I Stare at a Screen for 12 Hours a Day, so I Finally Tried Blue Light Glasses

Welcome to Month of Me, where every day in January, we’ll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article featuring a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including what it’s like to quit alcohol for 80 days, try Beyoncé's very strict diet, or completely overhaul your closet.

Name: Paulina Galoostian, senior influencer marketing manager, Who What Wear

What did you try? Wearing blue light–blocking glasses

Why did you try it? As an influencer marketing manager, I am always on my phone or computer. Whether I am managing campaigns for clients or looking for new talent, I am constantly exposed to blue light. I've been told that blue light can cause issues like headaches, which I get often, so for 2020, I decided to take things into my own hands. I can't stop using my technology, but I can do my best to protect myself. Headaches, sore or tired eyes, and stiff necks are all symptoms of digital eyestrain. According to this article, six in 10 adults have symptoms of digital eye strain after using the computer for two hours. I use a computer or phone for at least 10 hours a day!

How did you prepare? I purchased a pair of blue light glasses, which are really popular right now and easy to find. Experts recommend looking for a certificate on your glasses that specifies the wavelength range that’s filtered—blue light filtering should cover up to 455 nanometers. 

Additionally, I started turning my phone to the Night Shift mode every night, which you can find under settings if you have an iPhone. (You can toggle on the scheduled option and selecting the hours that best suit you. I did 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. You can also choose sunset to sunrise to have iOS pick hours automatically based on your location.)

I also put my phone away an hour before bed as much as possible. I love to journal, and my evening skin routine is quite long, so I would put my alarm on, take off my makeup, apply my evening skin routine, journal, and sleep! Voilà—that's easily an hour. I'm not going to lie, though. It is very hard to not check my phone, especially my email and Instagram, before I go to sleep. I found it is less tempting if my phone is on silent and facing down so I do not get any notifications.

What happened during the whole process? I wore my glasses as much as possible. It took some getting used to. I realized I would forget my glasses at work sometimes, so I now have a pair of Barton Perreira glasses I invested in at work and a pair of Maui Jim glasses at home. I also changed the setting on my phone and put it away an hour before sleep.

Some benefits I noticed included first and foremost getting fewer headaches. I really think this was because of the glasses. Work has been super busy, so the fact that I have not had headaches is likely because of my efforts to block blue light. Also, I really noticed that putting my phone away an hour before bed helped me sleep so much better. I actually fall asleep faster and have felt very refreshed. I miss my late-night Netflix sessions, but I feel so much more rested. Overall, my eyes feel and look less tired. I truly feel like I am taking steps towards better eye care, which will have long-term benefits.

Any challenges? As mentioned, it was hard to get into a routine, so I bought more than one pair. It was also hard to put my phone away at first, but now I LOVE IT.

Any surprises? I actually improved my sleep habits and sleep quality. Sleep is one of the pillars of optimal health. Blue light devices have a high-energy frequency which can keep you up at night. I learned that the use of electronics at night might contribute to sleep problems. Our devices emit light of a blue wavelength, which tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime. Many studies suggest that blue light in the evening disrupts your brain's natural sleep-wake cycles, which are crucial for optimal health. 

What did you like about it? The solution is pretty easy. Also, it's fun adding glasses to my routine! Below, I'll be sharing my top glasses I would recommend at various price points.

Would you try it again? Yes! Going to incorporate it into my daily routine.

Any advice for anyone who's thinking about trying it? Buy a pair to test out. There are a lot of affordable options. Also, it's a fun way to change up your look in the office.

Keep scrolling for all of my favorite blue light–blocking glasses!