Today you’ll find out exactly how to buy your best blue light blocking glasses in 2021.

(Step-by-step).

And we mean the best blue light glasses for YOU!!

This process is working GREAT right now! It’s solving blue light problems while saving time and money:

It’s buying glasses online made easy!
(Even if you want buy blue light glasses at Walmart, Target, …)

Ready?

Let’s go:

– Step #1: Test your eyes’ blue light sensitivity

– Step #2: Zoom-in* on blue blocker glasses that match your sensitivity
* With ONE click!!

– Step #3: Decide based on non-blue-light preferences

Supplement – Facts about glasses that filter blue light:

– What is blue light?
– Why blue light affects some people more?
– What are the best blue blocker glasses?
– Do blue light glasses work?
– Do I need blue light blocking glasses?
– What are blue blockers?
– How do you know how much blue light glasses block?
– Do yellow glasses block blue light?
– Do blue light glasses have to be yellow?
– Do computer glasses have a prescription?

NOTE: This guide is for non-prescription glasses. Find Blue light blocking prescription glasses, clip-ons, and fit-overs here.

Step #1: Test your blue light sensitivity

Here’s a scientific fact:

Today, there is no way around testing blue blockers!
If you want them to work. For you!

You have to wear them. For a while!

You have to try different tints – blue cuts, blue blocking levels.

Only then can you:
– rule out the ones that don’t work or cause negative side effects, and
– know which anti blue light glasses work best.

Others (sellers, reviewers, doctors, scientists, experts, users, celebrities …) can tell you which blue blockers work:
– for them, or
– for many people, or
– maybe even for most people.

Now:

That doesn’t guarantee the same blue light glasses will also work for you!

Why?

– Because your sensitivity to blue light is different.

– And likely also your lifestyle. And lighting conditions.

– And your problem with blue light.

[More on this below].

Bottom line:

Your blue light sensitivity is unique. So:

Taking advice on blue blocker glasses from others without testing is risky.

NOTE:
Would you let others tell you what prescription is ideal for you?
No-one would accept that.
Only you can know how well you see with this or that lens power.

That’s it for Step 2, but:

Before you click on your favorite filter number, check out Step 3. So you don’t have to come back:

Step #3: Decide based on non-blue-related preferences

Now you know that blue blockers in Group #X will work for you.

But:

You still have to choose between the blue blockers in that Group.

To make your final decision consider your preferences like:

– frame style
– different coatings
– price
– etc.

TIP 1: Find this info by clicking on the links in the Where to buy glasses online column (on the right).
TIP 2: We do recommend Anti Reflective coating (AR) to reduce the veiling glare problem.

Disclosure: some of the links in the blue blockers review below are commission links. If you use them for buying glasses online AND buy a product, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Click on your favorite Filter’s number:

# 0 # 1 # 2

# 3 # 4 # 5

# 6 # 7

---

Group #0 – like Filter #0
Migraine relief & Sleep glasses *

* Most of these sell as Migraine relief or Sleep glasses.

These offer 100% blue light protection. It may be an overkill for many people and conditions.

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #0. Even if your problem is NOT migraines or insomnia.

Anti blue light glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
SomniLight Migraine Relief Glasses	100	100	100	100	100	100	SomniLight
Tester Filter #0 – cutoff: 580nm	100	100	100	100	100	100	GLARminY, Amazon
Carbonshade Sleep Glasses **	100	100	100	100	100	100	Carbonshade
NoIR 570 – GlareShield 39% Dark Red/Orange	100	100	100	100	100	90	NoIR, Amazon
** Spectral transmission data from vendor’s website

Group #1 – like Filter #1
Sleep & Computer gaming glasses *

* Most of these sell as Sleep glasses or Computer gaming glasses.

These glasses block 100% of blue light. It may be an overkill for many people and conditions.

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #1. Even if your problem is NOT insomnia or computer vision syndrome.

