screens but also reduce your melatonin levels, making it difficult to fall asleep if overexposed in the hours leading up to bedtime. With so many different styles and features, how do you choose which one is right for you? What is the difference between computer glasses and 100% blue light blocking glasses? Below we will explore why blue light blocking glasses are different, types of blue light blocking glasses, and when they are needed.
What makes Blue Light Blocking Glasses Different?
The reason there are different types of blue light blocking glasses is that they block different amounts of blue light exposure. The majority of blue light blocking glasses advertised on amazon are simple computer glasses, which you will find is very different from 100% blue light blocking glasses, also known as amber glasses. It is essential to know the difference between the two when using them as 100% blue light blocking glasses specifically help with the production of melatonin to aid you in falling asleep, therefore should only be worn in the hours leading up to sleeping.
The Protection Degrees of Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Computer Glasses-
Computer glasses that block blue light have clear lenses and usually have a blue tint to them. They are being seen more and more and are very trendy right now. Amazon has thousands of search results for these glasses, and they usually are sold for $15 to $30. However, there is a critical point to make about these glasses, they only block, at a maximum, 40% of blue light rays. Their primary use is for individuals working in front of screens all day to keep their eyes from straining.
100% Blue Light Blocking Glasses/ Amber Glasses-
100% Blue Light Blocking Glasses, also known as Amber Glasses, are often confused with computer glasses but are very different. The glasses are called Amber glasses for the color of their lenses. Blue light blocking glasses have to have red lenses to block 100% of the blue light being admitted from screens and lights in our homes. Red is the opposite color on the color wheel, making them ideal for block blue light. The red lenses also block against green and violet rays, which can also be harmful. These glasses also are specifically designed to increase melatonin levels, unlike the Computer glasses which the main goal is to alleviate eye strain. It is important to note that normal amounts of blue light exposure are normal during the day, but if exposure doesn’t stop in the hours leading up to bedtime, it can trick your brain into thinking it is daytime.
What’s In-between-
There is also blue light blocking glasses between the computer glasses (the lowest percentage of blue light blocking) and Amber glasses (the highest percentage of blue light blocking). The most apparent difference in these glasses is the lens color. A simple rule of thumb is the deeper the color lens, the higher percentage of blue light blocking there is present. Besides clear and Amber, you will find yellow and orange are also very common.
Yellow:
Glasses with yellow lenses block at a maximum of 75% of all blue light emanations. These glasses are vastly similar in function to the clear lenses. The only real upside is that they do block almost double the amount of blue light that is in the computer glasses.
Orange:
Glasses with orange lenses block between 98 and 99% of all blue light emanations. They are the most common color found other than clear lenses and have precise times when you should wear them to coordinate with the sun’s rise and fall.
When to Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Computer Glasses can be worn throughout the day and are most helpful when looking at screens during work or school for long hours. The clear glasses are popular because they look like regular reading glasses but have the added benefit of easing eye strain.
Amber Glasses should only be worn during particular times because their primary function is to increase your body’s melatonin production. You should not wear the glasses during the day because it can trick your body into thinking it is time to go to bed. It is imperative that you only wear these glasses in the hours leading up to your bedtime so you can easily fall asleep.
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Sources: https://blueblockglasses.com/blogs/news/what-type-of-blue-blocking-glasses-should-you-get
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