Short answer: blue light glasses with clear frames have a transparent (crystal) frame. The frame is about style; the lens decides what the glasses do. You can get a clear frame with a clear lens for daytime screens, or with an orange or red lens for the evening. Our picks: the InvisiAid Clear Wayfarer in Crystal for the day, and the SleepAid or SleepAidMax Wayfarer in Crystal for the evening.
Clear Frames vs Clear Lenses
They're easy to mix up:
- A clear frame is the transparent plastic around the lens. It's a style choice.
- A clear lens filters part of the blue light with little or no visible tint. It's a function choice.
A clear frame can hold any lens. If you're looking for glasses that look like regular glasses, you want a clear lens. See can blue light glasses be clear?
How Blue Light Glasses Work
Blue light glasses filter part of the blue light from screens, bulbs and the sun. The stronger the filter, the stronger the tint:
- Clear lenses filter some blue light and barely change colors. For daytime.
- Orange and red lenses filter almost all of it, and everything looks warm and dimmer. For the evening.
What the evidence says: cutting evening light with an orange or red lens before bed has the most support, though the studies are small. For daytime eye strain, a 2023 Cochrane review found blue light filtering lenses probably make little or no difference. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says blue light from screens hasn't been shown to damage the eyes.
Why Choose a Clear Frame?
- It goes with almost anything, from work clothes to weekend wear.
- It looks lighter on the face than a heavy black frame.
- It suits most face shapes and skin tones.
- It's low-key, which helps if you'll wear them on video calls or at the office.
Our Clear-Frame Picks
| Pick | Lens | Blue light blocked | Light let through (VLT) | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvisiAid Clear Wayfarer – Crystal | Clear | 35% (400–500nm) | 86% | Daytime screens |
| SleepAid Orange Wayfarer – Crystal | Orange | 99% (380–550nm) | 48% | Evenings, before bed |
| SleepAidMax Red Wayfarer – Crystal | Red | 99.7% (380–580nm) | 22% | Last hour or two before sleep |
Lab figures measured by Micro-Light Optics. All are UV400. Never drive in SleepAid or SleepAidMax lenses.
For Daytime: InvisiAid Clear Wayfarer – Crystal
A clear frame with a clear lens, so they look like regular glasses. Good for the office, video calls and everyday screen use.
- 35% of blue light blocked, 400–500nm
- 86% light transmission (Category 0); colors look normal
- UV400; no magnification
See the InvisiAid Clear Wayfarer – Crystal
For Evenings: SleepAid or SleepAidMax Wayfarer – Crystal
The same clear Wayfarer frame with an evening lens. Choose orange (SleepAid) for the evening wind-down, or red (SleepAidMax) for the strongest filter in the last hour or two before sleep.
See the SleepAid Orange Wayfarer – Crystal · See the SleepAidMax Red Wayfarer – Crystal
Prefer a Bit of Color?
The InvisiAid clear lens also comes in a Pink Warrior Wayfarer, a translucent pink frame. See all InvisiAid clear lenses.
How to Choose
- Pick the lens for the time of day: clear for daytime, orange or red for the evening.
- Check the fit: about as wide as your face, no pinching, no sliding.
- Look for real numbers: a blocking percentage, a wavelength range and the lab that tested it.
- Wear a prescription? Add a filter to your prescription lenses, or use a clip-on or fit-over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do clear-frame blue light glasses work?
The frame doesn't affect the filter; the lens does. A clear lens filters part of the blue light; an orange or red lens filters almost all of it.
Do clear frames turn yellow over time?
Some clear plastics can yellow slightly with age and sunlight. Store them in a case and keep them out of hot cars.
Can I wear clear-frame blue light glasses all day?
With a clear lens, yes. Save orange and red lenses for the evening.
The Bottom Line
A clear frame is a style choice that goes with almost anything. Choose the lens for when you'll wear them: clear for the day, orange or red for the evening.
Read more: how to tell if blue light glasses are real · blue light glasses with black frames
