Do blue-light filters on eyeglasses really work? A new review raises doubts

A new review of existing research suggests that adding a blue-light filter to eyeglasses may not provide the expected benefits such as easing eye strain from computer work, protecting the retina, or helping with sleep at night. The review, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, analyzed data from 17 clinical trials conducted in six countries. The trials, which lasted from a few days to a few months, found no short-term advantages to using blue-light filtering spectacle lenses to reduce visual fatigue associated with computer use. It is also currently unclear whether these lenses affect vision quality, sleep-related outcomes, or retinal health in the longer term. The study’s senior author, Laura Downie, an associate professor of optometry and vision sciences, advised people to be aware of these findings when deciding whether to purchase blue-light filtering glasses. Ophthalmologist Dr. Craig See, who was not involved in the study, stated that most people experience eye strain from computer vision syndrome, which is related to prolonged computer screen use. The symptoms of computer vision syndrome include dry eyes, watery eyes, blurry vision, light sensitivity, burning or itchy eyes, and difficulty concentrating. Dr. See also added that blue-light filters are not necessarily harmful, but the benefits may not be as significant as initially anticipated. The study’s authors noted that blue-light filtering lenses only filter between 10% and 25% of blue light, which is significantly less than the amount received from natural daylight. Filtering out higher levels of blue light would require lenses to have an amber tint, which would affect color perception. Ultimately, the findings do not support the prescription of blue-light filtering lenses to the general population, Downie said. Instead, Dr. See recommended regular eye check-ups, maintaining a proper distance from computer screens, using a larger external display, taking breaks from computer work, following the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes), and using artificial tears as necessary.