Blue Light Glasses Vs. Regular Glasses

If you're spending a lot of time in front of screens, your eyes are working overtime. 

Prescription glasses only have one purpose: They correct vision. But the harsh blue light emitted by screens? That needs a completely different solution. 

Today, we're drawing a detailed comparison between blue light glasses and regular glasses. You'll learn everything from how they both work to the core differences between them to how you can use both at the same time. 

Let's dive in. 

How Light Affects Your Eyes

White light consists of several wavelengths; blue light sits near the high-energy end of the spectrum. 

Upon entering your eyes, this high-energy part of light scatters more than other colors, making it hard for your lenses to focus images sharply. 

Over time, all that extra effort leads to strain, tiredness, and dryness. 

What are Regular Glasses?

Regular glasses correct vision issues, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. They bend the light that enters your eyes so that it falls on your retina correctly. 

Your eye specialist can measure your prescription requirement and craft customized lenses accordingly. These glasses often have anti-reflective coatings to cut glare. 

What are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses don’t fix vision issues. Instead, they have a coating that prevents a specific wavelength range from hitting your eyes. 

Some lenses have a subtle filter while others have a more noticeable tint. Darker tints, such as amber or red, block most of this blue light, offering more comprehensive protection than clear lenses. 

Most blue light glasses don’t require a prescription, and you can get your optometrist to add a blue light filter to your regular glasses. 

Blue Light Glasses Vs. Regular Glasses: Core Differences

Let’s briefly discuss the core differences between regular and blue light glasses. 

Function 

Both glasses serve a unique purpose (Although you can get both functions in one glasses). 

If you don't need prescription glasses, a pair of blue light ones is all you need. 

And if your screen exposure isn't that high, you may not need blue light glasses.

Regular glasses are designed to fix vision issues. Blue light glasses? They simply and effectively block blue light wavelengths.

Lens Construction 

Regular glasses are all about curvature. Your doctor crafts these lenses to match the precise angles your eyes need to focus light correctly.

On the other hand, blue light glasses can have clear or tinted lenses. Either the lens itself is tinted or there’s a microscopic filter layer on top of it. 

The layer is designed to target wavelengths in the range of 400 - 500 nanometers (The blue light range) while allowing all other wavelengths to pass through. 

Visual Appearance

Regular glasses are usually clear with an anti-reflective coating that eliminates glare. Blue light filters are more noticeable, especially the ones with higher blocking percentages. 

Clear lenses block a minimal amount of blue light, and the tint on them is hardly noticeable. Darker tints are more evident. For instance, amber lenses give everything a warm glow. 

If you care about accurate color perception, a clear filter is a more practical choice for you.

Health and Comfort Impacts 

Regular lenses fix your vision, helping you see clearly, so the impacts are largely positive, other than a short adjustment period. 

The benefits of blue light glasses can vary depending on their types and how you use them. 

Digital Eye Strains and Headaches

If your goal is countering digital eye strain, there's limited research to support blue light glasses’ effectiveness in this area. Although they can help ease this strain by making your visual experience more comfortable. 

Sleep and Circadian Rhythm

If sleep regulation is your objective, you can find several scientific sources to back up the effectiveness of blue light glasses. 

These glasses, by blocking the high-intensity blue light, allow natural production of melatonin, helping you feel relaxed and sleep on time. 

Who Benefits Most?

Like regular prescription glasses, blue light-blocking glasses aren't for everybody. 

Plus, they can't cure eye strain or sleep issues on their own. You need to practice eye care best practices as well.

If you fall under one or more of the categories below, you may need to add blue light glasses to your lifestyle.

Heavy Screen Users

Your eyes aren't designed for long screen sessions. If you don't do anything to protect them, you're most likely to run into eye health issues down the line. 

If you spend a lot of time watching screens, consider wearing these glasses as a protective measure. 

People With Existing Vision Issues (Can You Combine Both?)

If you already have prescription lenses and also want to get protection against blue light, you can get dual benefits. 

Ask your doctor to add a blue light filter to your existing regular glasses. 

Those Facing Sleep Disturbances

If you’re using digital screens in the evening or late at night, you’re exposing yourself to blue light. This makes your brain think it’s still daytime, so you have a hard time going to sleep. 

Wearing blue light glasses, specifically amber tints, while watching screens at night can help normalize your circadian rhythm. 

Regular Glasses Vs. Blue Light Glasses: FAQs

Should I Wear Blue Light Glasses All Day?

You can wear blue light glasses all day, but you don’t need to. They can cause mild side effects like color fatigue and visual distortion. So, you may want to use them only when using screens. 

Can I Combine Blue Light Coating With My Prescription?

Yes, you can add a blue light filter to prescription glasses. Ask your optometrist to add a blue light filter to them (Or the eyewear provider to include it when ordering glasses). 

Are Amber Tints More Effective Than Clear Ones?

Amber tints offer better protection against blue light as they block a wider range of wavelengths. However, they shift your color perception, making them unsuitable for color sensitive tasks (Graphic design, photography, etc.). 

Will Blue Light Glasses Improve My Sleep Quality?

They can be effective if you wear them 1 - 2 hours before going to bed. By filtering blue light, these glasses allow your brain to produce melatonin naturally, making you sleepy. 

Conclusion 

Regular glasses fix vision. Blue light glasses filter a specific block of white light wavelengths (Blue light), potentially easing eye strain and helping your sleep cycle. 

If you want the benefits of both, get prescription lenses with a blue light-blocking filter. If screen protection is your only goal, you can get blue light glasses without a prescription.