© Provided by Travel + LeisureCourtesy of Getty Images
Even before we were working from home full-time, many of us spent hours on end staring at screens, from computers to phones to tablets. Blue light glasses have been a popular solution in recent years for people who experience eye strain caused by screens. How do these lenses work, exactly? They're designed to filter out blue light (and often glare, too), which can cause eye strain, risk of macular degeneration, and sleep cycle disruption.
We put three pairs from popular brands to the test to see how helpful these glasses are for daily use. Look Optic, Felix Gray, and Warby Parker all make stylish frames, including blue light glasses meant to use while looking at a screen for an extended period of time.
Related: How to Work From Home and Keep Your Work-life Balance, According to a Full-time Freelancer (Video)
Keep reading our reviews on three editor-tested blue light glasses.
Look Optic
"I've always been curious about blue light glasses, so I was really excited to try the Sullivan blue light glasses from Look Optic. I don't typically wear glasses, so I wasn't sure how I'd like them, but these frames are so lightweight, they weren't distracting at all. The glasses have a smooth matte finish and Italian spring hinges that make the arms super flexible - I sometimes get headaches from wearing hats or glasses that are too tight across my head, but these were really comfortable, and I can wear them for hours without having any sort of pain or tension. The best part is that they seem to reduce eye strain, and they even come as readers with a range of magnifications." - Elizabeth Rhodes, Associate Digital Editor
To buy: Look Optic Sullivan Blue-light Glasses, lookoptic.com, $78
Felix Gray
"I started testing my Felix Gray blue light glasses on one of the longest work days of an e-commerce editor's year, Amazon Prime Day, and I've been depending on them ever since. Like many, I've been doubling down on screen time since the world went into quarantine and work-from-home mode, and it's nice to feel like I'm filtering out some of the damage. I went with the Tole style, a soft square frame, in Sazerac, a tortoise-like shade.
According to Felix Gray, most blue light glasses only filter up to 420 nanometers (nm), but peak emittance from digital screens is 455 nm. The company uses an innovative method that embeds directly within the lens (instead of using a coating, tint, or dye) and claims to filter almost 90 percent of high-energy blue light - the kind that strains your eyes and can keep you awake at night - and 30 percent at peak emittance. From my personal experience, my eyes have felt less strained and, while I can't be completely sure the glasses are to thank, I have been falling asleep faster at night, even though I switched time zones and am signing off of my computer much closer to bedtime than usual. I think it's also worth noting that I'm not used to wearing glasses, but I find these lightweight and comfortable on my face all day." - Nina Ruggiero, Deputy Digital Editor
To buy: Felix Gray Tole Blue Light Glasses, felixgray.com, from $95
Warby Parker
"I've been wearing glasses and contacts since I was a kid. These days, I prefer wearing contacts, so I was interested in trying out a pair of blue light glasses without a prescription that I can wear while I work. I do like Warby Parker's option of prescription glasses with blue light-filtering lenses, though, should I choose to forgo contacts at some point. These lenses are scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, and block 100 percent of UV rays, as well as blue light from screens and the sun. And since I'm on my computer or looking at some sort of screen for most of the day, I'll take any opportunity to give my eyes a break, especially when it's as easy as putting on a pair of glasses.
The brand's frames have always fit comfortably on my face, and I love that I can just pop into a Warby Parker store if I ever need them adjusted." - Madeline Diamond, Associate Digital Editor
To buy: Warby Parker Turner Eyeglasses, warbyparker.com, $145
At Travel + Leisure, we're dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products to meet your needs on the road and at home. The T+L Top Picks seal is awarded to items our editors have determined to be the best buys in their category.
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.