Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses of 2023
Staring at screens all day can leave you with an aching head. Blue light glasses can help you skip the headache and get better sleep at night.
If you consistently spend a lot of time in front of a screen, you may want to take some precautions to protect your eyes. The best blue light glasses can help combat pesky eye strain while you get all your work done. There are a ton on the market, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
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Luckily, we're here to help you find the six best blue light blocking glasses for your needs. We've been covering eye care for years on CNET, so we tested the top-rated blue light blocking glasses and narrowed the list to our seven favorite pairs that are stylish and get the job of protecting your eyes done.
What are the best overall blue light glasses?
Benicci glasses are our choice for the best overall blue light glasses. They're a no-fuss option that gives you blue light protection while looking good. They're the kind of blue light glasses that will work for anyone because they have a classic look, have no tint and are lightweight. If you stare at screens all day or watch TV late at night, you'll benefit from a pair of Benicci blue light glasses.
The only drawback to the Benicci blue light glasses is that they don't have a prescription option. So you won't be able to wear them all the time if you normally wear glasses. However, if you're new to blue light glasses and looking for a dependable option, you'll like Benicci blue light glasses.
Best blue light blocking glasses of 2023
If you're new to the blue light glasses game, start with a simple, dependable option. That's Benicci blue light blocking glasses. They're our pick for best overall blue light blocking glasses because they're comfortable and neutral looking. They have a classic frame style that just about anyone will like. Unlike many other blue light glasses, this pair has no tint. Not everyone likes the blue or yellow tint to the lenses. These have clear lenses. They're also so light you almost forget you're wearing them. The Benicci blue light glasses also include a case and cloth, a nice addition that some brands don't have.
These blue light glasses don't have a prescription, so they're only suited for people who just want a pair of blue light glasses to cut down on headaches and sleep better at night. They can't fix vision problems.
Pros:
- Neutral style that suits most face shapes
- Anti-glare
- Affordable
Cons:
- Cannot add prescription to them
- No virtual try on
Best prescription blue light blocking glasses
Warby Parker Blue Light Glasses
Many people want blue light glasses that are also prescription glasses, so you just have one pair to keep track of. We found that the best prescription blue light glasses come from Warby Parker. Warby Parker is a trusted glasses retailer known for quality and dependability. You can choose from a wide selection of blue light glasses on the site. And don't worry if you don't know your current prescription; you can use Warby Parker's online vision test before you buy.
Warby Parker offers several lens coatings like antiscratch and UV protection. A virtual try-on is another feature you don't get from other brands. All you have to do is give the site permission to use your camera, and you can try on different glasses styles virtually. The price tag of blue light glasses from Warby Parker is a little higher, starting at $145. However, the quality and prescription lenses make it well worth it.
Pros:
- Anti-scratch
- 100% UV protection
- Can add your prescription
- Virtual try on
Cons:
- More expensive than some other options on this list
- Returns and exchanges may have limitations if you add a prescription to the lens
Best budget blue light blocking glasses
Peepers Clark Focus Blue Light Glasses
Peepers' blue light glasses are our pick for the best budget blue light blocking glasses. They're affordable (under $30) and with magnification, they can double as reading glasses.
The company says its blue light technology can filter 40% of harmful rays from the blue light spectrum -- ideal for when you're trying to avoid the pitfalls that come with overexposure to artificial light from a computer screen and prevent digital eye strain. These tortoise square frames instantly caught my attention. But if, like me, you're not looking to always be super-extra, these blue light glasses also come in neutral tones like black and cream, so you look trendy while minimizing light exposure. These glasses also provide UV protection.
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Non-prescription options for those who don't need vision correction
Cons:
- Limited lens customization
- Don't feel as sturdy as other glasses
Best designer-inspired blue light blocking glasses
Prive Revaux Alchemist Blue Light Glasses
"Prive Revaux" sounds like I'm about to convince you to buy $300 glasses, but in reality this swankily named eyewear brand sells its blue light blocking glasses for around $40. Its lenses have blue light filters along with a scratch resistant and antiglare coating.
The Alchemist blue light blocking glasses are a great affordable and stylish option. You can sometimes even find pairs on sale for as low as $10. These glasses are made from injection-molded cellulose propionate, which is a durable, yet lightweight material.
Pros:
- Stylish and affordable
- Scratch-resistant and anti-glare
- UV protection
Cons:
- Limited sizes available (only medium)
- Complaints about poor customer service
Best luxury blue light blocking glasses
Felix Gray Roebling
You might have recognized the Felix Gray brand name due to its impressive eyewear marketing featuring attractive people sporting these sleek frames. All of the company's models seem to instantly appear smarter just by sliding on a pair. You can get that in blue light blocking designs too.
