Should You Wear Blue Blocker Lenses?

If you work on a computer, use a smartphone, watch TV, or simply go out in the sun, you are being exposed to high-energy visible (HEV) blue light. Too much blue light exposure has been linked to eye fatigue, interrupted sleep, and dry eyes. That’s why today more people are wearing blue-light-blocking lenses, such as /blokz-blue-light-glasses”>Zenni Blokz, to protect their eyes from these potentially disruptive rays.

What is HEV Blue Light?

HEV blue light is part of the visible light spectrum. During the daytime, natural blue light from the sun helps keep you awake and regulates your circadian rhythm, or ‘body clock.’ Indoors, blue light is emitted from digital devices like computers or smartphone screens, as well as artificial light sources such as LED and fluorescent lights.

The Dark Side of Blue Light

The most common effects of too much blue light exposure are eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. However, recent studies have focused on blue light’s negative impact on the circadian rhythm and found that watching TV or using a tablet before bedtime, for example, can result in restlessness and disrupted sleep cycles. In extreme cases, studies have shown that too much blue light exposure, even from the sun,  can lead to an increased risk of eye damage.

Children are especially vulnerable because their eyes have not yet developed natural defenses against UV and HEV blue light. Today, a staggering 97 percent of American kids under the age of four use mobile devices, and teens are spending an average of 6.5 hours per day on screens.

Computer Glasses vs. Blue Blockers

Computer glasses and blue blockers both refer to eyewear that blocks blue light. Computer glasses were originally geared toward people who use computers for hours at a time, such as gamers. These specialty eyeglasses typically have yellow-tinted lenses to filter out HEV blue light. While computer glasses are great for protecting the eyes, they’re not so great for everyday wear since the yellow tint distorts colors.

Now that digital devices are so prevalent in our lives, our exposure to blue light has increased dramatically and moved beyond the desktop or console. /blokz-blue-light-glasses”>Blokz  lenses from Zenni Optical are virtually clear lenses that block HEV blue light and provide maximum UV protection with minimal color distortion. Blokz are made with a blue-light-blocking polymer that is directly incorporated into the lens material. This polymer absorbs the blue light, preventing it from passing through the lens to your eye.

Deciding If You Need Blue Blockers

Even though our bodies require some blue light from the sun to regulate our circadian rhythm, we still need to be cautious about excessive exposure. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as eye strain, blurred vision, or headaches when using the computer or watching TV for hours at a time, it could be related to blue light. You should discuss wearing blue blockers with your eye doctor. Zenni offers /blokz-blue-light-glasses”>Blokz Sunglass Tint and /blokz-blue-light-glasses”>Blokz Photochromic  to protect your eyes against outdoor blue light.

Now that kids are using more digital devices at home and school starting at a young age, it’s important to protect their eyes as much as possible. If your kids are spending a lot of screen time on tablets, smartphones, or video games, you should consider blue blockers for them too. /kids-glasses”>Zenni’s Blokz Trivex, which provides the best in impact resistance and blue blocking technology, is the perfect lens for active kids.

Learn more /blokz-blue-light-glasses”>here about all of Zenni’s Blokz options to block against harmful blue light.