Choosing the best blue light glasses brand can feel overwhelming. Just like navigating the dating app world, you need clear criteria to find the right match. When selecting blue light glasses, factors such as company standards, design choices, filtration levels, and more come into play.
This article compares leading blue light glasses brands and provides a comprehensive guide to help you choose the ideal pair for your needs.
Top Blue Light Blocking Glasses Brands: Comparative Table
| Ranking | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Horus X | · Superior filtration technology · Lifetime warranty · Fair pricing | · Prescription lenses not yet available (late 2023) |
| 2 – Gunnar Optiks | · Prescription glasses available · Wide variety of styles · Above-average filtration | · High price point · Filtration levels not specified · 1-year warranty |
| 3- Barner | · Eco-friendly initiatives · 3-year warranty · Affordable prices | · Weaker and unspecified filtration |
Other Popular Blue Light Glasses Brands: Izipizi, Klim, Steichen, Cyxus, GMG performance, Blueberry, Lusee.
*Important Note: Only ONE of these brands transparently explains the filtration technology behind their blue light blocking glasses. This lack of transparency needs to change. Understanding the technology is crucial for determining if the lenses are genuinely effective. We’ve created a detailed guide below to help you make informed decisions.
Essential Criteria for Choosing the Best Blue Light Glasses Brand
To select the best blue light blocking glasses for protection against both natural (sunlight) and artificial blue light (from digital devices), consider these 10 crucial factors:
1. Customer Reviews and Reputation
When considering an unfamiliar brand, customer feedback is paramount. Are customers satisfied? Or have they expressed significant complaints? And if negative reviews exist, how has the brand responded?
Third-party review platforms like TrustPilot or Verified Reviews offer initial insights. Here’s a snapshot of three top-performing brands on TrustPilot:
- Horus X: 4.4 out of 5 stars from 180 reviews
- Gunnar: 4.4 out of 5 stars from 4177 reviews
- Barner: 4.2 out of 5 stars from 179 reviews
For more in-depth information, explore online marketplaces like Amazon, which often contain numerous reviews providing a comprehensive understanding of brands and products.
For established brands, tech reviewers or bloggers may have tested and reviewed their blue light glasses, often providing detailed assessments.
Reputable brands also feature customer reviews on their websites, demonstrating transparency and customer engagement, as seen with Horus X reviews.
2. Filtration Technologies and Transparency
It’s illogical to discuss blue light filtering glasses without understanding how effectively they filter blue light. Yet, a staggering 99% of brands fail to specify the precise amount of blue light their glasses block. This lack of transparency is a major red flag.
You wouldn’t buy sunglasses without UV protection guarantees, so why purchase blue light glasses, specifically designed to minimize blue light exposure, without knowing filtration percentages?
Some brands may not fully grasp how blue light glasses function.
Effective blue light lenses should:
- Filter 100% of UV rays (UV400 protection)
- Eliminate 100% of ultra-harmful blue light between 380 and 400 nanometers
- Block 50-90% of harmful blue light in the broader 380-450 nanometer spectrum (depending on usage and sensitivity)
- Significantly reduce glare
To aid your selection, here’s a comparison of filtration rates from leading brands, tested in 2022 by an independent laboratory (ensuring legitimacy):
If you need glasses for critical visual tasks, consider Horus X clip-on shields for superior filtration.
Steichen and Gunnar offer alternatives, but often at a higher cost. Keep an eye out for Horus X prescription blue light glasses, launching in late 2023!
3. Material Quality and Durability
Quality blue light glasses should be robust and durable, avoiding low-grade plastics that easily break or scratch. Materials used in optics should meet essential criteria for flexibility, comfort, and longevity.
Examples of high-quality materials ensuring premium blue light glasses:
- Plastic (CR-39): A standard lens material with good optical quality, capable of correcting refractive errors. Often thicker than other plastics (used by Barner).
- Polycarbonate (frame and lens): Used in ballistics for its legendary strength and lightweight properties. Recyclable, benefiting both you and the planet. A key material for Horus X.
- Acetate (frame): A stylish, premium material, made from natural or artificial fibers like cotton, wood, or synthetics. Adds elegance but increases cost.
- Bioplastic (frame): A somewhat misleading term. Some bioplastics are plant-derived, while others come from petrochemical reactions of biodegradable materials. A promising, eco-conscious alternative if done correctly.
4. Certifications and Standards Compliance
Surprisingly, no specific standard exists solely for blue light filtration in glasses. The market is relatively new and evolving. While essential standards should be followed, not all brands adhere to them. Legally in Europe, all glasses must meet EN ISO 12312 -1 2013 requirements, and in North America, ANSI Z80.3. While not specifically for blue light, they ensure minimum quality standards for eyewear.
These standards guarantee:
- ⚒️ Material quality
- ☇ Transmittance (light passage)
- 🛡️ Refractive power
- 👷 Robustness
- 🔥 Flammability
Filtration technology and impact tests should also be conducted. Companies not sharing this information should be approached cautiously. This data should be readily available as part of their marketing. Lack of transparency suggests potential non-compliance with blue light filtration standards.
