Are blue-light glasses worth it?
Sales of “computer glasses” are booming. The many companies that sell blue-light glasses — at prices from less than $20 to more than $100 — claim they can help relieve eye strain and improve sleep. But do we really need them?
No, many experts say. “Anyone promising miracles from a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses is probably selling something,” Kaitlyn Wells of Wirecutter has written.
The low level of blue light from screens does not appear to cause health problems. In Britain, one company had to pay a fine of about $56,000 after making misleading claims that the glasses could protect the retina from damage.
Some experts do think that blue light — which is emitted by both the sun and technology screens — can cause sleep problems. But glasses aren’t the only solution. Phone coverings are often cheaper — and turning on night mode is free, Tim Barribeau, a Wirecutter editor, told us. Or you could just put your phone away a couple of hours before bedtime.
The New York Times
