Aug. 18, 2023 – According to a new study, blue light glasses definitely don't help those who spend a lot of time staring at computer or phone screens from getting eyestrain. According to the study, which was released this week, the spectacles definitely don't help wearers' sleeping patterns either.
Eye strain, dry eye, and sleep issues are among the possibly negative effects of blue light from displays that blue light glasses are typically touted as being able to filter out. As more individuals stayed at home and used their computers and phones during the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in blue light spectacles surged. Optometrists frequently recommend these to patients.
The study, which was released on Thursday in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, examined information gathered from 17 clinical studies that enrolled 619 participants across six nations.
According to senior author Laura Downie, PhD, an associate professor of optometry and vision sciences at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, there may not be any immediate benefits to using blue-light-filtering spectacle lenses to lessen visual fatigue brought on by computer use.
The effects of these lenses on vision quality or sleep-related outcomes are likewise unknown at this time, and no long-term judgments about any possible impacts on retinal health could be made. When determining whether to buy these glasses, people should be aware of these findings.
The amount of blue light individuals receive from computer displays and other artificial sources is only about a thousandth of what people receive from natural sunshine, according to researchers, which is one reason the glasses don't work. Additionally, blue light lenses often only block 10% to 25% of blue light.
"Our findings do not support the prescription of blue-light-filtering lenses to the general population," Downie added.
According to eye specialists, people can reduce eyestrain by simply reducing the amount of time they spend staring at screens or by taking regular breaks. Reduce screen usage a couple hours before night to optimize sleep.
The analysis' shortcomings were recognized by the researchers. None of the research looked at glare discomfort, retinal health, serum melatonin levels, contrast sensitivity, color discrimination, sensitivity to discomfort, or general patient visual satisfaction.
The length of the various investigations also differed. The researchers stated that more study on the usage of blue light-filtering spectacles is required.
Study Questions if Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Really Work
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