Pandemic Screen Time: Will Blue Light Glasses Help?
By Ralph Ellis
Jan. 15, 2021 — The COVID-19 pandemic has been good for the blue light glasses industry.
As people in lockdown spend more time staring at laptops and other digital screens, they’re ordering more blue light glasses, despite a lack of conclusive evidence the glasses actually reduce eyestrain or protect from the effects of blue light.
The optical company Zenni says sales for the blue-light-blocking product Blokz have risen 60% annually for the last 2 years, with nearly 2 million pairs sold in 2020 alone.
The glasses were already popular with office workers and gamers, “but most certainly the pandemic has had a pronounced effect [on sales] with nearly everyone absorbing more and more digital blue light than ever before,” says Sean Pate, a brand marketing and communications officer for Zenni.
Erin Lynn Sattler was an early adopter of blue light glasses, but has since given them up for prescription glasses.
The Book Club eyewear company says sales for its blue light glasses through March and April 2020 rose 116% over the same time in 2019, with the surge continuing, according to The Business of Fashion.
“You never predict a moment like [a global pandemic] is the moment that a brand blossoms and all of a sudden starts to sell out and gain attention,” says creative director Hamish Tame.
360ResearchReports, a market research company, says the global market for blue light eyewear will increase to $28 million by 2024, up from $19 million in 2020. The advertised benefits of the glasses include less eyestrain, improved sleep, and prevention of eye disease.
But do they really work? It depends on who you ask.
Because the glasses are a newer product, there’s not a lot of research to show either way.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology says you don’t need them and has gone on record as not recommending any kind of special eyewear for computer users. The organization says blue light from digital devices does not lead to eye disease and doesn’t even cause eyestrain. The problems people complain about are simply caused by overuse of digital devices, it says.
“The symptoms of digital eye strain are linked to how we use our digital devices, not the blue light coming out of them,” the AAO says.
In the United Kingdom, the College of Optometrists says, “The best scientific evidence currently available does not support the use of blue-blocking spectacle lenses in the general population to improve visual performance, alleviate the symptoms of eye fatigue or visual discomfort, improve sleep quality or conserve macula health.”
But some eye professionals believe they have benefits.
Greg Rogers, senior optician at Eyeworks in Decatur, GA, says he’s seen the benefits of blue light glasses among the shop’s customers. The staff asks a client how much time they spend in front of a screen daily. If it’s 6 hours or more, some sort of blue light reduction technique is recommended, whether it’s glasses or a special screen for a computer monitor.
The Vision Council, which represents the optical industry, says it doesn’t promote individual brands or products, and it “encourages everyone to do their own research, speak with an eye care provider, and determine the right solution for them and their family.”
Blue Light is Everywhere
We were getting plenty of blue light before modern digital life began. Most of it comes from the sun. But gadgets like televisions, smartphones, laptops, and tablets that populate modern life emit the brighter, shorter-wavelength (more bluish) light.
And because of the pandemic, we’re staring at those devices even more, according to Vision Direct, which surveyed 2,000 adults in the United States and another 2,000 in the United Kingdom.
Bright screens can dim your overall health. What can you do to protect your eyes?ABOUT
The study, published in June 2020, found those adults averaged 4 hours and 54 minutes on a laptop before the lockdown and 5 hours and 10 minutes after. They spent 4 hours and 33 minutes on the smartphone before the lockdown, and 5 hours and 2 minutes after. Screen time went up for television watching and gaming, too.
Susan Primo, OD, an optometrist and professor of ophthalmology at Emory University, agrees that the research so far shows digital overuse, not blue light, causes eye problems. But some patients who wear blue light glasses do report less eyestrain, she says.
“If you want to wear them and find some benefits, that’s fine,” she says.
Primo says she’s bothered by some of the marketing and advertising of blue light eyewear because it doesn’t line up with the research.
“They can word it in such a way that makes it appear to be beneficial. They can say this might be possible. They can use words like ‘may’ and ‘might,’” she says. “Marketing can take things to a level that might not be a sound recommendation, sound science, for people to go out and get them.”
An example: A chain of stores in the United Kingdom, Boots Ltd., was fined 40,000 pounds in 2017 for misleading advertising that said digital blue light caused retinal damage, and special eyewear sold at Boots Ltd. could protect users, Optometry Today reported.
Trying to Get Some Sleep
Another argument in favor of blue light glasses is that they help you sleep better at night. Researchers agree that blue light from LED devices like your smartphone or laptop holds back the body’s production of sleep-inducing melatonin.