Anti blue light glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
NoIR 553 – GlareShield 52% Red/Orange	100	100	100	100	100	70	NoIR, Amazon
SomniLight Amber Sleep Glasses	100	100	100	100	100	100	SomniLight
Tester Filter 1# – cutoff: 525nm	100	100	100	100	100	65	GLARminY, Amazon
3M 2846 Red-Orange safety glasses	100	100	100	100	100	55	Amazon, RapidOnline
LowBlueLights Sleep & Computer Glasses	100	100	100	100	100	20	LowBlueLights
NoIR #60 UVShield 49% Orange lens	100	100	100	100	100	20	NoIR, Amazon
UVEX SCT Orange Computer glasses	100	100	100	100	100	15	Amazon
NoIR 505 – GLARESHIELD 56% Orange	100	100	100	100	95	60	NoIR, Amazon
Spectra 479 Amber Glasses for Sleep	100	100	100	100	95	40	Spectra479, Amazon
Melatonin Shades Evening Eyewear	100	100	100	100	95	30	Melatonin Shades, Amazon
BlueBlockGlasses	100	100	100	100	95	25	BlueBlockGlasses
NoIR 533 – GlareShield 35% Amber/Orange	100	90	95	95	90	70	NoIR, Amazon
Mojo BluBlock Sun Brown 60	90	90	95	95	90	60	ReadingGlassesETC
NoIR 68 UVShield 52% Light Orange	100	90	90	95	90	10	NoIR, Amazon

Group #2 – like Filter #2
Sleep & Computer Gaming glasses *

* Most of these sell as glasses for computer or sleep glasses.

These protect from nearly all blue light.

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #2. Even if your problem is NOT insomnia or computer eye strain.

Anti blue ray glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
Tester Filter #2 – blue cut: 490nm	100	100	100	100	25	15	GLARminY, Amazon
Mojo BluBlock Therapy Orange	100	100	100	95	85	30	ReadingGlassesETC
Spektrum ProSPEK-99 Computer glasses	100	100	100	95	75	10	Spektrum, Amazon
NoIR 465 – GlareShield 70% Yellow	100	90	95	85	30	10	NoIR, Amazon
Mojo BluBlock Day Tan Melanin	95	90	85	80	65	30	ReadingGlassesETC

Group #3 – like Filter #3
Computer and Gaming glasses *

* Most of these sell as Computer Gaming glasses.

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #3. Even if your problem is NOT computer eye strain.

Glasses that block blue light (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
Tester Filter #3 – blue cut: 460nm	100	100	100	80	15	10	GLARminY, Amazon
T’aime 97% Computer Glasses	100	100	100	75	20	10	Amazon
NoIR 50 – UVShield 54% Yellow	100	100	100	70	10	10	NoIR, Amazon
Mojo BluBlock Night Yellow	100	100	95	70	40	15	ReadingGlassesETC
NoIR 58 UVShield 58% Yellow	100	95	95	30	10	10	NoIR
Blue Aspis glasses for Computer	100	95	90	30	5	5	Blue Shark Optics
Mojo BluBlock Day Amber Melanin	95	90	80	60	40	25	ReadingGlassesETC
UVEX Amber blue blocker lens Glasses	100	85	75	20	10	10	Amazon

Group #4 – like Filter #4
Migraine relief & Fluorescent light glasses *

* TheraSpecs sell as Migraine glasses, Fluorescent light glasses, headaches, eyestrain, etc.

Now:

The glasses below will work for you like Filter #4. Even if your problem is NOT migraines or fluorescent lighting.

Blue light filter glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
Mojo BluBlock Sun Brown 40	80	75	80	80	70	40	ReadingGlassesETC
TheraSpecs FL-41 indoor Migraine relief & anti-fluorescent Glasses	55	60	80	80	80	45	TheraSpecs, Amazon
Tester Filter #4 (TheraSpecs-like)	65	70	65	75	75	40	GLARminY, Amazon

Group #5 – like Filter #5
(Gunnars – like) Gaming Computer glasses *

* Gunnars sell as computer and gaming glasses.

