Prolonged screen time is no longer just a productivity issue; it’s now a growing health concern. With links to sleep disruption and chronic disease, blue light exposure is driving demand for smarter, protective eyewear.
The average American now spends over five hours a day on their phones, and this does not include the time spent glued to their computers in the workplace. This extended screen time has sparked growing concern among researchers about the health risks posed by prolonged exposure to artificial blue light.
While blue light itself is not inherently harmful, health experts warn that overexposure, particularly during evening hours, can interfere with sleep patterns. The disruption of sleep, in turn, has been linked to a range of health issues, from depression to cardiovascular disease and even diabetes.
“Blue light isn’t dangerous on its own,” says Sleep ZM, a Georgia-based eyewear manufacturer researching blue light-blocking technology and design. “But it suppresses melatonin production, which shortens sleep. And chronic sleep loss has serious ripple effects on mental and physical health.”
As time spent in front of devices increases annually, eyewear manufacturers are hard at work to develop high-performance eyewear purpose-built for blue light protection. “Today’s blue light-blocking glasses are no longer just tinted lenses with a marketing spin. They use precision filtering technology to reduce high-energy visible light that contributes to eye strain, headaches, and sleep disruption.”
Some of these manufacturers have taken steps further with lenses that block out not only blue light but also a specific range of green light (up to 500 nm), which recent studies suggest may also disrupt circadian rhythms.
For manufacturers, the extra steps taken by the industry are not superfluous but a proactive response to a growing necessity. Since we are the first generation to be exposed to this high level of blue light and new research continuing to uncover the negative effects of other types of visible light, more innovations are to be made in this particular field of optics.”
While pioneering pieces of technology tend to be on the pricier side, cost efficiencies have made blue light-blocking glasses more attainable in recent years for many.
Companies now produce a wide range of cost-effective options designed for both casual users and professionals who spend long hours in front of screens. With prices often under $40, blue light-blocking glasses are no longer a niche accessory.
Оwing to that price point, there’s no longer a reason not to make a small investment toward protecting one’s eyesight and overall health for the long term. “It doesn't matter if you have 20/20 vision or you’re physically fit, if you want to stay that way, the key is to keep blue light out of your life for good.”
