Blue light is a colour in the visible light spectrum with a short, high-energy wavelength. You might not see it, but you are exposed to blue light pretty much everywhere you go. Any source of visible light gives off blue light waves, whether it's the sun, a touchscreen or a light bulb. Without giving you a whole physics lesson, it’s good to know when we talk about blue light affecting the eye — we’re talking about two different types. 

There’s blue-turquoise light, which comes from the sun, is essential in maintaining your sleep and wake cycle, mood and keeping your memory sharp. Then there’s blue-violet light, which can be harmful to the retina and tire your eyes.

The blue-violet light is the one emitted from digital screens that travels in short wavelengths. It tends to scatter and misfocus and is an unwelcome source of glare and visual fatigue.

As a result, you end up straining and blinking a lot less than you should, which is perhaps why you may have experienced digital eye strain. The front section of the eye absorbs the majority of harmful UV light, but high-energy blue-violet rays (blue light) can still travel through and reach the delicate retina. Blue-violet light from the sun is an eye health risk, but the effect of blue light and hazard at lower intensities emitted from digital screens is still being researched.

Blue light filters are specifically designed to filter out the harmful blue-violet light rays that are commonly emitted from digital screens. Our Blue Light Filter lenses block 90% of high-energy blue-violet light, as well as almost 100% of invisible UV A and UV B rays. After a long day behind the screen, wearing Blue Light Filter glasses can help make your eyes feel more comfortable.

Adding a Blue Light Filter to your glasses will offer both comprehensive UV and Blue Light protection — just like our sunglasses — in a virtually clear lens. Even if you don’t feel the need to wear sunglasses, it’s a big plus that your regular glasses are protecting your eyes and eyelids from the long-term harmful effects of solar radiation.