A 2017 study done by the University of Houston found that participants wearing the glasses showed about a 58% increase in their nighttime melatonin levels. “By using blue blocking glasses we … can improve sleep and still continue to use our devices. That’s nice, because we can still be productive at night,” said Lisa Ostrin, PhD, a professor at the university’s College of Optometry, according to a university news release.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology takes a different approach. “You don’t need to spend extra money on blue light glasses to improve sleep — simply decrease evening screen time and set devices to night mode,” the group says.
‘I Believe I Can Work Longer’
Many consumers say the blue light glasses help.
Cindy Tolbert of Atlanta, a mystery novelist and retired lawyer, had a variety of vision problems and spent an extra $140 at the eye doctor for blue light lenses.
“It’s not terribly apparent that the glasses help when you’re wearing them, but I believe I can work longer, and I know I can work more comfortably,” she says. “Usually my eyes poop out after 4 or 5 hours of computer work, but I can work longer with the glasses.”
Michael Clarke of San Diego says he doesn’t care what the experts say about blue light glasses. They work for him.
“I use them so often that I have a pair of blue light glasses around my neck all day,” he said in 2019. “I’m not an optometrist. I just know that my eyes don’t get as tired at the end of the day. My frequency of headaches has gone down. I’m able to focus on things easier on a screen.”
Back in 2019, Erin Sattler of Bellevue, WA, was sold on blue light glasses, saying they eased eyestrain. But she’s changed her view.
“After doing more research, I have learned that the blue light technology isn’t well-founded and is largely a placebo effect,” Sattler said this month. “I now wear mild prescription glasses, and THAT has made a major difference. I believe I was experiencing relief from achy eyes with the blue light glasses because I would take them off regularly to clean them, adjust them, or talk to a co-worker in my office.”
You can easily order prescription and nonprescription blue light glasses at the optometrist’s office or online.
Give Your Eyes a Break
If you’re worried about how computers and other blue light-emitting screens are affecting your eyes, you can find relief without special eyewear.SLIDESHOW
Slideshow: What Eye Problems Look Like
1/32Warning Signs of Eye TroubleBlurry vision, spots, glare at night, flashing lights — these are common eye complaints. Each could be a harmless annoyance or an early sign of disease. It isn’t always easy to tell the difference. Visit your eye doctor promptly if you notice any changes in your vision.2/32Color Blindness TestWhich number do you see on the far left? If it’s “3,” you probably have normal color vision. If it’s a “5,” you may be color blind. The center panel shows a mild lack of color vision. Complete color blindness, which is rare, appears at right. No number is visible. Tinted glasses may help you see better.3/32Nearsightedness (Myopia)When you’re nearsighted, things in the distance look blurry. Doctors call it myopia. You’re more likely to have it if: One or both of your parents have itYou do lots of close-up readingNearsightedness can make it harder to drive, play sports, or see a blackboard or TV. Symptoms include blurred vision, squinting, and fatigue. To correct it, you can wear glasses, contacts, or get surgery in some cases.4/32Farsightedness (Hyperopia)Most people are born with mild farsightedness and outgrow it in childhood. When it persists, you may see distant objects well, but books, knitting, and other close objects are a blur. This problem runs in families. Symptoms include trouble with reading, blurry vision at night, eyestrain, and headaches. To treat it, you may wear glasses or contacts. Some people get surgery for it.5/32PresbyopiaTrouble reading fine print is a sign of aging. It’s called presbyopia, which means “old eye” in Greek. Most people start to notice it in their 40s. The eyes’ lenses become less flexible and can’t change shape to focus on objects at reading distance. The solution: Wear reading glasses or bifocals, which correct both near and distance vision. If you wear contacts, ask your eye doctor about contacts made for people with presbyopia.6/32Nearsightedness: What HappensThe cause is usually an eyeball that is too long. Or it can result from an oddly-shaped cornea or lens. Light rays focus just in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. This sensitive membrane lines the back of the eye (seen in yellow) and sends signals to the brain through the optic nerve. Nearsightedness often develops in school-age children and teens, so they may need to change glasses or contacts frequently as they grow. Multifocal contact lens or glasses and eye drops such as atropine, pirenzepine gel and cyclopentolate can help slow the progression. The prevalence of myopia has been rising at an alarming rate, much of it being attributed to increased use of handheld devices and computers.7/32Farsightedness: What HappensThis problem results from an eyeball that is too short or an oddly-shaped lens or cornea. Light rays focus behind your retina and close objects look blurry. Your distance vision might be fuzzy, too. Severely farsighted children often have crossed eyes (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia) and may have trouble reading. That’s one reason eye doctors recommend vision exams for young children.8/32AstigmatismIf you have astigmatism in one or both eyes, your