You make yourself feel better about all the time you spend staring at your phone, computer, tablet and TV by popping on a cute pair of blue-light blocking glasses. Or perhaps you even ponied up the dough to add it to your prescription specs.
Sorry, pal, but it was a waste of money — at least according to a new review. Scientists conducted 17 trials and found that special lenses don’t make a difference in eye strain or sleep quality.
“But! I swear they work!”
The mind is powerful. There’s no solid evidence that the blockers protect against eye damage or strain or really even block a significant amount of blue light. Most lenses tested only block out a portion of blue light, 10% to 25%.
Plus, blue light from devices is only about 1/1,000th of what comes from daylight. Blue light comes from the sun, too, and helps set our circadian rhythms. Exposing your eyes to sunlight in the morning is excellent for sleep.
Researchers say you won’t hurt yourself wearing blue-light glasses, but this is your permission to stop wearing them.