Along with great style, Felix Gray embeds blue light blocking filters directly into the lenses and adds an anti-reflective coating to help protect against artificial blue light. These classic round Roebling frames come in two frame color options, a fun blue or tortoise brown, starting at $95. Because of the price, they are definitely considered one of the best luxury blue light blocking glasses available.
Pros:
- Available for nonprescription, prescription and readers
- 100% UVA and UVB protection
- Organic acetate
Cons:
- The arms don't contain springs so they can become loose
- The frames are heavier than other options
Best prescription blue light blocking glasses
Eyeconic, Cole Haan CH4008
Eyeconic is definitely the most high-end of the bunch, featuring designer brand selections. Most of the glasses are above a whopping $240, with frames from Calvin Klein, Nike and Cole Haan, to name a few.
You can add TechShield blue light blocking technology to any of its prescription styles, which the eyewear company says reduces blue light exposure by up to 85%, making them one of the most protective and best blue light blocking glasses out there. I've chosen these thicker frames from Cole Haan because I like how prominent they are, but there are plenty of other options to fit your style.
Pros:
- Quality construction
- Lightweight comfort
- Can add vision correction to any of the styles
Cons:
- Different prescriptions may bring the already expensive price even higher
Keep in mind that the Ray-Ban name does carry a higher price tag. These blue light blocking glasses are selling for around $130 right now, though we've seen them on sale for less than $100 in the past. However, the quality is worth it if it's the style you're looking for.
Pros:
- Made from quality materials -- metal frames and crystal lens
- Timeless design
- Option to add prescription for vision correction
- UV protections
Cons:
- Higher price points
- Potential glare in certain lighting
Best vintage style blue light blocking glasses
Ray-Ban Evolve Aviators
If you're into cool retro-grandpa vibes like me (and Instagram), you'll love these gold-rimmed aviator frames from Ray-Ban. The blue light filtering technology can shield your eyes from digital eye strain during screen time and the thin metal frame won't weigh heavy on your temples.
Keep in mind that the Ray-Ban name does carry a higher price tag. These blue light blocking glasses are selling for around $130 right now, though we've seen them on sale for less than $100 in the past. However, the quality is worth it if it's the style you're looking for.
Pros:
- Made from quality materials -- metal frames and crystal lens
- Timeless design
- Option to add prescription for vision correction
- UV protections
Cons:
- Higher price points
- Potential glare in certain lighting
How we evaluate the best blue light blocking glasses
This curated list of blue light glasses is based on product research and user reviews. Not all products on the list were tested in-house. Let's dig into the factors we considered when choosing the best blue light blocking glasses for this list.
Blue light blocking
When choosing the best blue light blocking glasses, we started the assessment of each pick on their blue light absorption. In other words, do they do what they say they should? Also, what level of blue light blocking does each pair have? This information is noted in each of the product reviews.
Additional features
It's not just blue light blocking capabilities that matter. There are several other factors that we took into consideration when evaluating blue light glasses. One of the main additional features we looked out for was prescription availability. Not all blue light glasses offer this, which often comes at a higher price, but it's an appealing feature for many people. Other features we looked for were lens coatings like anti-glare coating and UV protection.
Customer reviews
How glasses look and if they help with headaches or sleep is subjective. We consider each product's price and customer reviews to ensure that our selections represent the full picture of the glasses.
What to consider when shopping for the best blue light glasses?
There are many factors you need to consider when it comes to glasses. Some of which will be personal preference, like how they look. But most will be essential things like comfort and prescription options. Here are the key things to consider when shopping for the best blue light blocking glasses.
Prescription
First and foremost, you must ensure that the blue light blocking glasses you like can be tailored to your prescription, if you have one. Some options on the market can't be, making them unsuitable for people who need corrective lenses and blue light features.
Usage
How often you plan to use your blue light blocking glasses will determine things like weight and shape. If you are going to wear them all the time, comfort is essential. If they are a thing you wear every once in a while at your computer at night, then you have more versatility in your selection.
Blue light blocking capabilities
Deciding how much light you want to block out will help you decide which pair is best for you. Glasses with a yellow or orange tint will block out more of the light spectrum. However, they can distort colors on your computer. The clear blue light glasses won't do this, but they won't be able to block out as much light.
Frame style
This is mainly a personal preference, but your frame style matters. Glasses, while useful, are also a way to express yourself. The good and bad news is you have tons of options to choose from. In addition to shape and style, you can choose from different materials like plastic, acetate and wire.
Additional features
Depending on how much you plan to use the glasses, you may be interested in features like anti-glare, UV protection or an anti-scratch coating. Not all options offer these features, so look closely to ensure your desired pair fits your needs.
Price
Blue light glasses are more affordable than prescription lenses, averaging anywhere from $15 to $100. Prescription options often cost even more. Finding your budget will help you determine which glasses are within your price range. The more additional features you want your glasses to have, the higher the price tag.