Now:

The blue blockers below will work for you like Filter #5. Even if your problem is NOT computer eye strain.

Anti blue light glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
Tester Filter #5 (GUNNAR-like)	75	60	65	55	35	20	GLARminY, Amazon
Mojo BluBlock Day Brown 20	70	60	65	65	50	25	ReadingGlassesETC
Gunnar Amber BLPF 65 Computer Gaming glasses	100	70	55	25	15	5	Gunnar, Amazon
Spektrum ProSPEK-50 Computer glasses	100	80	45	20	10	5	Spektrum, Amazon

Group #6 – like Filter #6
Axon glasses for Migraine

Axon Optics glasses sell as Migraine glasses

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #6. Even if your problem is NOT migraine headaches.

Glasses that block blue light (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
Axon FL-41 indoor Migraine relief & anti-fluorescent Glasses	100	50	40	45	50	40	Axon, Amazon
Tester Filter #6 (AXON-like)	40	35	40	45	45	30	GLARminY, Amazon

Group #7 – like Filter #7
Computer glasses *

* Most of these sell as glasses for computer glasses.

These glasses offer the lowest blue light protection. This doesn’t mean they don’t work (more below).

Now:

They’ll work for you like Filter #7. Even if your problem is NOT computer eye strain.

Blue light filter glasses (click to open spectrogram)	% blocked at wavelengths (nm)						Where to buy glasses online
	400	425	450	480	520	570
EYES PC blue light blocking glasses	100	60	35	25	15	10	Amazon
BluTech blue blocker lenses	100	50	25	20	20	15	eyeglass.com
J+S Vision Computer & Gaming Glasses	100	35	25	15	10	5	Amazon
JINS Screen PC glasses	100	100	20	10	5	5	JINS, Amazon
Tester Filter #7 – Blue Cutoff: 400nm	100	40	20	20	15	15	GLARminY, Amazon
Gamma Ray eye strain Computer glasses (yellow/amber tinted)	95	50	20	15	5	0	Amazon
Nikon – SeeCoat Blue Premium	95	35	15	10	n/a	n/a	Local opticians
EyeFatigue Computer Glasses	20	15	15	10	5	10	EyeFatigue
PFO Global – iBlu Coat	95	15	10	10	10	5	Local opticians
Zeiss – DuraVision BlueProtect	35	15	10	5	0	0	Local opticians
Zeiss – DuraVision DriveSafe	35	15	10	5	0	0	Local opticians
Essilor – Crizal Prevencia	95	25	10	5	0	0	Local opticians
Zenni BLOKZ and UV+ Blue blockers	100	50	5	5	5	5	Zenni BLOKZ and Zenni UV+
Essilor – Smart Blue Filter	15	35	5	5	n/a	n/a	Local opticians

Why some popular glasses that block blue light aren’t featured

For example, brands like Felix Gray, LifeArt, Ambr, Pixel, Cyxus, MVMT, Oakley, QUAY blue light glasses, Warby Parker  …

They are not featured for one simple reason:

We couldn’t find their spectral transmission profiles.

So we cannot match them to your blue light sensitivity.

Now:

If you know of glasses that should be in this guide:

– do contact us, or
– leave a comment below – to send us a heads up!

Facts about Blue light & blue light filter glasses

The science about the impact of blue light on our body is very rich. And complex.

Below is a peek into it – made as simple and brief as possible.

What is blue light?

Blue light is a color in the visible light spectrum.

Blue light wavelengths: ~380 – ~500nm.

Blue light carries more energy than other visible light colors.

Why has blue light become a problem

Because our eyes face excessive blue light when performing sharp vision tasks. A very unlikely situation in nature.

And:

Because often we are exposed to blue light when it is not natural.

Unnatural exposure to blue light is due to:
– energy saving lighting and
– digital screens.

Blue light is not only bad

For once, it is a beautiful color! 🙂

Also:

We need blue light during the day to function well.

