Blue-light filtering glasses, also known as blue-light blocking eyewear or anti-blue-light lenses, were designed to prevent ocular discomfort resulting from exposure to blue light. Blue light is a segment of visible radiation believed to be potentially harmful to the eyes. But do screen glasses really safeguard our vision? Continue reading to discover the answer.
Are blue light-blocking glasses effective?
Summary
Published on January 16, 2026, updated on January 16, 2026, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 7 min of reading
Themes:
What are blue light-blocking glasses for and how do they work?
The blue light, naturally present in sunlight but also emitted by digital screens, plays an important role in our daily lives. It influences alertness, concentration and even our biological clock by regulating melatonin secretion, the sleep hormone. However, excessive exposure, particularly in the evening, can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, delay sleep onset and reduce the quality of deep sleep. In the long term, this blue light can also cause eye strain and contribute to ocular disorders, such as dryness, cataract or age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
To mitigate these undesirable effects, several measures have been proposed, notably blue light filtering on screens. Protective screen glasses and spectacles with a blue-light filter fall into this category: they are designed to block or filter part of the blue-light spectrum, to reduce eye strain and protect the circadian rhythm. In practice, so-called computer glasses, blue-light rest glasses and blue-light-blocking glasses can be worn when using a computer, tablet or smartphone, particularly during prolonged exposure. Some individuals also use blue-light-blocking lenses for similar comfort.
The objective of anti-blue light glasses is twofold: to limit the impact of blue light on visual health and to protect the sleep–wake cycle.
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Do blue-light-blocking glasses really work?
The efficacy of blue-light filtering lenses remains modest and variable to date.
In certain populations, such as school-aged children and adolescents, they can advance the sleep phase, reduce sleep onset latency and decrease evening sleepiness. This benefit is explained by limiting exposure to blue light, which attenuates melatonin suppression and promotes more regular sleep behaviours. In contrast, in healthy adults, meta-analyses of randomised trials show little or no improvement in objective sleep parameters, such as total sleep duration or sleep efficiency, suggesting that the overall impact on sleep quality remains limited. From a visual standpoint, these blue-light-blocking lenses appear to help reduce eye fatigue and visual discomfort associated with screens, although again, the available evidence is heterogeneous.
Several studies have evaluated the efficacy of blue-light-filtering glasses on various parameters, such as sleep quality and visual fatigue. The table below summarises the main studies, their protocols and the findings obtained.
| Study | Participants | Protocol | Results | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOWNIE & al. (2017) | 136 adults (3 studies included in the review) | Comparison of blue light–blocking glasses (low and high filtration) with clear lenses and assessment of visual performance, ocular fatigue, sleep quality, and macular integrity | No significant differences were observed in contrast sensitivity, color vision, ocular fatigue symptoms, or the macula. A slight improvement in sleep was reported only among participants with insomnia. | The available evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of blue-light-blocking glasses |
| KEE & al. (2017) | 80 computer users, two cohorts: young adults (18–30 years) and middle-aged adults (40–55 years) | Pseudo-randomized controlled study: comparison of two filtering spectacles (BF: anti-reflective plus blue-light filter; BT: brown tint) with a clear lens over one month. Contrast sensitivity, low-light sensitivity, color discrimination tests, and subjective questionnaires. | Filtering glasses reduced calculated phototoxicity by 10.6% to 23.6%, decreased melatonin suppression by 5.8% to 15%, and slightly reduced low-light sensitivity. More than 70% of participants did not detect any visual changes. | Blue-light blocking glasses appear to partially filter blue light without altering visual performance or sleep quality, providing additional protection for the retina |
| NISHINO & al. (2025) | 39 boys (10–12 years old) wearing glasses for myopia | For 5 weeks: alternating between glasses that filter 40% of blue light and standard glasses, worn 3 hours before bedtime | No effect on salivary melatonin, an advance in sleep phase (bedtime: 10:03 PM vs. 10:13 PM; sleep onset: 10:26 PM vs. 10:36 PM), and reduced irritability | Blue-light-blocking glasses could advance sleep onset and improve daytime behavior in children, with moderate but promising efficacy |
| MARTINEZ-CADENA & al. (2025) | 49 adults from 3 different clinical studies | Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies (2010 to 2024) examining the wearing of blue light–blocking glasses before bedtime | No significant effect on the time needed to fall asleep, sleep duration, or sleep quality | Blue-light-blocking glasses do not appear to improve sleep in adults |
Efficacy of blue light-blocking glasses: a synthesis of scientific studies.
Overall, studies indicate that blue-light-blocking glasses may have modest effects in certain situations, such as advancing sleep onset in children or slightly reducing eye strain in specific contexts. However, for the general population, the benefits remain limited and the scientific evidence is still insufficient to recommend their systematic use.
These screen-protection glasses can serve as an adjunct tool for individuals sensitive to blue light, but they are no substitute for proper screen-exposure habits and regular visual rest.
Sources
DOWNIE L. E. & al. The effect of blue-light blocking spectacle lenses on visual performance, macular health and the sleep-wake cycle: A systematic review of the literature. Ophtalmologic and Physiological Optics (2017).
KEE C.-S. & al. Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses: Optical and clinical performances. Plos One (2017).
NISHINO S. & al. Partial blue light blocking glasses at night advanced sleep phase and reduced daytime irritability, disruptive behavior and improved morning mood, but did not alter salivary melatonin secretion in Japanese male schoolchildren. Plos One (2025).
MARTINEZ-CADENA S. & al. Efficacy of blue-light blocking glasses on actigraphic sleep outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled crossover trials. Frontiers in Neurology (2025).
LEDESMA D. L. & al. Effects of a blue light phone screen protector on objective sleep and perceived sleep, eye strain, and productivity. Sleep (2025).
