You’ve probably seen people wearing yellow-tinted glasses at work or while playing video games. These are blue light blocking glasses, which are specifically designed to filter out the harmful blue-violet light rays commonly emitted from digital screens.
While yellow lenses provide great blue light protection, they may not be the best option for you. There are a number of reasons why a person may be better suited to wearing clear blue light glasses instead.
What are clear blue light glasses and why would someone choose them over yellow-tinted glasses? Read on to find out!
What are clear blue light glasses?
Clear blue light blocking glasses are glasses with clear lenses that block a percentage of blue light.
At GUNNAR, we use GUNNAR Blue Light Filter (GBLF) to label the amount of blue light filtered by our lent tint options. The higher the GBLF rating, the more blue light that is blocked. Our Amber lenses—the yellow-tinted lenses typically associated with blue light glasses—have a GBLF of 65, meaning they filter 65 percent of blue light from reaching your eyes.
Our blue light glasses with clear lenses, on the other hand, have a GBLF of 35, meaning they filter 35 percent of blue light.
Can clear lenses block blue light?
Many people assume that clear lenses don’t block any blue light, but this is not the case. As mentioned above, GUNNAR clear blue light blocking lenses filter 35 percent of harmful blue light.
Your next question is probably, “Is 35 percent blue light blocking enough?” The answer to that question depends on a number of factors, including how much time you spend using digital devices, the nature of your work, and how well you’re sleeping. Let’s take a closer look at who is best suited for clear lenses.
Who should use clear blue light glasses?
Clear blue light glasses work best for casual technology users with lower needs for blue light protection. More specifically, you should consider wearing clear lens glasses if one or more of the following apply to you:
You don’t spend much time using digital devices
Clear lens glasses are best suited for people who 1.) don’t use a computer for work, 2.) use their smartphone 1-2 hours per day at most, and 3.) play video or computer games casually (or not at all). If you use digital devices more heavily, it’s recommended that you opt for our glasses with Amber lenses instead.
Your sleep cycle isn’t affected by the use of digital devices
Digital devices emit artificial blue light that disrupts the production of melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy). As a result, many people who use digital devices for prolonged periods of time find that their sleep suffers and their circadian rhythm is thrown off. In these cases, using our Amber lenses during the day and our Amber Max lenses at night is recommended.
If, however, you’re able to fall asleep easily, stay asleep through the night, and wake up feeling refreshed, clear lenses will likely offer enough blue light protection to ensure your sleep cycle stays on track.
You experience symptoms of digital eye strain
Staring at digital screens can lead to symptoms of digital eye strain, including dry eyes, red eyes, headaches, blurry vision, and eye fatigue. GUNNAR glasses not only block blue light, but also address all short and long-term side effects of digital eye strain.
All of our blue light glasses address digital eye strain, including our glasses with clear lenses. If you notice digital eye strain symptoms, wearing clear blue light blocking glasses while using digital devices could help.
You don’t like the appearance of yellow lenses
While yellow-tinted lenses are still pretty discreet, some people prefer not to wear yellow lenses for aesthetic reasons. If you want to reap the benefits of blue light glasses, but want a more inconspicuous look, choose clear lenses.
Do clear lens blue light glasses have a tint?
By now, you’re probably aware that traditional blue light glasses have a yellow or amber tint, but you may be wondering if clear glasses have any tint. Great question!
GUNNAR clear blue light blocking glasses have a slight amber tint, but it’s much less noticeable than the tint on our Amber, Sun, or Amber Max lenses.
Where can you buy clear lens blue light glasses?
GUNNAR offers a wide selection of clear lens blue light glasses, providing you with discreet protection without the obvious yellow tint. Our clear lens glasses come in a variety of styles, from retro round frames to aviator-style frames to classic square frames.
We even offer blue light glasses that have clear lenses and clear frames for an ultra-discreet, modern look. Check out these all-around clear styles: Intercept Crystal and Rush Crystal.
The bottom line
For casual technology users who seek discreet blue light protection, clear lens blue light glasses are likely the best choice. They have lighter lenses, but still offer substantial blue light protection.
Many people opt to own one pair of blue light glasses with clear lenses and another pair with amber lenses. That way they can wear their clear lenses when they don't want to attract attention and their amber glasses later in the day when they need more blue light protection.
To find your perfect pair of clear lens blue light glasses, check out GUNNAR’s collection today!