Blue Light Glasses For Concussion: What You Must Know

If you or someone you know is recovering from a concussion, even everyday light can turn into a major challenge.

This isn’t just true for artificial light sources such as digital screens and fluorescent bulbs. Stepping outside during the day can also put your eyes under stress.

To combat this pain or discomfort during your recovery phase, blue light-blocking glasses can act as your saviour.

In this post, you’ll learn:

Why does light feel worse after a concussion
How blue light makes things worse
How to use blue light glasses for a concussion
Picking the right pair for your needs
Some commonly asked questions

It’s going to be a comprehensive and no-fluff guide, so you don’t have to hop from one web page to another to get a complete answer.

Let’s dive in.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild brain injury that often results from a sudden jolt to your head. Your brain shifts from its position and bumps against the bone.

Symptoms of a concussion can vary; you may feel dizzy, experience a headache, or lose balance.

On top of that, your eyes get extra sensitive to light, natural or unnatural. This photophobia can make normal day-to-day things like reading and watching TV a real challenge for your eyes.

Why Light Feels Worse After a Concussion?

When your brain is healthy, it works with your eyes smoothly. The light hits your eyes, and they send a signal to the brain, allowing you to see.

After a concussion, those signals become noisy, and harsh light overloads sensitive brain cells. This can trigger nausea and throbbing headaches.

As a result, you start avoiding day-to-day activities just to dodge the pain or discomfort.

How Blue Light Makes Symptoms Worse

Blue light is part of the high-energy spectrum; it originates from multiple sources, including:

The Sun
Fluorescent bulbs
Digital screens (TVs, laptops, and mobile phones)

Importantly, this flickering, high-energy light can make post-concussion recovery difficult by worsening the symptoms.

What this means is that even a quick peek at your phone at night can trigger discomfort or a headache.

Blue light from the Sun keeps us alert and regulates our mood, but after a concussion, your brain may be too sensitive, so it’s best to limit direct exposure to it during recovery.

How Blue Light Glasses Help

Anti blue light computer glasses on the white background

These glasses have a coating or filter that blocks the high-intensity blue light wavelengths, typically in the range of 400 - 450 nm.

By cutting out this problematic part of white light, these glasses give your visual pathways a break, potentially easing light sensitivity and even headaches.

Proof From Research

Colored Lenses for Photophobia in Concussion Patients

A study published in The Journal of Athletic Training observed a pool of concussion patients in the recovery phase.

Researchers tested colored glasses on patients who were experiencing photophobia and found that 85% of them experienced relief.

In addition, participants reported no side effects from wearing these glasses. The study shows that wearing tinted lenses (Blue light glasses) is a non-intrusive, no-risk way of easing concussion-related symptoms.

Choosing the Right Blue Light Glasses

Not all blue light-blocking glasses have the same effects. Choosing the right pair is crucial for quicker recovery.

Look for blue light glasses with at least 65% blocking in the 400 - 450 nm range. The higher the blocking percentage, the warmer your surroundings will look.

There are blue light glasses that block almost 100% of the blue light, but the trade-off is visual clarity and color perception issues.

These glasses are a great addition to your lifestyle if you don’t do any color-sensitive tasks, such as graphic design, at night.

Wearing them at night also means you can sleep on time and wake up refreshed. By blocking blue light, these glasses regulate your melatonin production (The sleep hormone).

The FL-41 tint is specially designed for people with light sensitivity. Wearing them can ease your photophobia after a concussion.

When and How to Wear Them

Blue light glasses amber tints from sleepzm

Daytime Vs. Nighttime Wear

If you’re concerned about the diminished visual clarity that comes with wearing dark tints or doing color-sensitive work during the day, get two pairs for maximum benefits.

What you can do is wear light or medium tints during the day, so colors remain fairly natural, allowing you to work.

At night, wear dark tints, with blocking percentages of above 90%, to tell your brain it’s time to relax and go to bed.

Before Screen Time: Before you sit in front of a screen, put on your blue light glasses for a more comfortable visual experience.

Under Bright Lights: Bright light makes post-concussion recovery difficult. Keep your tinted glasses on when you're under fluorescent lights.

Sunny Days: Sunlight can be harsh on your eyes, and it contains high-energy blue light. Yellow or orange tints reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

frequently asked questions about blue light glasses for concussion. F in green, A in red, and Q in blue on a wooden background

Are Blue Light Glasses Good for a Concussion?

Yes, blue light glasses can help reduce light sensitivity, headaches, and eye strain after a concussion. They filter blue light, easing stress on your brain and making your screen time more comfortable.

What Color Light Is Best for Concussion?

Amber or FL-41 tints are great for concussions as they filter the most problematic light range, easing photophobia. You may also experience reduced nausea and headaches after wearing them correctly.

What Color Light Is Best for the Brain?

Studies have found that cooler blueish light can help your brain concentrate. Blue light from the Sun can also help you sleep better at night. However, this high-energy light can also make things worse during the post-concussion recovery phase.

Is Blue Light Bad for Your Head?

Too much blue light, especially after sunset, can hurt your sleep cycle or circadian rhythm. Plus, if you’ve had a concussion, blue light can make symptoms worse by stimulating brain pathways that are already under stress.

Conclusion

Concussions can be hard to recover from. Your eyes and brain become extra sensitive to bright and blue light.

Wearing the right type of blue light glasses in the right way can help you recover faster.

Amber tints provide effective protection against blue light. For color-sensitive tasks, consider a lighter tint with a blocking percentage of around 65%.

While blue light glasses can’t offer a cure, wearing them can significantly ease the symptoms associated with a concussion, especially light sensitivity.