The Blue Light Glasses That May Not Do Anything

I spend 10+ hours a day staring at screens. Salesforce development during the day. Writing Seeking Alpha articles at night. Doomscrolling Twitter about Fannie and Freddie at midnight. My eyes were tired. Obviously, the solution was blue light glasses.

I bought GUNNAR Intercept Gaming Glasses because they had 'patented lens technology' and were marketed to gamers and developers. Forty-nine ninety-nine. The amber lenses turn your entire world into a warm sunset. My VS Code looked like it was rendered in the 1970s. Every spreadsheet had a vintage filter. My daughter's cartoon looked like an old photograph.

Do they reduce eye strain? Maybe? Honestly, I can't tell if my eyes feel better because of the amber lenses or because wearing glasses reminds me to take breaks and blink more. The placebo effect is strong.

Then I read a Cochrane systematic review that found 'blue light filtering lenses may not reduce eye strain compared to non-blue-light-filtering lenses.' May not. The scientists aren't even sure. I paid $50 for lenses that scientists describe as 'may not' working.

The TIJN 2-pack is $16 for two pairs with clear lenses. You get two pairs. Clear lenses. No yellow tint. If blue light filtering works, great, you're filtered. If it doesn't work, you spent $16 instead of $50 on your placebo. Either way, the reminder to look away from your screen periodically is free.

I still wear the GUNNARs at night because the amber tint does make screens less harsh in a dark room. But for daytime use? The TIJNs work the same — or don't work the same — for $34 less.