Product FAQs

Will using LBL Sleep Glasses or filters change how things appear?
LBL glasses and filters are used to remove only the blue wavelengths of light transmitted through them. True blue objects viewed through our glasses will appear black. Lighter shades of blue will appear as various shades of grey. Other colors, i.e., green, yellow, orange or red, will not change appearance.

 

What is the difference between using LBL glasses versus using our filters?
Simply put, LBL glasses are the ultimate solution in preventing the harmful effects of nighttime blue light. In the hours leading to bedtime your eyes must be in a 100% blue-free environment otherwise melatonin production will not occur. Our glasses create a virtual darkness which allows normal nighttime activities without the harmful effects of blue light. Although LBL filters are very effective, they must be used in either complete darkness or while under 100% blue-free light sources. If our sleep glasses are used, our bulbs and filters are not necessary. Our flashlights and nightlights are a great way to navigate around the home if you need to be up during the night. If our filters are used, you must be in complete darkness or in a room illuminated with LBL bulbs, otherwise benefits will not be gained. If trying to establish a 100% blue-free environment at night without the use our Sleep Glasses, it’s imperative that all light sources be from our 100% blue-free light bulbs and all screens be covered with our filters. Encountering any light source that is not blue-free will disrupt the benefits gained earlier and will cause melatonin-suppression.

 

Can I use my LBL glasses 24/7?
The major reasons for using LBL glasses are to maximize melatonin production and improve sleep. By wearing the glasses for several hours in the evening before going to bed, melatonin can be produced by the pineal gland for up to the 11 to 12 hours. Exposure to blue light especially early sunlight and throughout the day is very healthy. Therefore, except in special cases when blue light exposure may cause eye problems, wearing LBL glasses 24/7 is not recommended.

 

Can I keep my LBL filter on my device 24/7?
Some individuals find eye strain is reduced with LBL filters on their computer or TV screens, regardless of the time of day. However, exposure to blue light during the day is beneficial, especially in the early morning when it resets the body’s circadian clock. Though no harm will arise from having the filters on your screen throughout the day, it may be more beneficial to use them only in the evening hours.

 

How should I clean my eyewear?
LBL glasses should be cleaned using a mild liquid dish detergent and warm water. Rinse well to remove any soap residue and then allow the lenses to air-dry. Cleaners that have alcohol or any other harsh chemicals should be avoided.

 

How should the filters be cleaned?
A small amount of mild dish detergent on a soft cloth works quite well while holding the filter under warm water. Gently wipe both sides, keeping the filter relatively flat in the palm of the hand. Rinse well to remove any detergent residue. Warm water is the key. Cold water will stiffen the filter; hot water will make it flimsy. Allow the filter to dry flat between a pair of paper towels and always store it in a flat position.

 

What are the differences between the acrylic and vinyl filters?
All LBL filters are removable and adhesive free. The amber filters are made of rigid acrylic approximately 1/8″ in thick. They have the same transmission as the LBL glasses and block all melatonin- suppressing light below 530nm. Because of their thickness, acrylic filters do not allow any touchscreen functions. The large BlueShield filters are made of the same vinyl material as the small iPhone, IPad, tablet & smartphone filters. The 14mil thick vinyl filters block all melatonin-suppressing wavelengths below 510nm and allow touchscreen capability.

 

Are red nightlights better than amber nightlights?
Red nightlights can be used to avoid suppressing melatonin. The main advantage to using amber nightlights is that amber light is closer to the human vision peak sensitivity than red. Thus you’ll be able to see better with amber light without suppressing melatonin.

 

How and why are LBL filters used on hand-held devices?
The LBL iPad, iPhone, smartphone and tablet filters have a patent pending design which allows them to be applied and removed without using any adhesive or leaving a residue on a device’s screen. Their 14mil thick vinyl material has excellent clarity and allows full touchscreen capability. They are designed to be used in the evening prior to bedtime or while in bed and are easy to remove and store when not in use. LBL filters are the only filters on the market today that block 100% of the blue light wavelengths shown to be responsible for the body’s suppression of melatonin.

 

How do LBL vinyl filters differ from others that are on the market?
LBL iPad, iPhone, BlueShield and design-it-yourself filters are made of a durable vinyl that are flexible, washable and require no adhesive allowing them to be easily removed when not in use. These filters are approximately 14mil thick allowing full touchscreen capability. Most importantly they block all melatonin-suppressing blue light below 510nm. Many competitors claim their filters block blue light without changing the screen appearance, however, this is impossible. When areas of an illuminated screen appear white or blue, blue light is being transmitted. Plain & simple-if a screen’s appearance is not altered, blue light is not being blocked.

 

How should LBL vinyl filters used?
LBL vinyl filters have a patent pending design. These 14mil thick filters are made of a durable vinyl material which is adhesive-free, washable and removable. The filter will attach to any glossy surface and should never lose its strong adherence property. They have excellent clarity which allows all normal activities such as reading, texting and gaming. They are designed to be used in the evening either in complete darkness or under blue-free light sources. These removable filters can be stored off the device when not in use.

 

May wearing LBL glasses help alleviate severe headaches?
A user of LBL glasses reported the following: “As one who suffers from bouts of cluster headaches and debilitating migraines, I can personally attest to the positive benefits gained by using LBL blue-filtering eyewear. Whenever the sensation of a headache begins to set in, I always reach for my LBL Novelists. These glasses block what I feel to be a major contributing factor to my headaches–the blue light from either ambient light I’m under or from the screen that I’m using. In my opinion, they are your most comfortable style. I’m convinced I benefit from their use and always have them with me. Once the headache pain subsides, I remove them.”

 

What makes LBL products better than similar ones on the market?
There are many knock-off products on the market today that purport to have the same melatonin-enhancing features as LBL glasses, bulbs and filters. The other products claim to block enough blue light, but the results of laboratory tests indicate that they do not. LBL products are guaranteed to block all of the melatonin-suppressing blue light.

 

How do LBL lamps differ from yellow “bug lights”?
LBL light bulbs are specifically designed to block the blue light wavelengths that suppresses melatonin. There may be other lamps that block enough of the blue that suppresses melatonin, but from what we have tested in the laboratory, many of them do not. Our bulbs are guaranteed to block wavelengths up to 530 nm. The light that suppresses melatonin is from about 410 nm (deep blue almost purple) to 530 nm (Blue-green), peaking in a bell-shaped curve at approximately470 nm (pure blue). Several top lighting manufacturers have introduced nighttime bulbs that have lower blue light output however these bulbs still emit enough blue light to cause melatonin suppression. Only LowBlueLights bulbs are guaranteed to be 100% blue-free.

 

Is it safe to use LBL compact fluorescent or CFLs?
The only question about CFL safety is the amount of mercury if a lamp should break. The actual amount of mercury is a few milligrams. This is an extremely small amount. The EPA suggests people not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up if a lamp breaks but rather sweep up the remains and dispose of them along with other household trash. Therefore, we do not consider them a danger. For those concerned with mercury clean-up and governmental disposal procedures of CFLs, please consult the EPA procedures found here: https://www.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl. These procedures are intended for US residents only. Please consult your own country’s safety guidelines.

 

Why are there similar glasses, bulbs and filters less expensive than LBL glasses?
LBL is the worldwide leader in blue light blocking products. Its light bulbs, glasses and other products are scientifically designed and laboratory tested to confirm they eliminate the blue light wavelengths that suppress melatonin. We have tested other glasses and products on the market that also claim to block enough of the blue light that suppresses melatonin and proved that many of them do not.