Which lens color works best for the evening?
The more the tint moves towards orange and red, the more of the melatonin-inhibiting range is blocked. A clear lens filters the least, an orange lens the most. So, color here is not a matter of taste but a measure of how much is attenuated.
However, there's a trade-off: the stronger the tint, the more your color perception shifts. That's the practical consideration you choose based on.
What does each tint do?
| Tint | Filters | Color Perception | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear | Limited part of blue | Virtually unchanged | During the day, long screen days |
| Light yellow | More blue | Slightly shifted | Early evening |
| Orange | Most up to 520 nm | Clearly shifted | Last hours before sleep |
The range that an orange evening lens attenuates, roughly 380 to 520 nanometers.
Why not just always use the strongest?
Because a strong tint noticeably changes your color perception. For watching TV or scrolling, that's fine; for work where color matters, it's not.
There's also a practical side: you won't wear glasses you find unpleasant. A lighter tint that you put on every evening does more than a perfect tint in your drawer.
How do you choose?
Choose by time of day, not by complaint. If you're still working in the evening, light yellow is a workable compromise. If you're winding down for bed, orange is the targeted choice.
During the day, an evening tint is pointless and even works against your rhythm. Why this is so is explained in what is blue light and where does it come from.
Does the color matter more than the timing?
No, the other way around. The time you put on the glasses weighs more heavily than the precise tint. A light lens worn on time beats a strong lens ten minutes before sleep.
Our SLEEP therefore has an orange lens for the last hours. Don't expect miracles, because as stated in does a blue light glasses really help, the mechanism is strongly substantiated but the benefit per person is not.
This article is intended as an explanation, not as medical advice.
