Anti Blue Light Lenses
simone ciro
Lenses that filter blue light
Blue light is a component of the visible light spectrum, located between 380 and 500 nanometers of wavelength. Emitted naturally by the sun, and artificially by devices such as computer screens, phones, tablets, LED TVs and LED or fluorescent light bulbs.
Blue light blocking lenses are designed to filter out some of the blue light emitted by computers, smartphones, and TVs. Studies have found that prolonged exposure to blue light can affect your circadian rhythm, or your sleep-wake cycle, and may contribute to symptoms of digital eye strain, such as dry eyes and blurry vision.
Many people report subjective benefits from using blue light blocking lenses, especially in reducing digital eye strain and improving sleep quality. However, scientific research is still ongoing, and studies do not always agree on the specific effectiveness of these lenses in reducing long-term eye damage.
For relief from digital fatigue, they can therefore be useful, although they do not replace other eye health practices, such as taking regular breaks and maintaining proper lighting.
It should be noted that blue light filtering lenses have a yellow tint, since yellow is the complementary color of blue. In fact, blue light blocking lenses often have a slight yellow or amber tint, precisely because they absorb or block some of the blue wavelengths.
However, many modern lenses use a specific filter that is less visible to the human eye, limiting the intensity of the coloration. This is achieved by advanced anti-reflective treatments, which selectively block certain wavelengths of blue light without altering the perceived colors too much. Models with more pronounced tints, such as amber lenses, actually block more of the blue light, making them ideal for high-exposure situations, but for everyday use, lighter lenses are preferred to preserve color fidelity.
If a lens completely blocked blue light, it would appear completely yellow or amber. This is because by blocking all wavelengths in the blue range, the lens reflects or absorbs that part of the spectrum, allowing mostly the remaining wavelengths, including yellow and red, to pass through.
Lenses that completely block blue light are mostly used in specific contexts, such as some glasses for those who work at night or for activities that require complete filtering of blue light. For everyday use, however, it would be too visually demanding, since a total block would alter the perception of colors, making everything have a decidedly more yellow hue.
Typically, blue light filtering eyeglass lenses block 10-15% of blue light , which can actually offer some benefits without altering color perception too much. This percentage of filtering is often enough to reduce eye strain from prolonged exposure. Additionally, a moderate filter like this lets most of the visible light through, maintaining the natural appearance of colors and not causing the yellow tint seen in lenses that block higher amounts of blue light.
In practice, blocking only some of the blue light can help reduce the symptoms of eye strain without affecting the quality of vision and color perception. This is one reason why many blue light blocking lenses for everyday use choose to only block part of the blue light, rather than eliminating it completely.