The average person spends a considerable portion of their day looking at some sort of a screen, be it a smartphone or a work computer. Blue light, while not appearing blue through your eyes, is largely used in these sorts of devices, and unfortunately, it can also be harmful to your eyes over time.  

Digital eye strain and macular degeneration are just a couple of issues that prolonged exposure to this light can cause. Blue light glasses have a type of addition that is added to the lens that helps to safeguard the eye, but unfortunately, several myths are circulating about this feature that has caused some people not to take advantage of them.

1. An App Is a Cheaper Alternative

It is true, blue light glasses do typically come with an extra investment on top of the standard lens price. However, while there is nothing wrong with wanting to save money, you need to know when a cheaper alternative is actually hurting you, such as light-blocking apps.

A light-blocking app will not provide the same benefit for your eyes as blue light glasses. The main problem is that the light altering qualities of these apps are not nearly as powerful as that of blue light glasses, which means that your eyes will still be vulnerable.

2. Blue Light Glasses Make Everything Darker

Another common misconception is the idea that blue light glasses make everything you look at appear darker. In theory, the fact that the lens is intended to block the light from targeting your eyes does make this misconception an easy one to fall for. 

However, what is important to remember about these glasses is that they do no block the blue light, instead, the lens absorbs the light. As a result, you will not see any color differences in what you see, the only change is the amount of blue light you see. 

3. They Only Help When You Wear Them

You should also not let anyone tell you that blue light glasses only help you when you have them on, because this idea is not entirely true. In addition to potentially harming your eyes, too much blue light exposure can also get your circadian rhythm out of sequence. 

When this type of change happens, it can make it hard for you to fall asleep at night. Since the blue light glasses minimize the amount of blue light that your eyes absorb, your circadian rhythm will stay synchronized, and you may sleep better. 

If you spend a great deal of your day staring at a screen, it is a good idea to speak with your eye care provider about blue light glasses.