Acceleration of the aging of the retina, risk factor for AMD, sleep disorders… Blue light is accused of many evils. To cope with this, there are special glasses. How to get it and at what price?
Blue light is part of the classic light spectrum emitted by a natural light source, the sun, and the artificial lights of screens (television, computer, smartphone) and LED bulbs. It is the short blue-violet wavelengths between 380 and 455 nanometers that are considered potentially harmful. On the other hand, turquoise blue light, whose wavelengths are between 455 and 495 nanometers, has positive effects, in particular on the circadian cycle (wakefulness-sleep alternation).
Definition: what are blue light blocking glasses?
The blue light blocking glasses have lenses that filter out “bad” blue light. They are mainly aimed to rest the eyes, especially for a person who works on a screen all day. “Glasses can be neutral or with optical correction (hyperopia, astigmatism, myopia and/or presbyopia). Those are transparent glasses that have a slight bluish color to certain radiation from the sun when the glass is turned a little with respect to the instance of the light“, explains Dr. Pierre Quéromès.
To find out if glasses are blue light blocking, simply place the glasses in the light and see if they have a bluish reflection. The optician can also attest to this when purchasing the glasses.
What are the benefits of blue light blocking glasses?
Blue light blocking glasses allow you to protect the eye from harmful wavelengths for the retina, thanks to lenses that filter blue-violet light but allow turquoise blue light to pass through. Blue-violet light is responsible for a abnormal stimulation of the circadian rhythm, essentially at the end of the day and at night when using a screen which disrupts the waking and sleeping phases for humans. “It has been proven that exposure to blue light had negative effects on retinal cells and pigment epithelium, which can in particular lead to inflammation of the retina, oxidative stress and photoreceptor apoptosis. On the other hand, there is no data to determine whether blue radiation from natural light is more toxic than that from LED lamps.“, develops the eye surgeon.
Who should wear it?
In practice, subjects exposed to blue light more than 30 minutes a day should wear blue light blocking glasses. THE history of AMD and cataracts are also indications for wearing blue light blocking glasses. “There is no obligation to wear glasses with a blue light filter. Some patients complain of slightly yellowed vision with these filters“, nuances the specialist.
To have blue light blocking glasses, there are two solutions: buy it yourself with a neutral glass at an optician or ask for the blue light protection option on your glasses prescribed by the ophthalmologist.
How much do blue light blocking glasses cost?
It is necessary to count ten euros more per glass for blue light blocking glasses. These may possibly be covered in whole or in part by the mutual insurance company.
Thanks to Dr. Pierre Quéromès, ophthalmic surgeon specializing in retinal diseases. He practices at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital Center and at the OPH78