Last updated on January 6th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Do blue light glasses give you headaches? Scientifically speaking, there’s no evidence so far, but some people still feel that this type of glasses cause problems…
Everywhere you look, blue light will be present. Emanating from the sun, these light waves enter into the earth’s atmosphere and react with our skin and eyes. Blue light is also available through artificial sources.
All LED devices like laptop, TV, computer screen emit blue light rays as well. Higher levels of exposure to blue light does not have any long term negative effects on humans, according to research. But it causes some people headaches.
Can blue light glasses cause eye strain?
According to some anecdotal evidence, people think that wearing blue light glasses causes eye strain and headache. However, there is no scientific evidence for this.
In reality, whenever you wear a new pair of glasses your eyes take time to adjust to them. Lenses cause refraction and slightly change your vision, causing you some discomfort in the initial days.
In case you still get a headache after weeks of wearing your new glasses, please consult an optician or an ophthalmologist.
Blue light glasses are supposed to block blue light rays from entering your eyes. It is supposed to prevent eye strain and headaches associated with computer work.
However, research shows that while blue light glasses block blue light rays, they do not prevent the straining of eyes or the resultant headache and migraine.
What does a Blue Light Headache Feel Like?
Clinical evidence shows that blue light can harm those individuals who are already susceptible to experiencing migraines and headaches.
When such individuals are exposed to excessive blue light, they experience a throbbing headache pain especially at the side of their temples.
In addition to this, blue light exposure makes these individuals perceive more pain and experience a higher level of discomfort. For office-goers and students it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate. This is especially true today as most work is carried out on digital devices.
Regular headaches will eventually harm your productivity and reduce your output. This will have dire long term consequences.
Sufferers of migraines are particularly vulnerable to blue light. When exposed to blue light these people experience stronger symptoms of photophobia, aura, dizziness, light sensitivity and more.
A specific neural pathway connects the eyes to the brain. This pathway is different from the nerves which carry the vision signals. In some people, this pathway causes headaches under blue light.
Do Blue Light Lenses Help with Headaches?
As mentioned earlier, there is no concrete evidence to show that blue light exposure leads to headaches and digital eye strain. Having said that, blue light lenses can help you with headaches induced by digital eye strain. But this will depend on what type of glasses they are.
To truly address the problem of headaches due to blue light exposure, there are preventive measures that you can take. Next time when you are working on your computer or staring at your phone screen, increase the screen contrast. For better readability, try making the fonts larger so your eyes do not strain to read.
Depending on the light available in your surroundings, adjust the screen brightness level on your device. If it is dark in the room and your screen is too bright, it will make your eyes uncomfortable.
If you wish to prevent the flickering of screen try to raise the refresh rate of your device. Stay an arm’s length away from the screen to prevent eye strain. You can also place your device away from sunlight to prevent brightness and glare.
Also, remember to stay hydrated. Your eyes need moisture to prevent from drying up. Work involves focus which often means less blinking. This can dry the eyes out.
How to get Rid of Blue Light Headache?
There are a couple of things you can do to stop blue light headaches.
- Do not stare at any digital device for long hours. You must take frequent short breaks from work, whether you are working in the office or from home.
- According to the American Optometric Association, you must rest your eyes for at least 15 minutes after sitting in front of a screen for two hours.
- This works well with bathroom and coffee breaks. It also means you get to stand up and walk. So set a reminder alarm on your phone to get up every 2 hour.
- Do not sit in an overly bright or overly dark area. Any kind of extremity in light will cause your eyes to strain.
- Avoid working under fluorescent lights as they emit more blue rays. Instead go for warmer lights which are similar to natural light and do not cause much strain.
- Glare from reflective surfaces on your screen can also lead to eye strain. When working ensure that the window blinds behind you are closed.
- Another good option to reduce glare is a screen cover for anti-glare. Simply place the anti-glare cover over the screen to cut the glare.
- When your screen is dirty with dust, letters can appear harder to read. Clean your laptop and phone screens regularly. It will also enhance the shelf life of your device.
- Lastly, abide by the triple 20 rule. This rule demands you to take a brief 20 second break after 20 minutes of work.
- During this break, you must gaze upon an object 20 feet away from you. When your eyes focus on distant objects it relaxes them from staring at the screen (which is very near).
Can Blue Light Glasses cause Nausea?
Yes, blue light glasses can cause nausea depending on when you wear them. If you put on your blue glasses at the wrong time it can result in dizziness.
There is not enough scientific evidence to support this claim. But proponents of blue light glasses believe wearing blue light glasses after sunset is not advisable.
Blue light is not naturally available in the absence of the sun. Therefore, when you wear blue light glasses it can confuse the rods and cons inside your eyes.
But as mentioned before, there is not much evidence to prove this.
According to some research, long term exposure to electronic screens can deteriorate the quality of your eyes and skin. In that scenario, blue light glasses make a lot of sense.
Do Blue Light Glasses Work?
Studies have not found a lot of convincing evidence for blue light glasses. These glasses can reduce blue light entering into your eyes, but it does not mean it can prevent digital eye strain.
At the same time, some studies claim that special glasses can in fact lessen the severity of headaches associated with digital eye strain.
The best solution to headaches is to take frequent breaks from screens. If symptoms persist, you must visit an ophthalmologist for treatment. Do not only rely on the power of blue light glasses to feel better.
Also, drink water frequently and try to live a healthier life in general. It would be good for your eyes as well.
FAQ Related to Blue Light Glasses and Headaches
Are blue light glasses any good? Or are they useless? Is it possible that blue light glasses can worsen your migraine or headaches?
To answer more such queries, here are the most common frequently asked questions.
Is It OK to Wear Blue Light Glasses All Day?
It is completely ok to wear blue light glasses throughout the day. This is especially true if you spend most of your time in front of a screen.
Your blue light glasses will absorb the blue rays and protect you from the harmful effects.
Also remember that blue light is available in natural sunlight. So wearing blue light glasses during day also makes sense, especially if you are extra-sensitive to blue light.
Can Blue Light Glasses Hurt Your Eyes?
As discussed already, no, blue light glasses will not hurt your eyes. Some people will feel a little uncomfortable while wearing blue light glasses.
But this discomfort is temporary as your eyes are adjusting to the new lenses. Your eyes will adapt to the new glasses in a few days.
Then you can work on your computer without the fear of getting harmed by blue light rays.
Does Blue Light Actually cause Headaches?
Some individuals have over-sensitive neural pathways which cannot tolerate overexposure to the blue light wavelength. Such people must avoid too much screen time.
Some scientific data shows that excessive blue light exposure is harmful to the skin and eyes. But these results are not conclusive.
In short, some people are more sensitive to blue light than most. If you are one of them, you must take necessary precautions.
Can Computer Glasses Give you a Headache?
This depends entirely on the type of computer glasses. If your new glasses have a lens power different from your eye power you can get headaches and migraines.
The wrong lens power means your eyes will have to strain to read or see anything. Usually, computer glasses and blue light glasses do not have power.
However, if the lenses on the glasses are very thick, they can cause a distortion in power leading to headaches and migraines.
