According to Gary Heiting, O.D., blue light is a wavelength of visible light emitted by electronic screens, like the one on your computer, phone, or tablet. "Blue light has the highest energy of all components of visible light—nearly the same amount as some ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are associated with skin cancer, cataracts, and other eye health problems," he says. "Though blue light has less energy than UV, it penetrates deeper into the eye—all the way to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eyeball."

How does blue light impact my eyes?

Although more research is needed to show exactly how much blue light can cause retina damage and vision loss (and whether or not our devices would cause these problems), Heiting notes that "many eye doctors are concerned about the potential long-term effects of blue light on our eyes." Additionally, blue light exposure has been linked to eye strain, discomfort, and can worsen the effects of dry eye, while also throwing off your circadian rhythm.

How do blue light glasses work?

Just like sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, blue light glasses are meant to protect your eyes against the blue light from your computer, phone, or tablet screen. The lenses on blue light glasses work to filter out a percentage of the artificial blue light, helping to reduce the side effects caused by eye strain.

The 11 Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2023

The hard truth of the modern world is that it’s next to impossible to avoid staring at some type of electronic screen all day long. For many people, it’s a never-ending cycle of looking at a computer throughout the work day, then non-stop phone scrolling, followed by TV time. All the while we’re exposing ourselves to blue light. Also known as high-energy visible light (HEV), this is light with blue wavelengths that are emitted from the screens of digital devices, explains Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., a board-certified ophthalmologist in Oakland, New Jersey. There’s a good amount of data showing that blue light can damage our skin—it’s part of the reason why daily sunscreen use is so important—but the science as it pertains to doing any damage to our eyes isn’t quite as solid (despite the recent popularity of blue light blocking glasses). “According to the Academy of Ophthalmology, there is, at this time, no meaningful evidence showing a link between blue light and damage to eye structures, including damage to human retinas or macular degeneration,” says Hilal-Campo.

So why consider blue light-blocking glasses? “There is evidence that blue light emitted from your devices can disrupt your circadian rhythm, your body's sleep, and wake cycle,” says optometrist Brad Brocwell, O.D.

“Blue light boosts mood and alertness by slowing the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, in our body. So too much exposure to blue light in the evenings can disrupt our ability to get a good night’s sleep,” adds Hilal-Campo. (It also bears mentioning that while there’s some anecdotal talk that blue light blocking glasses can help with digital eye strain, both experts we spoke with were highly skeptical of using them for this purpose, noting that the blue light isn’t a contributing factor to eye strain.)

TL; DR: There’s no harm in using blue light-blocking glasses anytime you’re looking at a screen, but you’re going to get the best benefit from using them during your pre-bedtime screen time.

We conducted hours of research on the best blue light blocking glasses, evaluating each frame and lens material, design aesthetics, plus blue light blocking capabilities. We also looked at any extra features like anti-reflective glare or protection against other types of light, like UV rays. With insights from an optometrist and ophthalmologist, we considered dozens of models.

Ahead, find the best blue light-blocking glasses to help get your circadian rhythm in check.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Felix Gray Nash at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

Peepers Clark Blue Light Glasses at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Style:

Warby Parker Butler at Warbyparker.com

Jump to Review

Best Variety:

Quay Australia Jezabell Blue Light Glasses at Quayaustralia.com

Jump to Review

Best for Bedtime:

True Dark Twilights Classic at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Men:

Vincero Collective Villa Blue Light at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Daytime:

Revo Ace Blue Light Glasses at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Value:

livho Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Women:

FLOWER by Drew Blue Light Computer Glasses at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best Readers:

Caddis Bixby Blue Light Glasses at Caddislife.com

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched
Why Trust Byrdie

4.5

Felix Gray

View On Amazon View On Shopfelixgray.com

What We Like

Lightweight
Available in prescription and reader options

What We Don’t Like

On the pricier side

This brand relies on a proprietary technology that embeds a naturally-occurring ocular pigment directly into the lens of the glasses. It blocks 50% of blue light and 90% of the highest-energy wavelengths of blue light. Plus, they have an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. Also nice: You can get this stylish shape (which comes in three colors) in a prescription, non-prescription, or reader format.

Price at time of publish: $95

Frame Material: Organic Acetate | Lens Material: Ophthalmic Quality | Frame Shapes: 6

Peepers

View On Amazon View On Peepers.com

What We Like

Affordable
Also come as readers

What We Don’t Like

Only filter out 40% of blue light

Ringing in at less than $30, these are a great choice for those on a budget, or who are curious about trying blue light-blockers for the first time, but don’t want to break the bank doing so. The unisex style is equally-flattering on men and women, the lenses offer both UV and blue light protection, and have a seven-layer anti-reflective coating.

