How to Test if Blue Light Glasses Work: 1 Minute to Understand Their Effectiveness

Blue light glasses have become popular for their purported ability to filter out blue light from digital devices, potentially reducing eye strain and improving sleep quality. But if you've just bought a pair, you likely wonder: how can I really tell if they're working? Below, I'll walk you through several practical and science-backed ways to test the efficacy of your blue light glasses at home and what to look out for when evaluating their performance.

1. Check for a Bluish Reflection on the Lenses

Often, blue light glasses have a special coating that reflects blue wavelengths. Under direct lighting or when viewing your lenses at certain angles, you should notice a subtle blue reflection. This doesn't guarantee complete filtering, but it's a quick visual cue that your glasses have a blue-light-blocking layer.

2. Online Testing Tools

Some websites display a blue light test image: a sequence of colored bars, including blue. When you look at these images with and without your glasses, you may notice the blue bar looks slightly dimmer or changes hue while wearing your glasses. This is evidence that the lenses are filtering out some blue wavelengths.

3. Compare With and Without Glasses

Use your glasses for several hours while using digital screens, then compare your experience to periods when you don't wear them. Are your eyes less fatigued? Is there less dryness or irritation? Subjective comfort can often be the most telling test. As a designer who spends hours in front of screens planning and creating digital interior design projects, I find that the differences in eye strain are noticeable and meaningful, especially during extended sessions.

4. Blue Light Filtering Card or Laser Test Kits

Some blue light glasses come with a blue LED pen or testing card—when the light shines through the lens onto the card, a true blue-light-blocking lens will reduce or block the appearance of the blue mark. If you don't have a test kit, you can buy one inexpensively online.

5. Monitor Your Sleep Quality

Blue light, especially during the evening, can impact melatonin production and delay sleep. If you wear your glasses in the hours before bed, pay attention to whether you fall asleep more quickly or sleep more soundly over a week or two. While this is harder to quantify, many users notice improvements in sleep onset and quality.

Tips 1:

As a designer, I always prioritize functional aesthetics—if you’re spending hours planning spaces or working with design software, comfort and focus are essential. Consider using digital tools designed for professionals (like AI-driven design platforms) that allow for dark mode interfaces, reducing blue light exposure even further in conjunction with your glasses.

FAQ

Q: How can I tell if my blue light glasses are effective?

A: Look for a blue reflection on the lenses, use online image tests, or compare how your eyes feel after screen time with and without the glasses.

Q: Can blue light glasses block all blue light?

A: Most blue light glasses filter out only a portion of blue wavelengths—typically 20–40%, though some medical-grade pairs may filter more.

Q: Is reduced eye strain a reliable indicator?

A: Yes, a noticeable reduction in headaches, fatigue, and dryness during extended screen time often indicates effectiveness.

Q: Do all blue light glasses look the same?

A: No—lens clarity and coating appearance vary. Some have a strong yellow tint, while most modern pairs are nearly clear with only subtle reflections.

Q: Do designers recommend blue light glasses for long hours at a computer?

A: Most designers and digital professionals, including myself, recommend them as part of a holistic approach to healthy screen habits, especially when working on intricate, visually intense projects.