Blue light is a common form of light that is emitted from a range of natural and artificial sources. The phenomenon is all around us, permitted by the sun and by our digital devices, tablets, smartphones, TVs, computers and even some energy-efficient lighting. Sunlight, for example, contains many shades of red, orange, yellow, green and blue light rays, which vary depending on the energy and wavelength of the individual rays. When combined together, the spectrum of coloured light rays creates a phenomenon known as ‘white light’, which we refer to as sunlight.

While research has indicated that extreme exposure to blue light isn’t exactly good for your health, you don’t have to throw out your smartphone or tablet just yet. There is no evidence to suggest that being subjected to blue light in small doses will have any lasting effects. Instead, you may encounter short term issues as a result of blue light. Here are three of the most commonly reported side effects of blue light exposure.

One of the major issues that people report is eye strain. Going hand in hand with technology use, you can often spend too much time focusing on small objects and digital screens. This can lead to dry or itchy eyes, loss of focus, headaches, fatigue and even neck pain.

Blue light can be a tricky beast and a confusing phenomenon for our bodies to understand. The most common issue related to blue light exposure is interrupted sleep. As we get most of our blue light rays from sunlight, using technology long into the night can trick our brains into thinking it is still daytime. These blue wavelengths disrupt our bodies’ circadian rhythm, telling our biological clocks to stay awake and wait for the darkness.

As we mentioned above, prolonged extreme exposure to blue light may have dire consequences for your eye health, possibly leading to macular degeneration. This could mean incurable damage to your vision and the potential for blindness, however, the studies are not conclusive.

While there are a wealth of ways you can protect yourself from blue light, it’s important to remember the easiest way to stay healthy is to tune out. Avoid using digital devices in the hours closest to bedtime in order to let your body adjust to the lack of white light.

Blue light blocking glasses are essentially glasses fitted with a specially designed film that is constructed to adjust the light emitted by our devices from cool to warm. Blue light blocking glasses are one of the easiest and best ways to filter blue light and are ideal for anyone who spends the bulk of their time fixated on a screen.  The film can be added to your sunglasses, prescription glasses or to frames with a clear lens. The blue light blocking film is clear, so it won’t significantly alter your vision as you look through your glasses.

The lens tint technology, while clear, filters out the highest energy and shortest wavelength light rays. Yes, those pesky blue light rays are blocked before they reach your eyes. By absorbing the blue-violet light from our devices and lighting, the lens film may potentially help you to avoid headaches, eye strains and interrupted sleep, regulating your body and keeping your health in check.

It seems like every optical brand is jumping on the blue light glasses trend at the moment, and for good reason. The film is easy to produce and can be fitted over essentially any frame shape you can think of. In fact, many of the brands you know and love have offered blue light blocking glasses for years, you just may have never noticed what they were. Here in Australia, there are a bunch of local operators muscling into the market.

Australian sunglasses brand Pacifico Optical is born in Bondi Beach. These particular frames are named after the iconic north headland, Ben Buckler Point. A classic unisex round frame shape, we love the champagne finish although practically every frame from this company can be switched to a blue light protective lens with their Made to Order range. Each set comes with Blue Light Blocking lens, carry case, microfiber cloth, maintenance and cleaning kit.

We’ve been using the BARNER blue light glasses for months as they were the first pair to jump on our radar with a classic round tortoiseshell design. As we move between home and the office in a hybrid working environment these glasses are our new best friend – working in front of an open window at home means our monitor has to run at full brightness all day and headaches and bloodshot eyes were a regular occurrence. We’re pleased to say the CR39 lenses do a great job at blocking 100% of the Blue Light under 410nm (45% of the Blue Light on the 410nm – 450nm spectrum) and our eyes are no longer strained from sitting in front of a bright monitor. The fit is more than comfortable for all-day wear and the rubberised texture provides ample grip on our nose and ears. Priced at $95 USD these are a great budget option.

These versatile glasses are vintage-style personified. The square bridge, round bottom frames feature a sculpted keyhole bridge for added comfort. In addition to being one of the best blue light blocking glasses, the Harby Parker Felix is made from hand-polished cellulose acetate and are have akulon-coated screws for durability.

Garrett Leight is one of the best glasses brands on the market full stop. So when they began to offer Carl Zeiss blue light lenses with the majority of their range, it only made sense that we updated this list with a few of their styles. The Wilson – seen here – is inspired by music legend John Lennon, this iconic round metal frame with Windsor rims and tortoise temples comes in new colours to suit every season –  US only.

Simply put, you’ll never get lost in the world of blue light glasses if you opt for the Blueprint style from QUAY Australia. The classic injection frame is mega durable and while hosting a unique panto shape design, it’s far from anything revolutionary – perfect for office wear. These are a great alternative design that’s a little different from the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer, but not too far off track.

With think, transparent frames, the Bailey Nelson Esquire is a lesson in timeless, 1950s design. Effortlessly simple and refined, these blue light glasses are a showstopper.

Tom Ford is the king of men’s style and his signature blue block glasses have become part of his iconic aesthetic. Designed to prevent and relieve eye strain caused by long exposure to blue light from digital devices these square acetate glasses are enriched by intricate details. Cop his look with a pair of these high-end, blue light blocking glasses.

If you’ve been considering getting a pair of blue light blocking glasses but aren’t keen on dropping a couple of hundred dollars on a risky move, Zenni is the answer. The retailer has a bunch of super-cheap frames that you can customise to suit your style. Our pick is the Unplugged in black, you know the vibes.

Baxter Blue is an Australian brand that specialises in stylish blue light blocking glasses. You’ll find heaps of different designs and styles on their site, all at affordable prices. We’re a fan of the Frankie (Large) in Crystal Toffee for a casual look. Opt for something in black for a more simple, understated aesthetic better suited for the office.

Roebling’s sophisticated, circular shape is a perfect fit for almost any face shape. Felix Gray implemented its signature keyhole bridge for this elegant and stylish pair of blue light glasses. These are the original Blue Light lens glasses (15X better, in fact – according to Felix Gray).

These square frame blue light blocking glasses from MVMT are made from clear crystal acetate for a timeless design. The large fit is constructed for optimal balance, fitting every face shape.

Like most of Local Supply’s Digital Readers line, the CBR blue light blocking glasses are zero-waste, plant-based (resin), and fitted with protective lenses made by internationally leading lens producer Carl Zeiss Vision. Like every pair of blue light blocking glasses on this list, they’ll help you avoid digital strain and reduce eye soreness.