Price at time of publish: $29

Frame Material: Polycarbonate | Lens Material: Acrylic aspheric | Frame Shapes: 1

Warby Parker

View On Warbyparker.com

What We Like

Affordable
Lenses are customizable
Extensive variety

What We Don’t Like

No specs on blue-light filtering capabilities available

Warby Parker revolutionized the glasses buying game, offering at-home try-ons and an affordable way to get super stylish frames for any type of prescription lens. To that point, you can add a blue-light filtering quality to any lens with any frame, making the variety of options truly endless. We’re partial to this classic round style, which comes in four colors and works equally well for men and women.

Price at time of publish: $95

Frame Material: Cellulose Acetate | Lens Material: Polycarbonate | Frame Shapes: Varied

Quay Australia

View On Quayaustralia.com

What We Like

Affordable
Come with different types of blue-light blocking glasses
Extensive variety

What We Don’t Like

No specs on blue-light filtering capabilities available
No specs available on frame or lens material

You may know this brand for the variety of cool, on-trend sunglasses they offer, but don’t sleep on their blue light specs. There’s no shortage of different frame shapes and styles, but we’re especially partial to these 70s-inspired oversized gold frames. We also appreciate that not only do they come in this clear variety, but they also come with soft rose or yellow lenses which filter out even more blue light.

Price at time of publish: $65

Frame Shapes: Varied

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Truedark.com

What We Like

Very effective at filtering out all blue light
Scratch-resistant lenses

What We Don’t Like

Not particularly stylish

“For nighttime, to get maximal blue blocking so as to not interrupt your circadian rhythm sleep cycle, red lenses will block 100% of blue, green, and violet light and are recommended as best,” says Hilal-Campo. Enter this pick. Yes, they may look a little goofy, but they block 100% of blue light and even have wrap-around frames to avoid any light from getting in on the sides.

Price at time of publish: $89

Frame Material: Polycarbonate | Lens Material: Polycarbonate | Frame Shapes: 1

Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Verishop.com

What We Like

Have a five-year warranty
Handmade, high-quality option

What We Like

On the pricier side
Not available in a prescription option

Both the frames and lenses on these glasses are extremely high-quality, making them worth the higher price point. (The combo of black and clear on the frame also looks incredibly stylish.) The scratch-resistant lenses get the job done filtering out blue light, without distorting your vision.

Price at time of publish: $98

Frame Material: Italian Acetate | Lens Material: CR-39 True Color Clear Lenses | Frame Shapes: 1

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Revo.com

What We Like

Filters out 100% of UV rays
Comes in reader magnification as well

What We Don’t Like

Only one color

Particularly if you’re going to be wearing your glasses during the day, it’s important to make sure that the ones you choose have UV protection, so that they also protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, points out Brocwell. These check that box, blocking 100% of UV rays. They filter out the most harmful of blue light rays, and the round, tortoiseshell frame is a classic, timeless style.

Price at time of publish: $49

Frame Material: Handmade Acetate | Lens Material: N/A | Frame Shapes: 1

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Great value
Variety of colors and patterns

What We Don’t Like

Feel a little bit flimsy
No specs on lens material or how much blue light they filter

Another great wallet-friendly pick, you get two pairs with this set. They’re simple—there are no prescription options available—but for basic blue light-blocking purposes they get the job done. And while they only come in one frame shape, there is a nice mix of colors and patterns to choose from.

Price at time of publish: $16

Frame Material: TR90 nylon | Lens Material: N/A | Frame Shapes: 1

Walmart

View On Walmart

What We Like

Affordable

What We Don’t Like

Only filter out 40% of blue light

Cute and affordable, these blue-light blockers come in round shapes and simple colors, great for anyone looking for a basic option. The acetate lenses not only filter out blue light, but they’re also scratch-resistant, always a major win in our book.

Price at time of publish: $20

Frame Material: Not listed | Lens Material: Acetate | Frame Shapes: 7

Amazon

View On Caddislife.com View On Shopbop.com

What We Like

Wide range of colors
Sturdy hinges and feel

What We Don’t Like

No specs on blue-light filtering capabilities available

While the jury may still be out as to whether or not blue light helps alleviate digital eye strain, using readers can help. These come in magnifications from 1.0 to 4.0, and feature proprietary blue-light filtering lenses that also have that always important coating to reduce glare. Bonus points for the fact that they come in a nice variety of 10 colors.

