Eyeglass lens colours and blue light
Blue light is certainly a hot topic these days. And considering the fact that we cannot imagine a world without our devices, it has become increasingly more important to combat the negative effects of excessive blue light. This, however, also means that there are a myriad of products out there that claim to do exactly that. So, where does that leave you? Should you get yourself a pair of glasses with a clear blue light-blocking filter? What about lenses with a yellow-tinted filter? Or, are red lenses perhaps the best choice? Well, let’s start by saying that there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. It’s not a competition of which lens colour is best. It all depends on your circumstances and what you’re using your blue light-blocking glasses for. Let us clearly go over the differences between clear lenses, yellow lenses and red/amber glasses.
For more general information on blue light, it’s effects and what kind of blue light products our store offers, please take a look at following page:
Clear blue light-blocking glasses
If you’re looking at the degree of blue light absorption, any kind of clear filter can technically never absorb more than 30% of all blue light. Our blue light eyeglass filter, for example, absorbs and blocks up to 20%. However, this type of glasses is not designed for complete absorption or blocking. Humans biologically require a certain amount of blue light. If you’ve taken a look at our general page regarding blue light, you may have read that natural blue light keeps us productive and alert during the day. Clear blue light glasses aim at lessening the strain caused by artificial blue light in our day-to-day lives. That’s why they’re often referred to as “computer glasses”. They are meant to be worn indoors as a comfortable, casual and discreet way to protect your eyes while spending time in front of a screen. This means that they’ll reduce digital eye fatigue, headaches, sore eyes, loss of energy and productivity, etc. when working, studying or gaming for extended periods of time.
Casual day-to-day indoor use
Relieving strain caused by excessive artificial light
Keeping screen colours true*
Your progressive lenses will receive an amazing set of standard lens enhancements in our shop.
People with a higher sensitivity to blue light
People with a significantly disrupted sleep cycle
*Please note that any kind of blue light filter will always slightly alter colours, so they are not advised for work that requires colour perception to remain 100% true, eg. for graphic design work.
Yellow blue light-blocking glasses
Yellow blue light glasses are a step up from clear lenses. Depending on the quality, they can block and absorb somewhere between 50-70% of all blue light. They still let some of the necessary blue light through. Of course, a yellow lens will affect your colour perception but it does do better at alleviating digital eye strain, headaches and migraines, a disrupted sleep cycle, and other related complaints. They are still mostly recommended for daytime use, though their increased effectiveness allows for a transition into nighttime use. They can be worn by anyone but are generally geared towards people with a higher sensitivity to blue light, or people who spend hours focusing intensely on screens, eg. professional gamers. This is why yellow-tinted glasses are colloquially referred to as “gaming glasses”. It has also been proven that a yellow tint can also help those suffering from seasonal depression and stress to increase their mood.
Indoor and outdoor use, during the daytime and leading up to the night
People with a higher sensitivity to blue light: they’ll provide more relief from headaches, eye strain, fatigue, etc. caused by artificial blue light
People suffering from stress, anxiety and seasonal depression
People who notice that their sleep cycle is moderately disrupted by blue light
People who want more casual and discreet-looking blue light glasses
Keeping colour perception true and accurate
People with a heavily disrupted circadian rhythm or those who suffer from insomnia
Red/Amber blue light-blocking glasses
Red lenses offer a premium visual experience thanks to their ability to naturally filter blue light. By doing so, they eliminate visual noise and haze, leading to a significant increase in colour contrast and better depth perception outdoors. Therefore, these glasses are an ideal choice both for athletes who need to react quickly and accurately to uneven surfaces, and for those seeking an original fashion accessory with high visual comfort. Furthermore, the red tint has a soothing effect on the eyes and reduces eye strain during prolonged periods in the sun. However, do not confuse them with the special certified glasses used before bedtime to support biorhythms – our models are designed for active daytime wear and sports.
Visual comfort
For cycling, running, or skiing in varying light conditions.
Driving motor vehicles**
Situations requiring 100% accurate colour reproduction.
**Although glasses with red lenses can be worn both outdoors and indoors, you should never use them in situations where clear vision must be maintained, e.g. when driving or operating heavy machinery.
