Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2023 – CNET

In this article:

If you spend a lot of your day looking at a bright computer or phone screen, it’s a good idea to get yourself a pair of blue light blocking glasses. Excessive screen time can put a serious strain on your eyes, which can cause migraines, eye itchiness and other discomforts. In the most extreme cases, prolonged exposure can even lead to macular degeneration. That’s why it’s worth investing in a pair of the best blue light blocking glasses on the market right now. 

The latest science suggests blue light might actually affect sleep less than yellow, but there’s still evidence that squinting into digital screens all day can mess with your circadian rhythm and inhibit melatonin production, which can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. Even if you’re not sure if the hours staring at a screen are to blame for your insomnia and eye fatigue, mitigating some of that blue light exposure by wearing blue light glasses can’t hurt.

So if you stare at a screen all day and want to block as much blue light as possible, we’re here to help you find the best blue light blocking glasses for your needs. As soon as you pop blue light blocking glasses on your face, you’ll hopefully start to minimize eye strain, take better care of your circadian rhythm and have that melatonin pumping come bedtime. 

I promise, getting the right pair of blue light protection glasses is much easier than getting prescription glasses or even reading glasses. There are a lot of options out there too — blue light blockers with a clear lens and plastic frame are plentiful, so you’ll look good while wearing your blue light protection.

I’ve put together a list of the best blue light blocking glasses out there, and each option is stylish and comfortable. Buy a pair ASAP so you can minimize blue light exposure as you half-watch three hours of Netflix while mindlessly scrolling Instagram. Oh, what a time to be alive!

Best blue light blocking glasses

Blue Light Absorption

Up to 40%

Features

Spring hinges, UV 400 protection, anti-reflective, anti-scratch

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

Yes

Peepers’ blue light glasses are affordable (under $30) and with magnification, they can double as reading glasses. The company claims its blue light technology can filter 40% of harmful rays from the blue light spectrum — ideal for when you’re trying to avoid the pitfalls that come with overexposure to artificial light from a computer screen and prevent digital eye strain. These super-trendy tortoise square frames instantly caught my attention. If, like me, you’re not looking to always be super-extra, these blue light glasses also come in neutral tones like black and cream, so you look trendy while minimizing light exposure. These glasses also provide UV protection.

Prive Revaux

Blue Light Absorption

Not stated

Features

Anti-reflective, anti-scratch, UV protection

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

No

“Prive Revaux” sounds like I’m about to convince you to buy $300 glasses, but in reality this swanky-named eyewear brand sells its best blue light blocking glasses for around $40. Its lenses have blue light filters along with an antiglare coating to reduce eye strain.

Not only does the name of these blue light filtering glasses sound super fancy, but the styles — there are over three dozen to choose from — are designer-inspired at a really affordable price. You can even find some pairs on sale for as low as $10 at the moment. 

Gunnar

Blue Light Absorption

Between 35% and 98%

Features

Anti-scratch, anti-reflective, multi-barrel hinges, UV protection

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

Yes

Gunnar is serious about blue light filtering eye protection. The company has a “blue light protection factor spectrum,” ranging from the lowest protection of 35, to heavy-duty protection at 98 (check out the amber lens design). Gunnar recommends the 98 protection factor if you work from your computer late at night, so these may very well be the best blue light blocking glasses for you workaholics and gamers (or 2 a.m. HBO bingers). 

I’ve picked the Intercept (starting at $75) and boy, do these blue light glasses look intense with their amber lens color. You might want these to be your “at-home” only pair. 

Felix Gray

Blue Light Absorption

Up to 30%

Features

Anti-glare (polarized), UV protection

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

Yes

You might have recognized the Felix Gray brand name due to its impressive eyewear marketing, featuring attractive people sporting these sleek frames. All of the company’s models seem to instantly appear smarter just by sliding on a pair. 

Along with great style, Felix Gray embeds blue light blocking filters directly into the lenses and adds an anti-reflective coating to help protect against artificial blue light. These classic round Roebling frames come in two frame color options, a fun blue or tortoise brown, starting at $95. Depending on your needs and preferences, these may easily be the best blue light blocking glasses for you.

Cole Haan

Blue Light Absorption

Up to 85%

Features

Polycarbonate, UV protection, anti-scratch

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

Yes

Eyeconic is definitely the most high-end of the bunch, featuring designer brand selections. Most of the glasses are above a whopping $140, with frames from Calvin Klein, Nike and Cole Haan, to name a few.

You can add TechShield blue light blocking technology to any of its styles, which the eyewear company says reduces blue light exposure by up to 85%, making them one of the most protective and best blue light blocking glasses out there. I’ve chosen these thicker frames from Cole Haan because I like how prominent they are, but there are plenty of other options to fit your style.

Urban Outfitters

Blue Light Absorption

Not stated

Features

Adjustable nose pads

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

No

If you’re into cool retro-grandpa vibes like me (and Instagram), you’ll love these gold-rimmed aviator frames from Ray-Ban. The blue light filtering technology can shield your eyes from digital eye strain during screen time and the thin metal frame won’t weigh heavy on your temples.

Ottoto Savoy

Blue Light Absorption

Not stated

Features

UV protectipn, anti-scratch, anti-glare (polarized)

Prescription Option

Yes

Virtual Try-On

Yes

At Glasses USA, you can add their blue light “digital block” protection to any glasses style for $19, along with your vision prescription, if needed (you can also order blue light glasses without the prescription lens). That means you can choose from the countless number of frames for computer glasses with an added blue light filter, but I’ve done the work for you and chosen these cool retro ones.

Glasses USA urges people who spend more than five hours daily on a computer or who look at their phone more than 20 times a day to add their digital block blue light lenses. 

Blue light blocking glasses FAQs

Do blue light glasses really work?

The short answer? Yes. Blue light blocking glasses have filters that block blue light waves given off by any light source — the sun, screens, lightbulbs, etc. 

Research has shown that blue light impacts our bodies’ ability to produce melatonin, the hormone that helps us fall asleep. Wearing anti-blue light glasses while staring at screens, particularly at night, can help ensure your body produces melatonin so you can get a good night’s rest.

How do I clean blue light glasses?

First, you should always refer to whatever cleaning instructions come with the blue light blocking glasses you buy. In general, you can clean blue light glasses the same way you would clean any other eyeglasses — with a soft, lint-free cloth that won’t cause scratches and a gentle cleaning spray designed for glasses.

When should I wear blue light glasses?

Blue light generally energizes you, helps you concentrate, boosts your mood — all good things during the day. But when you’re winding down from your day in the evening and want to relax, blue light can interfere. For most people, wearing blue light blocking glasses in the evening while watching TV or staring at any screen will be the most beneficial.

Some people also find that blue light blocking glasses can help reduce eye strain, blurry vision and headaches that come from staring at screens while working. You can try both or either to see what works best for you.

More Vision Advice

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.