How to Buy Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Blue light is found on the high end of the visual spectrum, and it is the frequency of light that you typically see when looking at a computer screen, phone, or bright lights. Strong and long-term exposure to blue light leads to eye strain, fatigue, headaches, and sleeplessness, which is why computer and phone use has been linked to insomnia, migraines, and vision problems. [1] Fortunately, you can purchase blue-light filtering glasses to combat these adverse health effects. Blue light glasses come in a variety of styles and strengths, and you can purchase them online or at most eyeglass stores.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Pair

  1. Blue light glasses with clear lenses are less powerful than other varieties, but they’re a great choice if you aren’t suffering from severe headaches or extreme eye strain. They’re also the most popular choice. In addition, these lenses aren’t tinted so they won’t distort colors. This makes them an optimal choice if you care about color clarity. [2]
    • Felix Gray and Warby Parker are two of the most popular producers of blue light glasses with clear lenses. Expect to spend $75-120 on one of their pairs. Zenni makes cheaper alternatives that start around $20.
    • Blue light glasses with clear lenses tend to be more stylish than other varieties as well, since they resemble standard glasses and come in a variety of frames and styles.
    • You don’t really need the extra filtering if you aren’t spending more than a few hours staring at a screen every day.

    Tip: Even though they’re weaker than other styles, clear blue light lenses will still cut down on eye strain and light-induced headaches. They’re perfect if you’re trying to cut down on blue light but don’t want to stand out when you’re wearing them.

  2. Blue light glasses with orange tints are the most efficient at blocking out blue light, and the orange tint increases the contrast between objects when you look at a computer screen. However, they do drastically change colors when you’re wearing them. [3] Get a pair of orange gaming glasses if you want to significantly reduce the impact of blue light from computer screens and don’t mind distorting the color of objects when you look at them. [4]
    • Gunnar is easily the most popular producer of these glasses. Expect to spend $40-200 on one of their pairs.
    • These orange-tinted glasses are often marketed as gaming glasses because they increase the contrast of shapes on a computer screen. This can boost your performance if you’re doing some competitive gaming since the glasses make it easier to identify 3-dimensional shapes on a 2-dimensional screen.
    • If you play video games and play for more than 6 hours at a time, these glasses are a great investment if you can get used to the orange tint.
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  3. Sunlight actually has a fairly high concentration of blue light. If you experience migraines or eye strain when you spend long periods of time outside, get a pair of anti-reflective lenses with blue light filters in them. These glasses have the added upside of reducing glare, which makes them a great choice if you drive a lot during the day. [5]
    • Anti-reflective lenses are sold by most manufacturers that sell blue light glasses. Two popular suppliers are Gamma Ray and Warby Parker. They don’t tend to impact the cost of glasses too dramatically.
    • Truckers and people that work outdoors wear these lenses to protect their eyesight while they’re working.
    • Some of these glasses come with clear lenses, but many of them are tinted a dull orange or yellow.
  4. You can purchase blue-light filtering corrective lenses if you buy them from an eyewear store. This is a great choice if you want to block blue light but don’t want to worry about wearing 2 pairs of glasses when you want to block blue light. [6]
    • You can purchase these glasses from any eyeglass store that also sells corrective lenses.
    • You can always put a pair of blue light glasses over your standard corrective lenses, but this will make your head look bulky. It can also be difficult to get comfortable if you wear 2 pairs at once.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Buying Glasses Online

  1. Many people purchase blue light glasses online to save money since it tends to be cheaper than going to a store. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to try them on to see how they look on your head. However, if you’re only planning on wearing them when you’re looking at a computer screen, you may not care how they look. [7]
    • If you want to buy a pair online but don’t know what it’s like to wear blue light lenses, stop in a store and try a pair on! You may not be able to try a specific model or brand out in the store, but you can get a sense for what type of blue light glasses you want to buy.
    • You can easily spend under $20 on a pair of blue light glasses if you buy them online.
    • This is a great choice if you want to give blue light glasses a try but don’t want to risk a lot of money on them.
  2. Go online and search for online stores that sell blue light glasses. Almost every major eyeglass seller offers blue light glasses, so they shouldn’t be particularly hard to find. Search across multiple platforms and websites to find a variety of glasses that fit your budget and look good to you. [8]
  3. The width of a pair of glasses should match the distance from your left ear to right ear. Use a measuring tape to get a sense for how wide the glasses should be or measure a pair you already own that fits your face perfectly. Measure from the back of your ear to your eye to determine how long the temples need to be. The temples refer to the bars that wrap around your ear and hold the frames in place. [9]
    • If you already have a pair of glasses that fit, look on the inside of the frame for 3 numbers. The first number is the lens width, the second number is the bridge width, and the third number is the length of the arms that fold over your ears. Use the pair that fits to find a comparable pair online.

    Tip: When it comes to the shape of the lens and bridge, consider the shape of your face. If your head is fairly square, choose round lenses to soften the angles of your face. If you have a round- or oval-shaped face, pick angular lenses to balance the shape of your face.

