WHAT ARE THE TWO TYPES OF BLUE LIGHT?

Natural: Emitted from the sun.

Artificial: Emitted from electronic devices, phones, tablets, computer screens, and LED lights.

1. Blue light coating on the lens surface.

A blue light coating is the most common blue light protection means and the most visually apparent. The color and reflective nature of a blue light coating vary depending on the brand; some appear quite violet, others more cobalt.

Blue light coatings can actually be used to enhance the overall style of a pair of glasses. This is an ideal option for someone who wants to know and see that they have glasses with blue light protection.

Protection rate: Filters approximately 20% to 30% of harmful blue light indoors and outdoors (on average—varies by brand).

2. Photochromic/Transitions lenses.

A photochromic lens offers blue light protection both from natural and artificial sources—with great translucence inside and the benefit of darkening for added comfort in bright natural blue light. An extra-active style of photochromic lens also helps for those seeking additional comfort with light sensitivity.

Photochromic lenses are an ideal option for someone who wants light-adaptive blue light protection and the added style benefit of a clear to sun lens option.

Protection rate: Filters approximately 20% of harmful blue light while indoors and 87%-plus outdoors.

3. Blue light protection built into the lens material:

This is one of the latest trends in blue light protection and many manufacturers are adding the option to their lens portfolios. This is typically the most cost-effective way to add blue light protection.

It is less visually apparent in some cases and, depending on lens thickness, can add a slight yellow to the lens, especially when put against a white piece of paper, but is less obvious against a wearer’s face.

This is an ideal option for someone who wants near invisible blue light protection in their lenses or someone seeking to layer up the blue light protection in combination with other blue light protection options.

Protection rate: Filters approximately 20% to 40% of harmful blue light indoors and indoors.

(Note: The above protection rates are averages and vary by brand.)

Patient Objections—and How to Overcome Them

The following are common patient objections to adding blue light protection to their lenses and easy rebuttals you can use to overcome them.

PATIENT: “I heard/read blue light isn’t bad for you.”

ECP RESPONSE: “While attention to blue light exposure is a newer concept, we are all test subjects in a big, ongoing experiment. We still don’t know what the long-term effects of blue light could be. But by adding blue light protection on your glasses, you will be the right test group, and without any negative side effects.”

PATIENT: “It’s too expensive for me.”

ECP RESPONSE: “It is hard to put a price on the health of your eyes, but we can now add blue light protection in the lens material and the cost is actually quite reasonable.”

Example: Essilor Smart Blue Filter and Zeiss BlueGuard in-lens blue light protection often add less than $10 to the wholesale cost of the lenses.

PATIENT: “I can buy a cheap pair of blue light glasses online.”

ECP RESPONSE: “Not all blue light protection is created equal. You want to get adequate protection, but you don’t want to block all blue light. Cheap blue light glasses often have poor lens quality, which can actually cause eye strain due to aberrations in the lens material and reflections off the back surface of the lenses, which ends up actually doing more harm than good.”

PATIENT: “I don’t like the way it looks; I don’t want to see the blue flash.”

ECP RESPONSE: “Blue light protection can actually be achieved in many different ways, built into the lens material, in a photochromic lens feature, or in a coating on the lens surface. A coating is the most common, and can be very visually apparent depending on the brand, so let me show you some samples of different options available.”

Note: Having samples—especially mounted in a frame—for the patient to try is the easiest way to let the patient see it for themselves.