Is blue light bad for your eyes?
There is no evidence that the blue light from screens causes permanent damage to your eyes. The amount emitted by a screen is too small for that, especially compared to daylight.
That's a different answer than many advertisements suggest, and we prefer to say it out loud. If you buy glasses to prevent eye damage, you're buying them for the wrong reason.
So where do these complaints come from?
From how you look, not from what light you see. Dry eyes, burning, and fatigue after a day of screen use are mainly caused by less blinking, a fixed viewing distance, and too few breaks.
| Complaint | Most probable cause |
|---|---|
| Dry, burning eyes | Less blinking during screen work |
| Tired eyes | Focusing at the same distance for a long time |
| Headache after screen work | Contrast, posture, or uncorrected vision |
| Difficulty falling asleep | The light itself, but via your biological clock |
That last line is the real effect of blue light, and that's about your sleep, not your eyes. How that works is explained in blue light and sleep.
Why do you hear so often that it's harmful?
Because laboratory research with very high intensities is translated to daily screen use. These are two different situations, and the difference in dosage is enormous.
A claim that is true in a petri dish is not necessarily true for someone watching a series in the evening. So be critical of any provider who promises to prevent damage, including us.
What actually helps against tired eyes?
Looking away more often, consciously blinking, and adjusting the lighting in your room. Those three do more for your eyes than any filter.
The best-known rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule: every twenty minutes, look at something about six meters away for twenty seconds. More practical adjustments can be found in improving focus during screen work.
When does a filter make sense?
For your sleep rhythm in the evening, and for viewing comfort during long screen days. Not as protection against damage, because there's no reason for that.
If you want to dampen the light signal in the last hours, our SLEEP is designed for that. If it's about comfort during the day, the clear lens is the logical choice.
This article is intended as an explanation, not as medical advice. For persistent eye complaints or headaches, an optician or general practitioner is the appropriate contact.
