4 Eco-friendly Blue Light Glasses Brands
As technology continues to advance, more of the work force is relying on their computers, and the growing attachment to our phones, it’s important to be aware of the impacts of screen time. It’s estimated that the average U.S. adult will spend the equivalent of 44 years of their life staring at screens. That’s a lot of time!
All of this can have a detrimental effect on our eyes. I’ve certainly found that after a particularly tough day, my eyes can be red, dry, and fatigued. While industry professionals recommend following the 20-20-20 rule, blue light glasses have become more popular as people try and combat eye strain.
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What Are Blue Light Glasses?
All visible light emits blue light, even the sun. Yet our devices emit more light on the blue side of the spectrum than other sources.
It has been theorized that exposure to so much blue light can cause headaches and eye fatigue.
Blue light glasses are tinted so that less of this blue light reaches our eyes. By wearing them, it’s hoped that we can lessen the effects that working in front of a computer has on our eyes, hopefully making it a much more pleasant experience.
While this yellow tint didn’t always look the chicest, newer sustainable blue light glasses companies have made it so that the yellow color is barely visible and fashionable glasses to style ourselves with while protecting our eyes.
Do Blue Light Glasses Work?
Yes and no. Firstly, there are a lot of claims out there that blue light can seriously damage your eye health and leave you with permanent retina damage. However at this point in time there is no evidence that this is the case.
What we do know, is that spending too long in front of a screen can cause eye strain, and this is true even if you are wearing blue light glasses.
Do Blue Light Glasses Help with Eye Fatigue?
Blue light glasses can help to mitigate some of the effects that cause your eyes to get tired, so they can be useful if you are looking at a screen all day. That being said, it’s still important to take regular breaks away from your laptop. The classic rule is 20-20-20. Every 20 minutes look at something 20ft away, for 20 seconds.
Night Time Screen Time
One of the best things you can do before heading to bed is to put your phone away an hour before you intend to go to sleep. Blue light can mess with our circadian rhythm, as it’s the first spectrum of light we perceive from the rising sun.
Blue light glasses can really help with this. If you find that you like a midnight scroll, wearing blue light glasses can prevent you from feeling wide awake afterward.
How To Make A Sustainable Choice When Choosing Blue Light Glasses
When it comes to eyewear, for many years there was no such thing as sustainability. This is especially true with the advent of popular plastic frames that could be discarded at a moment’s notice, or cheap holiday sunglasses that could be thrown in the bin as soon as you returned home.
Luckily, there are eco-friendly blue light glasses available. When shopping for them, you really want to see what the frames are made of. Are they plastic? If so, is this recycled? There are loads of different materials used to make frames now, from bamboo wood to reclaimed material, the list goes on.
Another alternative is to shop vintage. Older frames tend to be much better quality and stay in good condition, so refurbishing an old pair is a great way to get some eco-friendly blue light glasses.
Eco-friendly Blue Light Glasses Brands
If you’re curious about sustainable blue light glasses, then look no further. Here are four of my favorite glasses brands for you to consider.
Sunski’s Blue Light Glasses with Recycled Plastic Frames
Dedicated to bringing us sunglasses and eco-friendly blue light glasses in the most sustainable way possible, Sunski is a California-based brand is doing just that. All of their frames are made from recycled plastic and arrive in an intricately folded box to protect them – no plastic or glue here.
With a lifetime warranty, no blue light glasses should ever end up in the trash. Get 25% off Sunski + free Shipping sitewide with discount code SOLSTICEPRIME valid June 1-21st 2021.
Genusee’s Recycled Plastic Bottle Frames Made in Michigan
Genusee eyewear is Made in Flint, Michigan from recycled plastic water bottles as a result of the Flint Water Crisis. This sustainable eyewear brand carries blue light glasses, readers, sunglasses, and prescription glasses. Their blue light glasses feature uniquely colored frames and start at $120.
1% of Genusee’s net profits are donated to the Community Fund of Greater Flint. Donations are distributed to two funds that address children’s health and education in Flint: Flint Promise & Child Health and Development Fund to further Genusee’s social impact.
Bamboo Wood Blue Light Glasses from Blue Planet
Using their very own eco-process, Blue Planet is making sustainable blue light glasses from material that would otherwise have ended up in the landfill. This excess material means that over 1000 tons has been prevented from going to landfills or ending up in our oceans, and Blue Planet isn’t done yet.
They also have beautiful frames made out of sustainable bamboo or walnut wood. Blue Planet’s blue light glasses are an affordable $40 per pair. Be sure to use the discount code HONEST for 15% off blue light glasses from Blue Planet.
Retrospecced: Vintage & Up-cycled Blue Light Glasses
Retrospecced are bringing a whole new meaning to the words reused and upcycled. They take retro frames that are in good condition and fit them with the lenses you need, including those with a blue light filter.
Formed by a mother-daughter team from the UK, they happily ship their frames worldwide, with 20% of every purchase goes to Vision Aid Overseas. Not only this but if you already own an old pair of glasses that you like, you can send them to Retrospecced to be reglazed. Be sure to use HONEST5 for 5% off your purchase from Retrospecced.
As screen time continues to increase and long term studies continue to develop, we encourage you to do your own research. We hope you consider giving your eyes a break with some eco-friendly blue light glasses and reduce plastic by choosing frames made without virgin plastic!
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