For example:

There is lots of blue light in sunlight. And much less on a cloudy day.

Now:

You know how difficult it is to be upbeat and cheerful on a dark, grey cloudy day :(. It’s the lack of blue light.

But as soon as the sky clears up you feel much, much better! It’s blue light doing it!

Another example:

When the level of blue light goes down:
– in the afternoon and especially
– after sunset
we become sleepy – or at least we used to (before energy saving lighting and digital screens).

So blue light helps our body get in sync with the natural rhythm of day and night. (This is particularly helpful when we need to adjust to a different time-zone).

But, there is the bad part

Unnatural exposure to blue light is a problem:

For example:

Too much blue light after sundown may lead to insomnia.

Another example:

Excessive blue light in tasks that require sharp vision causes:

– eye strain
– difficulty focusing
– dry eyes
– headaches and migraines
– neck and back pains, etc.

This is why extended hours of digital screen viewing are so tiring (see more on this below).

For more on blue light see this 4 min. interview with Prof. Fontaine:

Why blue light affects some people more?

This is a key question. It helps understand:

– Why anti blue blocking glasses work for some people but not for others, and
– Why different people need different color blue light filters.

We don’t all have the same sensitivity to blue light.

There are several reasons for these differences. Most result from how our brain processes light signals.

It is complex stuff. And, still not well understood [Measuring and using light in the melanopsin age (2014)].

But we’ll focus on a reason that is one of the best researched – macular pigment [The Visual Effects of Intraocular Colored Filters (2012)].

What is macular pigment

Macular pigment is a natural blue light filter in our eyes:

One of its principal functions is to stop blue light from reaching the macula (or fovea).

We’ll get to the macula in a minute …

Now:

Your macular pigment may block:
– a lot of blue light
– very little of it, or
– somewhere between the two extremes.

If you are in a hurry see at least the first third of this 9 min video by Prof. Beatty:

So, your macular pigment might look like this:

Examples of different macular pigment profiles [Macular pigment imaging in AREDS-2 participants: an ancillary study of AREDS-2 subjects enrolled at the Moran Eye Center (2013)]

The worst part about it:

It is difficult to have macular pigment measured. Except in a few highly-specialized research labs.

Now:

Research suggests only about one out of five people has an effective macular pigment:

So, the rest of us (4 out of 5 people) need blue blocking glasses.

But not everyone the same strength anti blue light glasses.

TIP: We can also try to strengthen our macular pigment. Macular pigment supplements improve it in most people.

Now:

Let’s see what happens when excessive blue light gets past our macular pigment – to the macula.

What is the macula

The macula is a tinny spot on the retina that captures sharp vision images.

Now:

It is sensitive to red and green light only. There are no photoreceptors for blue light at its center (fovea centralis):

The distribution of the cones – photoreceptors for red, green, and blue light at the Macula. Represented by red, green, and blue dots. (Source: Rochester Institute of Technology)

But it gets worse:

– Blue light reaches the macula out of focus. So our eyes strain more to see well.

And:

– Blue light may damage our sharp vision cells at the macula (as explained by Prof. Beatty in the video).

Bottom line:

The blue light that gets to the macula is:
– useless
– annoying, and
– potentially harmful.

What excessive blue light at the macula feels like

This is how you might feel if there is too much blue light getting to your macula:

– eye strain
– glare
– difficulty focusing
– dry eyes
– headaches and migraines
– neck and back pains
– and many other symptoms

NOTE: We use central vision when viewing digital screens.
If you are like most, you use a white background. Yet, to display white lots of blue light must be emitted.
Imagine what that blue light does to your eyes!

So, now you are could be thinking:

That’s great. But:

My problem is NOT computer eye strain!?

Blue blockers also help fix problems like:
– Insomnia
– Migraines
– Glare and light sensitivity (photophobia)
– Age-related Macular Degeneration – AMD (an unproven hypothesis).

We cannot look at all these in detail. Unfortunately.

