Blue light filter VS glasses ?!
What’s the best option to protect yourself against blue light?
We’re now very aware that overexposure to blue light can be harmful: it causes visual fatigue, prevents us from sleeping, and probably poses long-term risks to our eyes. So it’s way better to protect yourself from it now.
But between blue light filters and blue light glasses, which one is better?
Each of these solutions has pros and cons. Let's review them to compare and determine which one is the best choice!
Option 1: Blue light filters
When we talk about blue light filters, we mean 2 distinctive solutions:
- Physical filters, to be placed directly on the screen
-
Filters to download as an application or a software
👉 Blue light filters for laptop and smartphone screens
You’re probably already familiar with the protective films designed for smartphones. Once placed on the screen, they protect it in case of shock or if the phone falls down so that it doesn’t crack!
Blue light filters work exactly in the same way, except that they also provide protection against blue light!
They are made to fit perfectly on all screens (computer as well as smartphone), and in terms of how they work, they are quite similar to blue light glasses. Here are their main advantages:
✅ Several sizes are available (to fit every device).
✅ The filter is not tinted.
✅ It does not alter the colors perceived on the screen.
✅ It offers a basic protection against blue light.
However, these filters have some drawbacks:
❌ Since they are not tinted, they block less than 50% of the blue light.
Once put on the screen, they have to stay in place to benefit from their protection.
❌ We've gotten so used to touching our smartphone screen that having a protective film on it can be a bit disturbing.
👉 Blue light filter apps
Chances are you’re also already familiar with these applications created to filter blue light.
Your smartphone or your tablet probably has a "night mode", and that's what it’s all about!
For smartphones that don't have one and for all computers, there are apps or softwares to download that provide exactly the same type of protection.
When the app is activated, the colors on the screen become warmer and take on yellow and orange hues. These tints reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the screen and thus protect your eyes. These apps have many benefits:
✅ They block most of the blue light.
✅ They can be activated and deactivated at will.
✅ It’s possible to program them to be used when necessary.
✅ Used during the evening, they promote a better quality of sleep.
Like blue light filters, these apps and programs also have some drawbacks:
❌ They greatly alter the colors of the screen, which can be disturbing when watching a movie or a TV show.
❌ As we don't want orange colors on our screen during the day, they only provide partial protection, only on the evening.
Option 2: Blue light glasses
There are also 2 different categories of blue light glasses:
👉 Transparent blue light glasses
Blue light glasses with transparent lenses are the innovation of the last few years in eye protection!
During the manufacture of the lenses, a filter blocking part of the blue light is applied. And in appearance, the lenses remain transparent: they only have a slight bluish sheen when exposed to daylight.
These glasses have been designed to provide discreet protection against blue light. But their advantages don't stop there:
✅ Because the lenses are not tinted, they do not alter the perceived colors.
✅ They can therefore be worn all day long, including at work.
✅ They offer sufficient protection against blue light.
✅ The models and colors are numerous, enough to make it a real accessory for more style!
On the other hand, the main disadvantage of these glasses with transparent lenses is:
❌ With 40% blue light filtration, they are not sufficient in the evening, especially to avoid sleep disorders.
👉 Tinted blue light glasses
Blue light glasses with tinted lenses were the first to appear on the market.
They’re easily recognizable with their yellow, orange or even red tinted lenses! These colors were chosen because they are the most effective in blocking blue light.
Nowadays, these glasses are mainly used for gaming, but thanks to their many advantages, they can be worn by anyone :
✅ Tinted lenses block up to 90% of blue light.
✅ They promote concentration during long hours spent in front of a screen.
✅ They help avoid most sleep disorders (difficulty falling asleep, restless nights, insomnia ...).
On the other hand, because of this tint on the lenses which is very present, these glasses still have several drawbacks:
❌ They enormously alter all the colors perceived, whether on the screen or elsewhere.
❌ They are not very discreet during the day, especially at work.
Conclusion: Blue light filter VS Glasses, which one is better?
As you can see, blue light filters and glasses both have pros and cons!
They all provide more or less complete protection against blue light and its negative effects, especially visual fatigue and non-restful nights.
To know which protection to choose, here are a few recommendations:
✅ If blue light disturbs your nights, don't hesitate to wear tinted glasses in the evening and activate an app on your smartphone to reduce the amount of blue light received by your eyes just before going to bed!
✅ If you work in front of a screen and blue light causes eye strain and headaches when you come back home, consider wearing blue light glasses during the day. They are effective and will allow your eyes to rest for a while!