Polarised vs. Blue Light: What's Best for Eye Strain?

Unraveling the truth about polarised and blue light lenses for eye strain relief.

Polarised vs. Blue Light: What's Best for Eye Strain?

Are you tired of squinting and straining your eyes, mainly when outdoors in harsh Canadian winters or working extra hours in front of screens? You should consider exploring other types of lenses that will reduce eye strain. Two popular types are blue light filtering lenses and polarised prescription sunglasses Canada offers. Now, let us look closer at these two popular options and compare some benefits from each.

Polarised lenses: Understanding the benefits

Polarised lenses are sunglasses on steroids, specially treated to block glare caused by these reflective surfaces: water, snow, and even computer screens. Polarised lenses have to do with shades of the digital era.

  • How does it work? Polarised lenses have a special filter that blocks intense reflected light, reducing glare. This filter consists of a chemical film applied to the lens. The filter allows light to enter the eye only in a vertical direction; thus, it reduces glare from horizontal light waves.

  • Why are they suitable for eye strain? Glare can contribute to eye strain since it tends to force your eyes to work harder when focusing. Polarised lenses, which get rid of glare, therefore ease any strain and tiredness that may be placed on your poor eyes.

Blue light lenses: Separating the science from the hype

This blue light emanates from digital devices and, in fact, from the very sun. While it is essential in our natural wake-sleep cycle, overexposure may lead to disrupted sleep patterns and eye fatigue.

  • What's so wrong with blue light, anyway? For one, studies have determined that nighttime exposure to blue light disrupts the production of melatonin, a hormone that makes people sleepy. Blue light does more damage to the retina and deeper into the eye, which may cause possible conditions like macular degeneration.

  • How would the blue light lenses help? The blue light-blocking lenses will filter some of the damaged blue light from these digital devices. This lessens eye strain, helps improve sleep quality, and may protect your eyes from potential long-term damage; thus, you will be safe and sound.

Comparing polarised and blue light lenses for eye strain

So, which type is better for eye strain? Well, the answer is it depends.

  • Glare reduction: Polarised lenses act as a comforting shield for your eyes, reducing glare, a major contributor to eye fatigue. This unique feature selectively blocks horizontally polarised light that typically undergoes surface reflection, providing a comforting shield for your eyes. However, they may perform less well in blocking blue light.

  • Digital Eye Fatigue: This is what the blue light-blocking lenses are designed for. For the most part, colours for such lenses will be yellow or orange because such colouration can reduce the amount of blue light that reaches the eye. They are less effective in reducing glare but reassure very efficiently in reducing digital eye strain for the user.

  • Overall Comfort: Polarised and blue-light lenses can enhance overall comfort. However, individual preference may be what makes the difference. Some people find polarised lenses reduce eye fatigue or headaches. Others prefer the benefits of blue-light-blocking lenses for digital eye strain.

Choosing the right lens for your needs

Polarised vs. blue-light lenses depend on an individual's needs and lifestyle. The following will provide insight into what you want to know when considering polarised vs. blue-light-blocking lenses. When choosing the right lens for your needs, consider your primary activities, needs, lifestyle, and budget.

  • Primary activity: If you spend most of your time outdoors, polarised lenses are a great choice. They significantly reduce the intensity of light reflected from the sun and other bright surfaces, making them ideal for driving, fishing, and skiing. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time indoors and on screens, blue light blocking may be more critical.

  • Needs and Lifestyle: Polarised lenses might be the better choice to eliminate glare while driving or on the water. On the other hand, blue-blocking lenses may be the way to go if you are more concerned with digital eye strain. Some people find that both lenses can help improve eye comfort in general.

  • Your budget: Polarised and blue-light lenses are costlier than regular lenses. However, they are worth trying if you experience high pain from eye strain and discomfort. When purchasing a pair, look for brands and ask how much UV protection is needed and the percentage of blue light blocked. The best option would be to try on a pair of eyeglasses virtually and see how they feel. You also might want to consult an eye care professional for any recommendations.

More tips to reduce eye strain

Besides choosing the right type of lens, here are a few other things you can do to help reduce eye strain:

  1. Stand up and walk around: Try to stand up and walk around every 20-30 minutes.

  2. Adjust your screen: Ensure that the screen is not too bright and at eye level and that you sit some distance away from it.

  3. Good posture: Sit upright, not slouching forward on your monitor or computer.

  4. Anticipate a visit to an eye doctor regularly: Regularly scheduled visits are essential. They can help you diagnose and manage vision problems impairing your eyesight. Your eye care professional can also recommend the appropriate lens type. This shows that your eye health is being well taken care of.

Conclusion

One mechanism by which polarised and blue light lenses help is by eliminating the glare of the sun or the problems caused by the blue light coming from screens. With these explanations, one can choose which would better fit his lifestyle.