Blue-light filtering lenses may not help with short-term eye strain
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Key takeaways:
- Blue-light filtering lenses did not significantly improve visual fatigue scores, critical flicker-fusion frequency or visual performance.
- Adverse events were limited but included depressive symptoms, headache, discomfort with wear and lower mood.
Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses were not superior to non-filtering lenses in reducing visual fatigue associated with computer use, according to a review published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
“This systematic review found that blue-light filtering spectacle lenses may not attenuate symptoms of eye strain with computer use, over a short-term follow-up period, compared to non-blue-light filtering lenses,” Sumeer Singh, PhD, postdoctoral clinical research fellow at the University of Melbourne, and colleagues wrote. “Further, this review found no clinically meaningful difference in changes to critical flicker-fusion frequency with blue-light filtering lenses compared to non-blue-light filtering lenses.”
They continued, “Based on the current best available evidence, there is probably little or no effect of blue-light filtering lenses on best-corrected visual acuity compared with non-blue-light filtering lenses.”
Researchers searched seven electronic databases for clinical trials that assessed whether blue-light filtering lenses improve visual performance, provide retinal protection and promote sleep quality compared with non-blue-light filtering lenses. They identified 17 trials, which included up to 156 participants per sample size, ranging from healthy adults to people affected by mental health and sleep disorders.
Singh and colleagues found no significant difference between lenses in subjective visual fatigue scores, critical flicker-fusion frequency or visual performance, and were unable to ascertain effects on daytime alertness and sleep quality due to limited available data or inconsistent results.
Researchers also noted that reported adverse events associated with blue-light filtering lenses were infrequent and included increased depressive symptoms, headache, discomfort wearing the glasses and lower mood.
“Future high-quality randomized trials are required to define more clearly the effects of blue-light filtering lenses on visual performance, macular health and sleep, in adult populations,” Singh and colleagues wrote.
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