If you want to know how to check if your blue light glasses are genuine, you have come to the right place. Various pairs of blue light glasses filter the light spectrum at multiple wavelengths and differing degrees. Read on to learn more about the various blue light lens tests for each type of eyewear.

WHY IS BLUE LIGHT HARMFUL?

Science has proven that extended exposure to blue light harms your vision. Although humans have tried every method to cut down on screen time, there is only so much they can minimize, and has become almost unavoidable at this point in everybody’s lives. All the devices in our surroundings now emit blue light, and have become an inevitable part of our daily life.

This problem has a scientific solution: blue light glasses.

WHAT ARE BLUE LIGHT GLASSES?

They have lenses attached that are intended to block the intake of blue light. They shield our eyes by blocking out the excessive light from artificial sources. To minimize the potential harm and negative consequences of prolonged blue light exposure, eyeglass designers have developed lenses with unique coatings or tints meant to deflect or filter blue light from reaching your eyes. Wearing blue-light-blocking glasses is believed to decrease eye strain, eye damage, and loss of sleep.

However, skepticism is bound to exist with any product of this nature, and for good reason. Consumers normally wonder whether blue light spectacles genuinely do what they promise to do or whether this is just another scientific gimmick. This is an important part since not all blue light-blocking eyewear is created equal, and the majority of the market's eyewear that makes the claim to "filter blue light" lacks information on the amount or precise wavelengths of blue light being filtered. Additionally, they do not follow the principles of light filtering that operate with your body and replicate natural settings. Thus, testing your blue light glasses becomes important.

HOW TO TEST ANTI-BLUE LIGHT DAYTIME EYEGLASSES (CLEAR LENS)

It is important to remember that clear lens glasses are supposed to be worn during the day, while red or amber-tinted glasses are required at night.

Clear lens glasses do not completely block out blue light, rather, their technology is based on filtering out the excessive rays that are bad for the eyes and guarding them against eye strain, while still letting the blue light that is responsible for mood, and feeling awake and alert, to pass through.

1. Transmittance Spectrum Report

This is the first and most important step. Ask the manufacturer for the Transmittance Spectrum Report before deciding whether or not to buy a certain pair of glasses. This comprehensive analysis will show how much blue light is blocked by the glasses.

2. Reflection Test

This technique will show you if any or some blue light has been filtered. Once you put on your glasses, you may start by observing the reflection that is reflected off the lens. If the color of the reflection is blue, then your glasses are reflecting some blue light. If not, they are most likely of no use.

3. Pigments Test

This can be done by bringing your glasses up to your eyes and looking at any object that is bright white, such as a white background. If white colors warm up just a little bit, it means the clear lens has specific pigments that are meant to absorb blue light as it goes through the lens.

If the white colors do not warm up at all and the lens is completely clear, the glasses likely just contain a basic anti-reflective coating that can block only 5-20% of blue light.

THE NIGHT-TIME BLUE LIGHT GLASSES TESTS (AMBER AND RED LENSES)

The amount and quality of sleep we receive are impacted by blue light exposure in the evening or at night. Use red lenses that completely block blue and green light up to 550 nm, or lighter amber lenses that completely block blue light. Your body may get appropriate levels of blue light and maintain a healthy circadian rhythm by wearing two separate pairs of glasses at different times of the day.

1. Transmittance Spectrum Report

The transmittance spectrum report is the only reliable technique to determine whether your night glasses are effective. Make sure the test you are obtaining is from a lab-grade spectrometer and ask the company you are buying from for this as a proof.

If the lens is red, it should block 100% of blue and green light up to 550 nm. If it is amber, it should block 100% of blue light. Anything less than this will not result in effective night-time glasses or the best possible sleep for you.

2. The Squares Test

In this assessment, you should wear your blue light glasses and stare at blue and black squares. If they both seem black, your glasses have fully blocked the blue light.

3. The RGB Chart Test

Another thing you may do is look at an RGB color chart with the blue light glasses and check whether the blue area is entirely blocked off. This will not function with daytime glasses since they do not completely block out blue light. Therefore, this test is not a suitable way to evaluate blue light protection for the day, but it will give you a decent indication of how well nighttime sleep glasses work.

TAKEAWAY

In a nutshell, it is important to test anti-blue light glasses before deciding on a pair. All of these tests demonstrate that both our daytime and nighttime glasses live up to their claims. To ensure the safety of our eyes and overall health, it is advisable to keep in mind all of the measures before making any purchases.