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Do Blue Light Glasses Help with Dry Eyes?
Blue light glasses are not designed to treat dry eyes, though some wearers may find them to improve eye comfort during screen use. Dry eye related to screen use is multifactorial and may be caused by a reduced blink rate, tear film evaporation, contact lens wear, and other medical or environmental factors. During prolonged screen time or digital device use, reduced blinking can allow tears to evaporate more quickly, leading to dryness, burning, redness, irritation, grittiness, or fluctuating vision.
What’s the Link Between Screen Time and Dry Eyes?
There is a link between prolonged screen use and the symptoms of dry eye. When people concentrate on their computers or smartphones, they blink less frequently and may not fully complete each blink. Patel et al. showed that the blink rate decreased from 18.4 blinks/min before computer use to 3.6 blinks/min during computer use. Most healthy adults normally demonstrate a blink rate of 14-17 times per minute.
Blinking spreads the tear film evenly across the eye’s surface, so reduced or incomplete blinking can allow tears to evaporate more quickly. Over time, this can contribute to dryness, burning, irritation, a gritty sensation, redness, and intermittent blurry vision. The goal of many therapies is to balance the tear film to reduce tear evaporation.
Screen-related dry eye can also become more noticeable during long periods of screen time. The screen itself does not necessarily cause dry eyes, but the way we use digital devices can increase tear evaporation and eye discomfort. Taking regular breaks, blinking more often and completely, and positioning the screen comfortably, can help minimize symptoms during extended screen use. Other environmental factors like air conditioning, heat or fans can also exacerbate symptoms.
Is Blue Light Actually Causing the Dryness?
No, blue light is not a primary cause of dry eyes. Though digital screens emit high energy wavelengths of visible light, blue light itself is not considered the primary cause of screen-related dry eye. The symptoms of dry eye including dryness, burning, irritation, and fluctuating vision are more likely due to a reduced blink rate, incomplete blinking, an upward gaze towards a monitor, and an imbalance in the tear film resulting in tear evaporation.
Where Do Blue Light Glasses Fit In?
Blue light glasses filter wavelengths of high energy visible light. The range of wavelengths that are filtered depends upon the type of blue-light filtering lens coating. Blue light glasses do not add moisture to the eyes or address a reduced blink rate. Additional treatments, lifestyle changes, and/or medications are likely needed to improve one’s symptoms of dry eye.
What Can Help with Dry Eyes During Screen Time?
Simple changes to your daily screen habits may help reduce eye strain and dryness. Make it a habit to blink regularly and completely when concentrating on a computer, phone, or tablet. Adjust your screen so the brightness is comfortable and wearing glasses with an anti-reflective coating can reduce reflections and glare from the monitor and overhead lights.Position the screen at a comfortable distance and slightly below eye level to reduce tear film evaporation. Use a desktop over a laptop for improved position and eye comfort.
Your work environment can also make a difference. Avoid sitting where a fan, air conditioner vent, or other source of air can blow on your eyes because air can increase tear evaporation and contribute to dryness. If possible, redirect the airflow or move your desk.
Avoiding certain classifications of medications like antihistamines or decongestants because they can also reduce your risk of exacerbating your symptoms. Initiating the use of a preservative-free artificial tear twice daily may also improve your symptoms. If symptoms persist, you should schedule a visit with an eye doctor for therapeutic treatments.
Should You Choose Blue Light Glasses for Dry Eyes?
If you find blue light glasses comfortable during screen use, you can continue wearing them. Blue light prescription glasses are an option for people who need vision correction and prefer blue light filtering during screen time. However, don't buy them solely to relieve dry eyes. Extended screen use can contribute to digital eye strain and dry-eye symptoms, regardless of how much blue light a screen emits.
When Should You Talk to an Eye Care Professional?
If you are noticing persistent, worsening, or painful dry eye symptoms that may also be affecting your vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor and temporarily reduce your screen time. Your doctor will use specific dry eye testing, clinical findings, and your symptoms to diagnose the type of dry eye you have, as well as recommend treatments. Dry eye is often a chronic condition, but the symptoms can be managed with the proper targeted treatments.
The Bottom Line
While blue light glasses may improve your eye comfort and reduce glare from digital devices, they are not a proven treatment for dry eye. Visiting an eye care professional is the best way to diagnose and find the proper treatment for your dry eye. Lifestyle changes, medical management, and proactive measures may be recommended for improved vision and eye comfort.
FAQs
No, wearing blue light blocking glasses cannot prevent dry eyes.
No, wearing blue light glasses does not cause dryness. They do not have an impact on dry eye. Other environmental, ocular and systemic factors may be the cause of dry eye.
Blue light glasses do not impact dry eyes. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease which requires treatments aimed towards the cause of the dry eye. Dry eyes can be due to an aqueous deficiency or due to evaporation.
Wearing time or the use of blue light glasses has no impact on dry eye.
