How to Tell If Your Glasses Have Blue Light Protection: 1 Minute to Determine If Your Glasses Protect Your Eyes

As an interior designer and frequent screen user, I know how important it is to protect your eyes from blue light, especially if you spend long hours in front of digital devices. Blue light protection in glasses helps reduce eye strain, minimize headaches, and improve sleep quality. But how do you tell if your glasses really have blue light protection?

1. Check for a Blue Light Filter Reflection

Hold your glasses up to a bright white light (like an LED lamp or your phone flashlight). Glasses with blue light blocking coatings often reflect visible blue or purple hues on the lens surface. This subtle tint is the coating working to filter blue wavelengths. If you don’t see any reflection or coloration, your lenses likely don’t have the filter.

2. Examine the Lens Tint

Blue light blocking lenses sometimes have a slightly yellow or amber tint. This helps neutralize blue rays from screens. However, certain high-quality coatings are virtually clear, so lack of tint doesn't always mean lack of protection. Trustworthy brands often note the lens features.

3. Review the Product Details

Check the packaging or product description if you still have them. Look for terms like "blue light filter," "blue cut," or "HEV protection." If you purchased your glasses at an optometrist, ask for their technical details or certification of blue light blocking capabilities.

4. Test Them with a Blue Light Torch

Some optical stores provide blue light testing kits (including a blue light-emitting torch and a cutout card). Shine the blue light torch through the lens onto a white surface. The filtered lenses will significantly reduce the amount of blue light that passes through, resulting in less blue reflection on the surface.

5. Use Online Blue Light Lens Test Tools

There are DIY methods and online resources to test your lenses. One easy way is to compare the effect of your glasses with and without the filter while looking at a blue-light-heavy test image on your computer screen. If the intensity of the blue hues diminishes with your lenses, they’re working as intended.

As someone who designs both homes and offices, I always recommend optimizing not only eye protection with proper eyewear but also planning your workspace lighting and layout to minimize screen glare and reduce eye fatigue. If you’re redesigning your workspace, consider using a planner for optimizing office layouts to create an environment that’s friendly for both your eyes and your productivity.

Tips 1:

Always clean your lenses with a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the blue light coating. Dust and dirt can degrade the effectiveness of the protection if not properly maintained.

FAQ

Q: Can I tell if my glasses have blue light protection without any equipment?

A: Yes, by observing a subtle blue or purple reflection on the lens, or a slight yellow tint, you can often tell if your glasses have a blue light filter.

Q: Does a yellow tint always mean blue light protection?

A: Not always; while many blue light blocking lenses have a tint, some advanced coatings are nearly clear.

Q: Can prescription glasses have blue light protection?

A: Absolutely, blue light blocking technology can be added to most prescription glasses and lenses.

Q: How effective are blue light blocking glasses?

A: When properly manufactured, they can block a significant portion of blue wavelengths, helping reduce digital eye strain and improve comfort.

Q: Should I use blue light glasses with every device?

A: If you spend extended periods on digital screens—computers, tablets, or phones—it's beneficial to wear blue light blocking glasses to protect your eyes.