With a shift to more online activities, the blue blocking glasses market has grown exponentially over the past year making it very difficult for consumers to choose which product to get. Unfortunately most glasses on the market are next to useless (if you’re looking for something that actually improves your health that is)!
The are the 2 most important things to look for in a quality pair of daytime blue blocking glasses:
1. How Much Blue Light do they Block?
The average blue blocker blocks around 3-9% of blue light. As you can probably guess, this is very little. If the lens is totally clear, this is an indication that the lens is not blocking much blue. As the lens colour becomes more yellow and orange, it blocks more blue light. It is physically impossible for a clear lens to block a significant amount of blue light. Don’t be fooled!
NaturoBlocks Daytime Energy Glasses block 88% of digital blue light (400-460nm) - this is the spectrum that is primarily emitted from screens and LEDs. They have a slight yellow tint because, well, they have to in order to be effective!
2. What Spectrum of Blue Light do they Block?
Blue light is a spectrum of wavelengths between about 400-495nm. When it comes to protecting yourself from the damaging effects of blue light from screens, you want to make sure that you’re blocking the spectrum of light that actually comes off of screens….this should be common sense but most blue blocking glasses don’t even come close to blocking the proper wavelengths.
Screens and LEDs have a spike of blue light at 455nm (see picture below). NaturoBlocks Daytime Energy Glasses block 60% of this spike. As I mentioned earlier, it is impossible for a clear lens to block an appreciable amount of blue at this wavelength. You may have seen the marketing tactic where they shine a blue light through the lens and VOILA it disappears! What they fail to tell you is that the spectrum of that light is way below 455nm. So yes they are blocking SOME blue light but not the primary light that is emitted from screens!
Summary
The sad reality is that most blue blockers are on the market to make a profit, not protect your health. Always look for how much blue light they block and what spectrum is being blocked. Feel free to get a $20 pair on Amazon for aesthetic purposes but don’t expect them to actually work, you get what you pay for!
Happy Blue Blocking!