vision may be out of focus at any distance. It happens when the cornea, the clear “window” that covers the front of the eye, isn’t shaped right. Light rays can’t focus on a single point on your retina. Instead they scatter to many places. Glasses or contact lenses correct it. Surgery may be an option. Symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, fatigue, and eye strain.9/32Refractive Eye SurgeryDo you dream of seeing clearly without glasses? Surgery to reshape your cornea can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism with a success rate of better than 90%. Surgery may not be right for you if you have severe dry eye, thin or oddly shaped corneas, or severe vision problems. Side effects include glare or sensitivity to light.10/32Glaucoma: ViewYou can’t feel it, but this disease damages your optic nerve. You may not have any symptoms until you lose your central vision. Your side vision will go first. That’s why you need regular eye exams every 1 to 2 years, especially after you turn 40. Doctors can treat glaucoma with medications or surgery.11/32Glaucoma: What HappensYour eye is filled with fluid. Sometimes too much of it builds up and raises pressure inside your eye. This can damage your optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that carries information to your brain. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total blindness.The bright yellow circle shows an optic nerve head damaged by glaucoma. The dark central area is the macula, which controls your finely-detailed central vision.12/32Macular Degeneration: ViewAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) damages and then destroys your central vision, making it hard to read or drive. Symptoms can include a central blurry spot or straight lines that appear wavy. You’re more likely to have it if you are older than 60, smoke, have high blood pressure, are obese, are female, or have a family history of the condition. See your eye doctor regularly to check for AMD. Prompt treatment can help slow vision loss. 13/32Macular Degeneration: What HappensAMD affects the central part of your retina, called the macula. There are two types:Dry: Doctors often see yellow deposits called drusen in the macula. As it worsens, the macular tissue breaks down. That causes changes or loss of your central vision over time.Wet: Abnormal blood vessels grow in your eye. They leak blood and fluid (shown here), which causes scars and further damages the macula.Both types leave you with a central blind spot.14/32Macular Degeneration: TestCover one eye and stare at the center dot in this Amsler grid from a distance of 12 to 15 inches. (You can wear your reading glasses.) Do you see wavy, broken, or blurry lines? Are any areas warped or just plain gone? Repeat for your other eye. Although no self-test can take the place of an eye exam, this grid is used to help spot early symptoms of AMD.Next:See how this grid looks with AMD.15/32Macular Degeneration: SignsAs seen here, the Amsler grid can look quite distorted to if you have severe macular degeneration. It may include a central dark spot. Straight lines that appear wavy are also cause for concern, as they can be an early symptom of wet AMD, the more serious, fast-moving type. See your eye doctor right away for a thorough exam.16/32Diabetic Retinopathy: ViewType 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause partial vision loss (an example is shown here) and lead to blindness. The damage involves tiny blood vessels in your retina. It can often be treated, but don’t wait for symptoms. By the time you have them — blurry vision, spots, shadows, or pain — the disease may be severe. If you have diabetes, get an annual eye exam. The best prevention is to keep your blood sugar in check.17/32Diabetic Retinopathy: What HappensHigh blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels that support your retina. They can swell, break, and leak fluid. Sometimes dozens of new, abnormal blood vessels grow. This is called proliferative retinopathy. They’re fragile and break open easily. Over time all this can damage the retina and cause blurred vision, blind spots, or blindness. 18/32Cataracts: ViewBy age 80, more than half of us will have had a cataract, or cloudy lens. Your vision slowly gets foggy and it gets hard to read, drive, and see at night. Diabetes, smoking, or too much time in the sun raise your chances. Surgery that replaces the clouded lens with a man-made one works well.19/32Cataracts: What HappensA healthy lens focuses light into a single spot on your retina. It captures the image like film in a camera. As you age, protein builds up in the lens. It gets cloudy and sends scattered rays of light to your retina. Instead of one sharp clear image you get blurred vision, changes in color vision, and glare, especially at night. Advanced cataracts are easy to see. It’s the muddy-colored circle at the center of this picture.20/32Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)You can inherit this disorder from your parents. It often begins with night vision problems. Next comes a slow loss of side vision. That becomes tunnel vision and finally, in some cases, blindness. High-dose vitamin A supplements can reduce vision loss and an implant that can restore some vision is in the works. But see your doctor before you take supplements. Too much vitamin A can be toxic.21/32Retinitis Pigmentosa: What HappensThe light-sensitive tissue of the retina slowly breaks down over many years. As that happens, it no longer sends signals to your brain, and you lose some vision. Eye exams show abnormal dark