Check for specific blue light filtration tests on packaging, product, or instructions. You’d be surprised how many products fall short. Horus X, however, meets and exceeds these standards.
5. Warranty and Guarantees
Top blue light glasses brands offer extended warranties beyond the basic manufacturer’s warranty. Be wary of companies that don’t.
With quality materials, glasses can be produced so durable that, with proper care, they can last a lifetime (unless you live as long as Galadriel, you might need a second pair then!).
Horus X provides a lifetime warranty, reflecting our confidence in our product. Comparatively, Barner offers a 3-year warranty, and industry giant Gunnar offers only 1 year as of 2022.
6. Style and Design Aesthetics
Whether blue light glasses, sunglasses, or vision lenses, style matters. Aesthetically pleasing glasses are important. Feeling confident in your appearance enhances well-being and positive mental health.
Many blue light lens styles on the market can be considered outdated. While style is subjective, consider unique designs that resonate with you.
Beyond aesthetics, comfort is crucial. Glasses should fit well for extended wear, whether for screen time or sun protection. Top companies consider blue light glasses ergonomics and rigorously test on diverse face shapes and sizes.
7. Price Point and Value
Working in the optical market reveals significant markups by certain brands and opticians. It’s excessive, and we believe in transparency about pricing.
This is a reason Horus X was founded – to offer high-quality blue light glasses, with lifetime warranties and excellent customer service, at unbeatable prices.
While you can explore other options, the price of good blue light glasses should typically range between $30 and $70.
Lower prices may indicate questionable quality. Higher prices, unless justified by solid gold or adamantium frames, likely mean excessive markups. Custom prescription glasses are, of course, a different price category.
8. Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Unfortunately, all production has environmental consequences. Materials, transportation, and manufacturing contribute to environmental impact.
It’s vital to assess what companies are doing to minimize their footprint and prioritize sustainability.
With finite resources on our planet, and significant environmental strain since the industrial revolution, sustainability is increasingly important.
Look at sustainability measures taken by brands you consider:
♺ Materials: Recycled? Organically sourced (like Barner)? Or at least recyclable and produced under strict regulations?
🚚 Transportation Modes: Trains and ships are more eco-friendly transport options.
💰 Financial Support: Does the brand contribute to environmental organizations? The 1% for the Planet movement is a great example.
Barner, with its B Corp certification, is a strong example of corporate sustainability.
Horus X is committed to sustainable design and donates 1% of sales to environmental protection organizations.
Gunnar’s environmental efforts are notably lacking.
9. Delivery Options and Speed
Is delivery free? Are there various delivery options – standard, express, etc.? Fast, free delivery is a reasonable expectation; you’ve already paid for the product.
10. After-Sales Service and Brand Team
Evaluate brand responsiveness after purchase. A reputable brand maintains customer interaction, addresses questions, and resolves issues. Post-sales service is a crucial factor when choosing blue light glasses.
Also, consider who’s behind the brand. Is it a large corporation like Gunnar, or a smaller team like Horus X? Smaller teams often provide personalized support and are readily available to assist customers. Larger corporations may have rigid protocols, limiting flexibility in customer service.
Top Blue Light Glasses Brands: Our Top 3 Picks
1. Horus X
We are admittedly biased, but we’ve dedicated over 5 years to becoming the leading blue light glasses brand. Ultimately, customer feedback determines our success. We provide objective criteria to evaluate what constitutes excellent blue light glasses.
2. Gunnar Optiks
Gunnar is a well-known name in blue light blocking and computer glasses. Their technology was innovative years ago, but advancements have plateaued as other companies catch up. And a 1-year warranty? They could do better.
3. Barner
Barner, based in Barcelona, is doing commendable work. They offer diverse styles, a benevolent brand image, and environmental responsibility (leading in sustainability with B Corp certification). They have great potential, but their filtration levels are currently lower than our preference.
Other Brands Considered: Izipizi, Klim, Steichen, Cyxus, GMG performance, Blueberry, Lusee
Top Blue Light Glasses by Category from These Brands:
Best Gaming Blue Light Glasses:
- Gaming Revolution – Horus X
- Intercept Gaming Glasses – Gunnar Optiks
Top 3 Blue Light Blocking Glasses for Remote Workers:
- The Ushuaia – Horus X
- Berkley – Gunnar Optiks
- Södermalm – Barner Brands
Top 3 Blue Light Glasses for Kids:
- The Osaka – Horus X
- Le Marais – Barner Brands
- Fever – Gunnar Optiks
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Blue Light Glasses Brand
As demonstrated, blue light glasses brands vary significantly. It’s important to consider mitigating the short-term effects of blue light, such as migraines, fatigue, digital eye strain, and sleep disruption, as well as long-term effects like AMD.
This guide offers objective criteria for your next blue light glasses purchase. For further questions, please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.