  4. Checking reviews is a great way to find out how other people feel about their purchase. If you don’t see any reviews on the retailer’s page, type the manufacturer and model name into a search engine to find what people have to say about them. If people are generally happy with their glasses, it’s a sign that the glasses are high-quality and block blue light efficiently. [10]
    • While many cheaper blue light glasses work well, some of them are flimsy or poorly made.
    • If you look at reviews on a manufacturer’s website and they’re all positive, check on another website that is independently owned to see what other people say. Some manufacturers will curate the reviews on their page to entice more people to buy their products.
  5. Once you find a pair that looks good to you, is well-reviewed, and fits your budget, purchase the glasses. Wait 2-6 weeks for your glasses to arrive and enjoy your blue light glasses! [11]
    • If you’re worried that you won’t like your glasses, buy from a website with a free return policy.
    • If the glasses don’t fit correctly, take them to an eyeglass store and pay to get them adjusted.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Purchasing from a Store

  1. This will be more expensive than buying your glasses online, but you won’t need to guess how the frames will fit or how you’ll look when wearing them. At a store, you can try on a variety of models and get help from the clerks to find something that fits your face perfectly. [12]
    • Warby Parker, LensCrafters, and Sunglass Hut are popular retailers that usually carry blue light glasses. You can find them at most eyeglass stores.
    • If you’re looking specifically for gaming glasses, you have to go to Best Buy or a gaming store. Most standard retailers will not carry these brands.
    • At a store, blue light glasses may cost $30-150 depending on how much you’re willing to spend and what kind of material you want the glasses to be made out of.

    Tip: If you wear prescription eyeglasses, this is the only reasonable way to get a pair of blue light glasses. Bring your prescription with you so that you can have your glasses made to fit your vision.

  2. Look online to find eyeglass retailers in your area. Call each store to see if they carry blue-light filtering glasses. Some stores will also be able to put blue-light filtering lenses in the various frames that they have for sale!
  3. Once you go into a store, ask a clerk if you can see their blue light glasses. Choose a few pairs that look good to you and try them on. Pay attention to the color saturation and how the light changes to see if it feels good to you. Look in the mirror to inspect how you look when wearing your glasses. [13]
    • If you don’t have a lot of experience buying glasses that fit your face, ask the clerk for help. The employees at eyeglass stores are trained on how to choose the right frames for different faces.
  4. If you wear corrective lenses, give the clerk your prescription so that they can order your glasses to be made. If you’re buying non-corrective lenses, pay for the glasses and take them home. [14]
    • If you ever have a problem with your glasses, take them back to the store to have them adjusted or repaired.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Do blue light blocking glasses really work?
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Dr. Kara Hartl is a board certified Ophthalmologist and the Founder and CEO of Mountain View Eye Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dr. Hartl is a blue light expert and specializes in studying the effects of natural and artificial light on people’s eyes and bodies. She received a BA in Biology from Harvard University and earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The University of California-San Diego Medical School. Dr. Hartl also trained at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She is passionate about incorporating technology into the future of eye care and has started a public education initiative to inform everyday LED screen users about the effects and the easy ways to protect themselves while continuing to use their devices. Dr. Hartl also founded the international non-profit, Gift of Sight, which is dedicated to curing blindness across the globe.
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Expert Answer
    Yes. I know the premise sounds a little strange, but they really are a helpful product if you want to protect your eyes or keep your sleep cycle stable.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Do blue light glasses change the colors you see?
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Dr. Kara Hartl is a board certified Ophthalmologist and the Founder and CEO of Mountain View Eye Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dr. Hartl is a blue light expert and specializes in studying the effects of natural and artificial light on people’s eyes and bodies. She received a BA in Biology from Harvard University and earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The University of California-San Diego Medical School. Dr. Hartl also trained at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She is passionate about incorporating technology into the future of eye care and has started a public education initiative to inform everyday LED screen users about the effects and the easy ways to protect themselves while continuing to use their devices. Dr. Hartl also founded the international non-profit, Gift of Sight, which is dedicated to curing blindness across the globe.
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Expert Answer
    There are two distinct categories of blue light blocking glasses that are produced these days. The first set are glasses specifically designed to protect your eyes from harmful light. Those glasses won't change the colors of things dramatically. The other kind of blue light glasses are designed to protect your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality by blocking the high-end blue light that comes from phone and computer screens. These glasses have really yellow lenses, and they'll modify colors in a fairly obvious way.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
  • Question
    Do I need to always wear the glasses before bed if I want to block blue light?
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Dr. Kara Hartl is a board certified Ophthalmologist and the Founder and CEO of Mountain View Eye Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dr. Hartl is a blue light expert and specializes in studying the effects of natural and artificial light on people’s eyes and bodies. She received a BA in Biology from Harvard University and earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The University of California-San Diego Medical School. Dr. Hartl also trained at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She is passionate about incorporating technology into the future of eye care and has started a public education initiative to inform everyday LED screen users about the effects and the easy ways to protect themselves while continuing to use their devices. Dr. Hartl also founded the international non-profit, Gift of Sight, which is dedicated to curing blindness across the globe.
    Kara Hartl, MD, FACS
    Board Certified Ophthalmologist
    Expert Answer
    If you're looking at a screen in the 2-3 hours before bed, yes. If you're just reading a book or something, you don't have to wear them to protect your sleep cycle.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5363971/
      2. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a20707076/blue-light-glasses/
      3. ↑ Kara Hartl, MD, FACS. Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Expert Interview. 24 May 2021.
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/kcz03OsY9M0?t=552
      5. ↑ https://ohio.preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes
      6. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-light-computer-glasses-2018-8
      7. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/buy-glasses-online-and-save/
      8. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-save-money-when-shopping-online
      9. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/buy-glasses-online-and-save/
      1. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/buy-glasses-online-and-save/
      2. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/buy-glasses-online-and-save/
      3. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/eyeglass-stores/buying-guide/index.htm
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/LeUqrz5CU1w?t=14
      5. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/eyeglass-stores/buying-guide/index.htm

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