Price at time of publish: $99

Frame Material: High-density acetate | Lens Material: Proprietary blue-light filtering lenses | Frame Shapes: 1

Zenni

View On Amazon View On Zennioptical.com

What We Like

Plenty of different ways to customize
Affordable

What We Don’t Like

No specs on blue-light filtering capabilities available

Adding blue-light blocking abilities is only one of the many attributes you can add to your customizable lenses that can go into a laundry list of different frame styles and materials. (Other elements include prescription or non, a photochromic feature, and even a thicker lens index if you want something more resistant). A blue-light blocking polymer is worked into the lens for long-lasting protection; the lenses also are anti-glare and UV filtering. There are also tinted sunglasses available for outdoor blue-light protection.

Price at time of publish: $19

Frame Material: Varied | Lens Material: Varied | Frame Shapes: Varied

Final Verdict

There’s no shortage of blue-light-blocking glasses to choose from. The Felix Gray Nash Glasses are our overall faves, touting a proprietary blue-light blocking technology and a super stylish look. The Warby Parker Butler Glasses are only one of the many frames this brand offers, all of which can be customized with blue-light protective lenses, great for those who want to choose from a variety of styles. For complete blue light protection at night (when experts say it’s most needed) you need red lenses, like the ones in the True Dark Twilights Classic.

Meet the Expert

Brad Brocwell, O.D, is an optometrist and vice president of clinical operations for Now Optics.
Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist in Oakland, NJ. and the founder of twenty/twenty beauty.
Gary Heiting, O.D. is an optometrist and health writer with Hoya Vision.

What to Look For in Blue Light Glasses

Your Frame of Choice

Just as you would when shopping for non-blue light blocking glasses, you'll want to choose a frame that complements your face shape and overall style. Shop around for different options, and have fun with both the virtual and in-person try-on options until you find your favorite style.

Level of Tint

Take note of just how tinted the lenses are in the glasses you choose. While the differences between the options may seem stylistic at the surface level, the amount of tint can help to reduce the amount of blue light that gets filtered out. If your goal in buying blue light glasses is to improve your quality of sleep, studies have shown that amber-tinted lenses have been more effective than their clear counterparts in promoting sound sleep with delayed wake time.

Anti-Glare and Anti-Reflective Lenses

In addition to having lenses that block blue light, options that boast anti-glare and anti-reflective properties can also reduce the amount of stress and strain on your eyes.

FAQ

What is blue light?

According to Gary Heiting, O.D., blue light is a wavelength of visible light emitted by electronic screens, like the one on your computer, phone, or tablet. "Blue light has the highest energy of all components of visible light—nearly the same amount as some ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are associated with skin cancer, cataracts, and other eye health problems," he says. "Though blue light has less energy than UV, it penetrates deeper into the eye—all the way to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eyeball."
How does blue light impact my eyes?

Although more research is needed to show exactly how much blue light can cause retina damage and vision loss (and whether or not our devices would cause these problems), Heiting notes that "many eye doctors are concerned about the potential long-term effects of blue light on our eyes." Additionally, blue light exposure has been linked to eye strain, discomfort, and can worsen the effects of dry eye, while also throwing off your circadian rhythm.
How do blue light glasses work?

Just like sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, blue light glasses are meant to protect your eyes against the blue light from your computer, phone, or tablet screen. The lenses on blue light glasses work to filter out a percentage of the artificial blue light, helping to reduce the side effects caused by eye strain.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She also covers health and wellness. Given that she has terrible eyesight, she does everything possible to take care of her eyes, including wearing blue-light-blocking glasses.

The 13 Best Sleep Masks for Blocking Light

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Coats JG, Maktabi B, Abou-Dahech MS, Baki G. Blue light protection, part i-effects of blue light on the skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(3):714-717.
van Kuijk FJ. Effects of ultraviolet light on the eye: role of protective glasses. Environ Health Perspect. 1991;96:177-184.
van der Lely S, Frey S, Garbazza C, et al. Blue blocker glasses as a countermeasure for alerting effects of evening light-emitting diode screen exposure in male teenagers. J Adolesc Health. 2015;56(1):113-119.
Shechter A, Kim EW, St-Onge M-P, Westwood AJ. Blocking nocturnal blue light for insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res. 2018;96:196-202.
Leung TW, Li RW-H, Kee C-S. Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses: optical and clinical performances. PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0169114.
Zhao Z-C, Zhou Y, Tan G, Li J. Research progress about the effect and prevention of blue light on eyes. International Journal of Ophthalmology. 20181205;11(12):1999-2003.
Dabrowiecki A, Villalobos A, Krupinski EA. Impact of blue light filtering glasses on computer vision syndrome in radiology residents: a pilot study. J Med Imaging (Bellingham). 2020;7(2):022402.