spots (pigments) sprinkled around the retina. Early cataracts can also happen, along with a swelling of the retina called macular edema (the central orange mass shown here).22/32Floaters and SpecksDo you see blurry spots or specks that move? They’re probably floaters — debris in your eye’s vitreous gel. They don’t block vision and are easier to see in bright light. Floaters are common and usually harmless. See a doctor right away if:They show up or multiply suddenly.You also see flashes of light.You see white or black spots all the time. You notice a sudden shadow or loss of side vision.23/32Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)When you’re a child, if one eye doesn’t see well, your brain may favor the other. This condition, called amblyopia, can happen if your eyes aren’t aligned right (strabismus or crossed eyes) or one eye just doesn’t work as well. The doctor will prescribe a patch or drops that blur vision in the “good” eye. This prompts your brain to use the other eye. If amblyopia isn’t treated during childhood, it can cause permanent vision loss.24/32Object in the EyeBecause so many nerve endings lie just beneath the surface or your cornea, even a tiny speck can be painful. Don’t rub your eye, or you could cause serious damage. Wash it with non preserved sterile saline solution — do not use regular tap water. If the object doesn’t move, call a doctor. They can remove it and give you antibiotic drops to prevent an infection.25/32Tears and Dry EyeTears keep your eyes moist. Sometimes you don’t have enough, either from dry air, aging, or other health conditions. Your eyes can get painful and irritated. Eye drops labeled artificial tears may do the trick for a mild case. If it’s a bigger problem, you may benefit from other treatments, medications or nutritional supplements26/32Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)This inflammation results from a virus, bacteria, irritant, or an allergic reaction. Your eye will get red and itch or burn. You’ll also notice a gunky discharge. If your eye itches an allergy is probably to blame. The type you catch from other people is usually viral, so you won’t need antibiotics. If your pinkeye is caused by bacteria, the doctor will give you antibiotic eye drops. Pinkeye can be very contagious, so wash your hands often while you wait for it to clear up.27/32StyeThis painful red bump looks like a pimple on or near the edge of your eyelid. It’s a type of infection of the eyelids (the doctor will call it blepharitis). Styes usually heal in a week. You can speed things up by putting a warm, wet compress on it 3 to 6 times a day. Don’t wear contacts or eye makeup until it heals.28/32AllergiesThey can cause itchy, watery eyes. Pollen, grass, dust, weeds, and pet dander are common triggers. An allergy doctor can tell you what’s to blame for yours. Keep your windows shut at home and in your car. You can get special pillow and mattress covers to keep allergens out. Clean your house thoroughly and use allergen filters in your furnace and air conditioner. Allergy eye drops, artificial tears, and antihistamines may help.29/32Keep Up With Your Eye ExamsYou need regular checkups all through your life, especially if eye problems run in your family or if you have other risk factors. An eye exam can also find other problems, like diabetes and high blood pressure, or even a stroke or brain tumor. Bulging eyes can signal thyroid disease. A yellow tint in the whites of your eyes might be a sign of liver problems.30/32Prevent Sun DamageUV rays can harm your eyes. Exposure can cause you to get cataracts 8-10 years earlier than normal. Just one long session in the sun can cause very painful irritation of your corneas. So wear a hat and sunglasses that block UV rays. You can add a clear, protective UV-blocking film to your car’s side windows, too. If you have light-colored eyes you may be more sensitive to light. If it suddenly starts to bother you more than usual, call your eye doctor.31/32Stay Safe at HomeGrease splatters from a pan, yard debris flies up from the lawn mower, cleaning solution splashes in a bucket. Some of the greatest eye hazards are in the home. Eye doctors suggest everyone keep a pair of protective eyewear at home. Look for one approved by the American National Standards Institute. Even if an eye injury seems minor, go to the emergency room or your eye doctor right away to get it checked out.32/32Foods for Eye HealthCarrots really are good for your eyes. So are spinach, nuts, oranges, beef, fish, whole grains, many other things that make up a healthy diet. Look for foods with antioxidants like omega-3 fatty acids; vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene; as well as zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Vision Council, and other vision-related organizations urge moderation in screen use. Most of them recommend adopting the 20-20-20 rule. That means that every 20 minutes, you’ll look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology also recommends taking these steps:
Adjust your seat, or the position of your computer, so your eyes are about 25 inches from the screen. Position the screen so you’re gazing slightly downward.
Use a matte screen filter on the screen to reduce glare.
Use artificial tears when your eyes feel dry.
Pay attention to the lighting in the room where you work. You might try increasing your screen contrast.
If you wear contact lenses, give your eyes a break by wearing glasses now and then.WebMD Health News Reviewed by Neha Pathak, MD on December 16, 2019
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