Do blue light blocking glasses work? Science says no

Nasiruddin’s photo on Unsplash

lenses Glasses that filter blue light They are not effective, or rather, they do not reduce eye strain associated with the use of digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and screens of various kinds. This is the University of Melbourne thesis published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews linked to a review of 17 studies, a thesis that denies the marketing claims of companies in the eyewear sector.

Blue light filter lenses do not work

What is blue light? Is it harmful?

In recent years, thanks to the increasingly generalized use of electronic devices, also exacerbated by the consequences of COVID-19 (ie smart work), there has been a growing interest in solutions to reduce eye strain, linked above all to similar blue light emissions that devices generate. Among these are lenses that act as filters, and products that are marketed by several eyeglasses and lens companies such as Zeiss, which offer various customized solutions on the market to combat blue lightpart of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye, present in sunlight and also emitted by artificial sources such as smartphones, Wavedcomputers, televisions, and fluorescent lights.

Although it is common to read about negative effects on sleep quality and other discomforts in various settings, there is nothing so far. Scientific evidence Confirming that the blue light emitted from screens causes eye strain, despite the claim of many eyeglasses companies to the contrary. The American Academy of Ophthalmology itself, as I mentioned before Washington PostAnd He stated that exposure to blue light does not harm the retina of the eye or is associated with diseases such as macular degeneration, but rather that studies on this matter were conducted only on laboratory animals, without imitating the conditions of exposure to electronic device screens.

Blue light blocking lenses, yes or no?

A recent review published in CDSR (The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the leading source for systematic reviews in healthcare) confirms what has been reported: There is no evidence to support reducing eye strain From using digital devices associated with blue light blocking lenses.

In essence, it appears to be more of a publicity stunt, according to what emerged from analyzes by the University of Melbourne research team, which reviewed 17 studies were conducted in six countries, which included a total of 619 people. Here are the words of review author, Institute Professor Laura Downey and Head of the Downey Lab: Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit:

“We found that there may not be any benefits Short-term (Uses From two hours to a week) in the use of blue-light-filtering eyeglass lenses to reduce eye strain associated with computer use, compared to unfiltered lenses. It is currently unclear whether these lenses affect vision quality or sleep-related effects, and no conclusions can be drawn about any long-term effects on retinal health. The description of blue light filter lenses is not supported by the results of our review […] People should be aware of these findings when deciding whether or not to buy these lenses.”

So, based on what we know today, blue light blocking lenses don’t work, and the lenses that Dr. Sumeer Singh of the University of Melbournge points out that they still filter between 10 and 25% depending on the product, necessarily low percentages to prevent the lenses from getting a distinctly amber tint which can compromise color perception. “Large, high-quality research studies with longer follow-up and in diverse populations are still needed to more clearly ascertain the potential effects of blue light blocking eyeglass lenses on vision performance, sleep, and the health of children’s eyes,” said the latter.

More information about this research can be found in my press releaseMelbourne University And in the review published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

You may also be interestedHealthcare device topic: telemedicine plan e Google introduces Android Health, a new health platform