If there’s one point we make the most on this blog, it’s that digital screens can cause digital eye strain. Another point we frequently bring up is that artificial blue light can disrupt your sleep cycle. Being such a prevalent problem in today’s modern age, this latter point deserves more emphasis.
Do you find yourself regularly laying in bed staring at the ceiling, wide awake, wondering “why can’t I sleep”? If so, we just may have a solution for you.
Think about this: how late into the evening do you use devices with digital screens, such as a smartphone, tablet, or TV? If you’re like most of the people in this country, you use them up until the moment you turn off the lights and try to go to sleep. Many people even pick up their phones in the middle of the night when they can’t sleep and wonder why they feel even more awake.
These digital devices and the artificial blue light they emit may be a root cause of your sleepless nights. This type of light, which is used to illuminate digital screens, has been shown to disrupt melatonin production and circadian rhythm, causing people to struggle with falling asleep and/or staying asleep.
Don’t worry—this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop using your devices in the evening. While avoiding the use of digital devices a couple of hours before bed can help your sleep cycle, there’s also another option: sleep glasses.
What are Sleep Glasses?
Sleep glasses are eyeglasses that are specifically designed to help you wind down before sleep by offering increased protection from artificial blue light. You don’t wear sleep glasses while you sleep, but rather in the evening before sleep.
Sleep glasses are different from traditional blue light blocking glasses in terms of the level of blue light protection they offer. At GUNNAR, we use our GUNNAR Blue Light Filter (GBLF) scale to measure eye protection at the peak of the blue light spectrum (450 nanometers). A GBLF of 65, for example, blocks 65% of blue light at the peak of the blue light spectrum.
A typical blue light lens might have a GBLF of anywhere from 6-65, whereas a sleep lens can get all the way up to 98.
The goal with traditional blue light glasses is to provide blue light protection without altering your visual perception. Sleep glasses, however, have the explicit goal of blocking out as much light as possible. They block out the majority of artificial blue light while also dimming light in general. In turn, this helps stimulate melatonin production, which prepares the wearer for sleep.
Do Sleep Glasses Work?
When it comes to answering this question, science returns varied results. It’s clear, however, that science agrees on one thing: artificial blue light disrupts your sleep cycle. With that knowledge, you need only put two and two together to postulate that sleep glasses, which block almost all artificial blue light, may be very helpful in improving your sleep.
Finding The Best Protection
Many companies offer sleep glasses. The question is, which brand will offer you the most protection. GUNNAR sleep glasses have an Amber Max lens tint, which blocks 98% of blue light at the peak of the blue light spectrum. This lens tint offers the highest level of blue light protection available on the market.
The best blue light blocking glasses for sleep
Let’s take a look at some of GUNNAR’s sleep glasses options so you can find the perfect pair for your needs and style.
Intercept Sleep Glasses
Intercept sleep glasses offer a classic, retro frame and anti-reflective lenses that block 98% of blue light. The wide lens format allows for an unobstructed viewing experience. Slip these stylish frames on in the evening to block artificial blue light emitted from light bulbs and digital screens. Intercept is available with non-prescription or prescription lenses.
Vertex Sleep Glasses
Designed to be super lightweight and comfortable, Vertex sleep glasses blend contemporary fashion with incredible function. They feature wide format lenses and curved nose rests for even weight distribution. Offering GBLF 98, they block almost all artificial blue light, setting you up for an undisturbed, restful night’s sleep. Vertex is available with non-prescription or prescription lenses.
Prescription sleep glasses
All of GUNNAR’s prescription glasses are available in Amber Max (GBLF 98). You can view all of GUNNAR’s prescription glasses here, but let’s take a closer look at a few popular choices:
Berkeley Prescription Sleep Glasses
Berkeley offers a lightweight, yet durable frame that can be worn comfortably for hours. These classic-style wide frames offer supreme visual clarity and blue light protection, allowing you to use your devices during the evening.
Torpedo-X Razer Edition Prescription
If you’re looking to enhance your evening gaming performance, look no further than these limited edition Torpedo-X glasses in Amber Max. These glasses are extremely lightweight and come with an interchangeable temple strap for optimal comfort while wearing a headset. Wear these for those evening or late-night gaming sessions to protect your sleep.
Attaché Prescription Sleep Glasses
With their round, nylon frames, Attaché perfectly combines sophistication with modern edge. They are light as a feather and feature flexible spring hinges for extra comfort. Wear these fashionable frames (with Amber Max lens tint) in the evening to help stimulate your natural production of melatonin.
Pick up a pair today
Sleep is an essential function that allows your body to rest, repair, and rejuvenate. Adults need at least seven hours of high-quality sleep per night to feel and function their best. If you’ve been finding it difficult to fall asleep at night and have a habit of using your digital devices before bed, blue light could be to blame.
Fortunately, there’s a simple, cost-effective solution that can help you get better, deeper sleep. Sleep glasses block almost all blue light and potentially play a role in preventing sleep disturbances. Pick up a pair of GUNNAR sleep glasses today and look forward to a better night’s sleep.