What Is a Blue Light Filter in Glasses – and When Can It Be Useful?

We spend a lot of time looking at screens. Phones, computers and tablets have become a natural part of everyday life, which is one reason why blue light glasses and glasses with blue light filters have become increasingly common.

But what exactly is blue light? What does a blue light filter do? And what is the difference between regular blue light glasses and reading glasses with a blue light filter?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is blue light?

Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum around us. The largest natural source of blue light is daylight, but blue light is also emitted by sources such as LED lighting and digital screens, including computers, smartphones and tablets.

This means that blue light itself is not something unnatural. What has changed is the amount of time many of us spend using digital screens throughout the day.

What are glasses with a blue light filter?

Glasses with a blue light filter, often called blue light glasses, have lenses designed to filter a portion of the blue light that passes through the lens.

Blue light glasses are available both without prescription strength and with lenses that combine blue light filtering with vision correction.

At ÅBLICK, our reading glasses feature CR39 lenses with a blue light filter. This means you get the magnification you need for clearer near vision together with a blue light filter in the same pair of glasses.

What are reading glasses with a blue light filter?

As presbyopia begins to make it more difficult to focus on objects and text up close, reading glasses can provide the magnification needed for clearer near vision.

If you use reading glasses when checking your phone, reading or working with text on a screen, reading glasses with a blue light filter can be a practical everyday option.

ÅBLICK reading glasses are available in:

+1.0, +1.5, +2.0 and +2.5

Not sure which strength you need? Read our guide What strength reading glasses do I need?

[Link this to the English strength guide]

Do blue light glasses help with tired eyes?

It is important to distinguish between marketing claims and what scientific evidence can actually support.

There is currently limited evidence that blue light filtering glasses themselves prevent eye problems or generally reduce digital eye strain. Discomfort after spending long periods in front of a screen can have several causes, including reduced blinking, prolonged focusing at the same distance and insufficient breaks.

A blue light filter should therefore primarily be considered a feature of the lens, rather than a treatment or medical protection.

At ÅBLICK, we believe it is important to be clear about that distinction.

Reading glasses for computers and screens

If you need reading glasses while working at a computer, it is also important to consider the distance between your eyes and the screen.

Standard reading glasses are primarily designed for close-up tasks. A computer screen may be positioned further away than a book or smartphone, which means that the same reading strength may not be suitable for every situation.

If you are unsure which strength you need or experience recurring problems with your vision, we recommend having your eyes checked by an optician or eye care professional.

Stylish reading glasses with a blue light filter

Function doesn’t have to mean boring.

We created ÅBLICK around the idea that reading glasses can be as much an accessory as a vision aid – something you enjoy wearing, keep within reach and make part of your personal style.

That’s why our reading glasses with a blue light filter are available in different shapes, colors and expressions, from timeless classics to bolder statement styles.

All our styles are designed in Stockholm and available in several reading strengths.

Discover all ÅBLICK reading glasses with a blue light filter.