1. Blue light blocking glasses stop certain wavelengths of light.

2. They make it easier to fall asleep when worn in the evening as blue light makes your body think it's day time.

3. They reduce eye strain when using digital screens which emit excessive blue light.

4. Opthamologists and users alike have found them to be effective.

Is blue light bad for you?

Blue light is referring to a specific wavelength of visible light and appears in our lives everyday. We most commonly see blue light from laptops, cell phones, televisions, and the sun itself. Blue light is not entirely harmful nor is it entirely beneficial. Today we're going to look at some of the reasons to wear or not to wear Blue light blocking glasses during your day.

Blue light is a beneficial thing to be around during your day. Researchers have found that exposure to blue light during daylight hours can improve attention, reaction times, and mood. For most of human history daylight hours were the only times we would be exposed to blue light, as once the sun went down the main source would be gone. In recent years we've been surrounding ourselves with more exposure to artificial blue light. That much exposure to blue light during evening hours can decrease your production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates your sleep.

Why would you need them?

For many people the idea of cutting back on blue light exposure would seem near impossible. "I work 8 hours a day on a computer, and want to go home and watch the NHL playoffs with my family." A common situation for many Canadians and finding the willpower to shut that screen off and cut yourself off from bluelight can be challenging. This is where bluelight blocking glasses come in.

Bluelight blocking glasses were originally a NASA invention, to help protect astronaut's eyes in space, but they've moved over to the civilian markets and have been picking up steam over the past few years. They are simple frames with lenses that have bluelight filters built in. These filters are meant to absorb blue light and some UV light to reduce eye strain from long exposure to bluelight.

Do they work?

Testimonials for the glasses are overall positive. With thousands of people reporting a feeling of less eye strain, no longer having dry eyes after the work day, and better focus throughout the day. The science however is not settled on the matter, with the American Academy of Ophthalmology saying that people do not need special eyewear for screen use. The AAO believes that eye strain is caused not by exposure to blue light but by over use of the devices emitting blue light.

Whether the effect is a placebo or scientifically valid I can't say. If you try a pair for yourself, send us an email and let us know how they worked for you!

Can I stop the nose dents they make?

Of course! If you're wearing blue blocker sunglasses for extended periods of time, they can leave painful and sore nose marks. As always, if you find your blue blocker glasses sliding off your nose, or wearing harshly and leaving nose dents, the Nose Fender is always here to the rescue.