Blue light glasses, while being around for roughly the past two years, have recently gained more attention for the health benefits they provide. Kids and adults alike are spending hours in front of a screen either for school or for work; this prolonged exposure to screens can cause strain on our eyes.

So how do blue light glasses help? Blue light glasses are specifically designed to block out blue light, a type of UV wave. Whenever looking at a screen, you’re looking at this blue light. Those who spend hours of their time on a screen have reported feelings of strained eyes, blurry vision, and feelings of tiredness. Mason Brown ’22, added, “I need those…zoom gives me fat headaches.”

The lenses in blue light glasses are crafted to block or filter out the blue light that comes from digital screens. These lenses are tinted and come in a variety of colors, all of which depend on your vision and eyes.

Junior Sam Lain-Hedden touched on this topic saying, “I think that the concept behind the glasses are cool, but I wouldn’t buy a pair.”  Blue light glasses can range from $20-$125 depending whether you have a prescription.

In addition, studies show that blue light can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm, the natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to digital screens before bed messes with the body’s ability to sleep. More specifically, blue light blocks the production of hormone melatonin, which makes you naturally tired and sleepy. This lack of melatonin could lead to reduced REM sleep; REM sleep is the one of the five stages of sleep in which neural activity changes, and it is during this time in which you do the most dreaming.

Avoiding screen time an hour or two before bed, turning on night/dark mode on your phone, or wearing blue light glasses are all effective ways to help you get a deeper sleep. Wearing these glasses will reduce eye strain, headaches, and help give you a deeper, more energizing sleep.