But, if interested, here are some places to get you started:
– Glasses that block blue light help improve sleep
– Migraines are more likely provoked by blue light
– Blue light is more likely to cause glare and light sensitivity
– Blue light is more likely to cause retinal cell death – AMD

So summing it all up:

What are the best blue light blockers?

The best blue blockers are those that match one’s blue light sensitivity.

Blue light sensitivity varies from person to person. It depends on blue blocking strength of one’s macular pigment.

NOTE: Higher blue blocking effectiveness is not necessarily better.

Do blue light glasses work?

Blue light glasses do work for about 4 out of 5 people. But their blue blocking level must match each person’s blue light sensitivity.

Do I need blue light blocking glasses?

You cannot be sure whether you need anti blue ray glasses unless you try wearing them. This is because you cannot know your blue light sensitivity.

What are blue blocker glasses?

Anti-glare blue light blocking glasses reduce/filter blue light. They should block blue light more than the rest of visible light.

For example:

Suppose my screen emits 100 units of blue light at 445nm towards my eyes:
– Without glasses, my eyes take in all 100 units.
– WITH blue blocking glasses my eyes only take in 30 units of blue light at 445nm. That’s supposing the glasses block 70% of blue light at 445nm.

Such blue light glasses might block only about 10% of the rest of visible light (~500nm – ~760nm).

How do you know how much blue light is blocked?

You need to look at glasses’ spectral transmission profile.

It describes how much light they transmit. And how much they block. At each wavelength!

How to read spectrograms?

The easiest way to grasp spectral transmission data is in a spectrogram.

Its curve tells you what is the blue-blocking rate at each light wavelength.

The image below explains how to read a spectrogram. (It’s the spectral transmission profile of pink FL-41 blue block glasses).

Do yellow glasses block blue light?

Yes, yellow glasses block blue light.

But:

You can’t judge their blue blocking range only based on their color. The difference between two yellow filters can be huge.

For example:

The two filters below are both yellow (see the light grey box under the graph).

Now:

Note the big difference in how much blue light they block!

Source: Adapted from Lee FILTERS

The same may be true for other blue blocking lens tints.

Do blue light glasses have to be yellow?

No. Blue blockers don’t have to be yellow.

Blue blocker lenses that use tinting technology are:
– yellow,
– pink-ish tinted: the anti-fluorescent, anti migraine FL-41 tint
– amber,
– orange, or
– red.

Clear-lens blue light filter glasses may use:
– blue light reflective coating – produces a blue reflection on the lens, or
– blue light absorbing monomer – blue blocker lens appear almost clear.

Now:

Blue-blocking rate depends on the filter color. As does color distortion:

Do blue blocker lenses distort color?

Yes, they do. You can’t block blue light and see it too. Obvious, right?

But:

Glasses that block very little blue light are almost clear

Color distortion of “clear” blue blockers is minimal. They change:
– blue to a darker blue
– white to off-white.

Find examples of such glasses among the Group #7 blue blockers.

Anti blue ray glasses that block all blue light must be orange (or red)

Color distortion of orange (or red) glasses is significant. They change:
– blue to black and
– white to orange (or red).

Find examples of such glasses among the Group #1 (or #0) blue blockers.

Yellow and Amber glasses fall between:
– yellow glasses are closer to clear-lens blue blockers
– amber glasses are closer to orange blue blockers.

Do computer glasses have a prescription?

Computer glasses may or may not have a prescription. Their principal property is that they block blue light.

In some cases computer glasses do have a prescription:
– People who need prescription glasses need it also on their computer glasses.
– Some people find relief with a small power add to their computer glasses. Even though they otherwise don’t need prescription glasses.

Back to you

Congratulations. Now you know a lot about blue light, blue blockers, and buying glasses online.

You are ready to buy the best blue light blocking glasses for you.

Let us know in the comments:

Did you find this guide helpful?

Is something missing?

And,

When you come back to find the best match for your favorite Test kit Filter:

Do comment on your experience with the Tester.