Blue-light glasses not likely to help combat eye strain
The pitch for bluelight-filtering glasses is compelling: an easy way to counteract that bleary-eyed feeling that sets in after hours of scrolling on your phone or staring at a laptop. The evidence for them, though, has largely been lacking.
And a recent review of 17 studies adds to a growing consensus that they probably don’t prevent or relieve eye strain.
The phrase blue light refers to a range of wavelengths of light around us — the sun emits it, and so do screens. Some experts have wondered whether blue light could be behind “computer vision syndrome” — a condition that encompasses the eye irritation and other issues, including headaches and blurred vision, that many people experience after extended screen time.
But blaming blue light for this is contentious, said Laura Downie, an associate professor of optometry and vision sciences at the University of Melbourne and an author on the latest review. She and the team found that there appeared to be no benefit to using blue-light-filtering glasses, compared with just standard lenses, to reduce eye strain. The trials included in the review were relatively small — the largest had 156 participants.
Researchers have long been skeptical that bluelight glasses can curb eye strain, said Mark Rosenfield, a professor at the
State University of New York College of Optometry. Previous studies have also been small, but several have found that the lenses did not prevent people’s eyes from tiring or getting irritated, and did not appear to improve vision.
The review found mixed results for blue-light-filtering glasses and sleep.
Some studies showed improved sleep scores among wearers, while others showed the opposite. There’s evidence that
blue light may also take a toll on sleep by inhibiting our brain’s ability to secrete melatonin, the hormone that gets us
ready to rest, said Dr. Raj Maturi, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The amount of blue light that a phone or computer emits is actually quite low, Downie said, which might be why blocking it doesn’t do much to ameliorate eye strain. But if you spend four or more hours a day on a computer, you’re nonetheless at risk for screen-induced eye irritation, she added. The way we use our eyes when we stare at a screen for long periods of time, especially close up to our faces, can cause discomfort.
Downie and other experts recommended a few tips that may help.
Lubricate your eyes: Part of the reason your eyes might ache is that you blink far less when glued to a screen, said Dr. Craig See, an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute. If you regularly experience eye strain, consider using eye drops three to four times a day, Maturi recommended.
Give yourself a break: Eye health experts often recommend the “20-20-20” rule:
Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This exercise helps the eye muscles relax, Maturi said.
Reduce glare: Reflections and glares on your screen can strain your eyes, Downie said. Make sure your computer is positioned to minimize reflections from light sources and reflective surfaces like windows and glass doors. Placement is everything:
Keep the center of your screen just below eye level, and if you’re experiencing eye strain, try moving your computer farther away. The ideal range is around 20 to 30 inches away from your head, Downie said. And the same advice goes for your phone. Try to hold it at least 16 inches away, Rosenfield suggested.
Get help: If you’re consistently feeling eye strain, and none of these solutions are working after three or four weeks, seek out an eye specialist, Maturi advised.