The next time you visit the eye doctor and need to update your glasses prescription, you may be asked if you want blue-blocking lenses. However, it wouldn’t be for the health of your eyes.
Contrary to what some blue-light blocking glasses retailers might suggest, 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.
So why is blue light getting a bad rap? White LED light from screens may emit more blue light than traditional light sources, even though the blue light might not be perceived by the user. This blue light is unlikely to pose a physical hazard to the retina. But, it may throw off your circadian rhythm more than traditional light sources, keeping you awake, disrupting sleep, or having other effects on your internal clock according to Harvard Health Letter.
While the National Sleep Foundation encourages people to just log off their devices to reduce their exposure to blue light after dark, other people choose to keep scrolling into the night... but don a pair of blue-blocking lenses.
