Where Did All the Blue-Light Glasses Go?

Blue-light glasses were everywhere a few years ago, promising to save our screen-obsessed society from ourselves. Back in 2020, practically every glasses company was offering wearers the option to upgrade to blue-light filtering lenses. And for those who didn’t need prescription lenses: “computer glasses,” designed protect anyone from the dangers of blue light.

Fast forward five years and blue light looks like any other wellness fad: viral, but fleeting. These specialty lenses that once made eyewear cool, with promises of

reducing headaches, eyestrain, and even regulating your circadian rhythm, now feel like a fever dream. So…what happened to blue-light glasses? Did they ever really work or were we all just sipping the (blue light) Kool-aid?

Experts Featured in This Article:

Phillip T. Yuhas, OD, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Vivian Shibayama, OD, an optometrist at UCLA Health.

Mina Massaro-Giordano, MD, co-director of the Penn Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Center and a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania.

What Are Blue-Light Glasses Supposed to Do?

Let’s back up a moment. Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum, and it has a short wavelength and high energy, according to University of California Davis. About a third of visible light is blue light, with sunlight being the biggest source, explains Mina Massaro-Giordano, MD, co-director of the Penn Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Center and a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania.

But you can also be exposed to blue light artificially from your computer or phone screen, fluorescent light, and TV. While some people claim that blue light from screens can harm your vision, “the light emitted by digital screens is nowhere near bright enough to damage the eye,” says Phillip T. Yuhas, OD, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Blue light helps to keep you alert and aware during the day, but being exposed to blue light at night (from, say, scrolling on your phone), can throw off your circadian rhythm, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). One study found that using electronic devices within an hour before bed was linked to study participants taking longer than usual to fall asleep, feeling less sleepy in the evening, and feeling less alert the next day.

Because of this and more, some people started wearing blue-light glasses. These glasses “block a portion of short-wavelength visible light, which is blue light,” Dr. Yuhas explains. “As a result vision through them has a yellow or orange hue,” he adds.

But while there have been a ton of promises attached to the perks of using blue-light glasses, a growing body of research over the past few years just didn’t support them.

A 2023 scientific analysis of 17 clinical trials that compared blue-light glasses with non-blue light glasses found that none of the blue light lenses had short-term benefits for eye health or easing eye strain. The researchers also found that there were inconclusive results around the specialty glasses’ impact on sleep quality.

A 2021 randomized controlled trial had 120 people use either blue-light glasses or frames with clear lenses while sitting in front of a computer for two hours. The researchers found that the blue-light glasses group had no difference in eye strain symptoms compared to people in the clear lens group.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology also takes a hard stance against these glasses, citing the “lack of scientific evidence” that blue light is even damaging to the eyes in the first place.

Where Did All the Blue-Light Glasses Go?

The biggest reason blue-light glasses fell off is pretty simple: there’s “no scientific evidence” to support their use, says Vivian Shibayama, OD, an optometrist at UCLA Health. Dr. Yuhas agrees, and says that many people may have also found that they just didn’t work for them. Couple that with a series of highly-publicized studies that found these glasses are not effective, and people may have decided to look for other solutions to their eye health issues.

Did Blue-Light Glasses Ever Work for Headaches?

A prior selling point for using blue light glasses, it turns out the technology isn’t as helpful for headache reduction as once advertised.

The link between blue light glasses and reducing headaches seems to be linked to eye strain, Dr. Massaro-Giordano says. Eye strain is a common condition that is caused by intense use of your eyes, like reading, looking at screens, or driving for long periods of time, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Symptoms of eye strain can vary, but may include dry eyes, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain, per the Cleveland Clinic. But “there is no high-quality evidence that blue-blocking products mitigate or prevent headaches,” Dr. Yuhas says.

Should You Get Rid of Your Blue-Light Glasses?

If you have blue light glasses and you like them, Dr. Massaro-Giordano says you’re fine to keep on using them. “A lot of my patients feel more comfortable when they wear these glasses,” she says. “There’s no harm in wearing them.”

Just be aware that the blue light you’re exposed to from your screens is just dimmer than what you’re exposed to when you’re outside on a sunny afternoon, Dr. Yuhas says. “Do not expect any protective effects from blue-blocking products,” he says. “And don’t expect your eyes to be ‘safer’ while looking at screens [while wearing these].”

If you’re struggling with eye strain, Dr. Massaro-Giordano recommends getting a good eye exam. “Maybe you need a new prescription or have some eye dryness,” she says. “Do the whole eye exam first. Many times, your problems will be identified and resolved after this.”

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.