Short answer: yes. You can wear blue light glasses with contacts, and the two don't interfere with each other. Your contact lenses correct your vision; non-prescription blue light glasses sit in front of them and only filter the light coming in. The main thing to watch is dryness, because contacts plus long screen sessions can leave eyes feeling dry. Choose the lens for the time of day: clear or yellow for daytime screens, orange or red for the evening.
Below: how the two work together, which lens to choose, how to stay comfortable, and whether contacts can filter blue light on their own.
How Blue Light Glasses and Contacts Work Together
They do different jobs in different places:
- Contact lenses sit on the eye and correct your vision.
- Blue light glasses sit on your face, in front of the eye, and filter part of the light before it reaches you.
Because the contacts already correct your vision, the glasses you wear over them should be non-prescription. Wearing both at once doesn't change your prescription or how well you see. The only visible difference is the lens tint, if the glasses have one.
Which Lens to Wear Over Contacts
Pick the lens for when you'll wear it. Our figures are measured by Micro-Light Optics:
- Clear (InvisiAid): blocks 35% across 400–500nm, 86% light transmission. Natural colors, for daytime screens and color-accurate work.
- Yellow (ScreenAid): blocks 60% across 400–500nm, 79% light transmission. A warmer-looking screen during the day.
- Orange (SleepAid): blocks 99% across 380–550nm, 48% light transmission. For the two to three hours before bed.
- Red (SleepAidMax): blocks 99.7% across 380–580nm, 22% light transmission. For the last hour before sleep.
Yellow, orange and red lenses change how colors look, so use clear for design or photo work. Orange and red lenses are not for driving.
Why People Wear Both
Evening Screen Time
This is where blue light glasses have the clearest purpose. Bright, blue-rich light in the evening can delay the rise of melatonin, the hormone that tells your body it's getting dark. If you're still in your contacts in the evening, an orange or red lens over them cuts most blue light from screens and room lights. There's more in our guide to wearing blue light glasses before bed.
Daytime Screens
Some people simply prefer the look of a screen through a clear or yellow lens. That's a fine reason to wear them. It's worth knowing what they don't do, though: a 2023 Cochrane review found blue light filtering glasses probably make no difference to eye strain in the short term, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology says the light from screens doesn't damage the eyes.
Reading Up Close
If your contacts correct your distance vision but small print is getting harder, reading glasses over your contacts are a common fix. Our ReadAid reading glasses add magnification with a clear lens that blocks 35% of blue light across 400–500nm. Check with your optometrist which strength suits you.
Staying Comfortable: Contacts, Screens and Dry Eyes
Dryness is the most common complaint when you wear contacts at a screen. We blink much less when we concentrate, and contacts can make eyes feel drier still. Blue light glasses don't fix this, but these habits help:
- Blink fully and often, especially during long sessions.
- Use rewetting drops made for contact lenses. Not all eye drops are safe to use with contacts, so check the label or ask a pharmacist.
- Take regular breaks: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Stick to your wear schedule and don't sleep in contacts unless your optometrist has said you can.
- Choose a lightweight frame so the glasses are comfortable for hours.
- Keep both clean: follow your contact lens care routine, and clean your glasses with a microfiber cloth.
If your eyes are often red, sore or uncomfortable in contacts, see your optometrist.
Do Contact Lenses Filter Blue Light?
Some do. A few contact lenses include a light-filtering or UV-blocking feature. They're far less common than blue light glasses, filter less than a tinted lens, and you'd need your optometrist to prescribe them. For the evening, an orange or red lens worn over your usual contacts blocks much more blue light and is easy to take off when you're done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Wear Blue Light Glasses Over My Contacts?
Yes. Choose non-prescription blue light glasses, since your contacts already correct your vision.
Will Wearing Both Affect My Vision?
No. Your contacts keep correcting your vision as normal. A tinted lens will change how colors look, but not how sharply you see.
Can I Wear Orange Glasses With Contacts Before Bed?
Yes. Just take your contacts out before you sleep, unless your optometrist has said you can wear them overnight.
Is It Better to Wear Glasses or Contacts at the Computer?
Either works for vision. Some people find glasses more comfortable for long screen days because contacts can feel dry. If you prefer contacts, blue light glasses can go over them.
Can I Wear Blue Light Glasses Over Contacts All Day?
Clear and yellow lenses, yes, indoors. Keep orange and red lenses for the evening, and never wear them for driving.
Conclusion
You can wear blue light glasses with contacts: the contacts correct your vision, and non-prescription glasses in front of them filter the light. Choose clear or yellow for daytime screens and orange or red for the evening. Look after your eyes with regular breaks, full blinks and rewetting drops made for contacts.
Not sure which lens suits you? Use the Lens Finder, or read can blue light glasses be clear?
