Blue light glasses for kids: what you need to know
Your child spends hours on a tablet, phone or console. And their eyes don't defend themselves the way yours do.
A child's crystalline lens is almost transparent: it lets much more light through to the retina than an adult's. That is why blue light glasses for kids make more sense than it may seem. Here are the essentials.
Quick answer
A child's eye lets more light through to the retina than an adult's, because the crystalline lens is almost transparent. If your child uses a tablet, phone or console every day, blue light glasses for kids and a protector on their screen reduce the high-energy light (380-500 nm) that reaches their eyes.
Why children's eyes are more vulnerable
With age, the crystalline lens yellows and holds back some blue light. In children this hasn't happened yet: screen light reaches the retina with far less of a barrier. We explain it in depth in the child's eye, a window open to radiation.
| Child | Adult | |
|---|---|---|
| Crystalline lens | Almost transparent | Yellower with age |
| Blue light reaching the retina | More | Less |
| Usual screen hours | Tablet, phone, console, homework | Computer and phone |
| Distance to the screen | They tend to hold it very close | Somewhat greater |
Blue light glasses for kids: what to look for
- A frame their size: if they are too big, they won't wear them.
- Light and sturdy: children are not gentle with glasses.
- A lens that doesn't change colours much, so they keep them on.
Bremen glasses for kids are designed for them and cost €59.99.
Screen protector: the option they can't forget
Children take their glasses off. A protector on their tablet or phone always works. There are protectors for tablets and iPads and for phones, with the same technology developed with the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), with Dr. Celia Sánchez-Ramos and her team.
Other measures that help
- Have them hold the screen at elbow distance, not against their face.
- Breaks every 20 or 30 minutes to look into the distance.
- No screens in the hour before bed.
- More time outdoors: natural light and looking far away are good for them.
SEE A PROTECTOR FOR THEIR TABLET
Frequently asked questions
From what age can children wear blue light glasses?
From the moment they start using screens regularly. Bremen glasses are designed for children, with a frame adapted to their face.
Are phones bad for children's eyes?
A child's eye lets more light through to the retina than an adult's, because the crystalline lens is more transparent. That is why it is worth limiting screen time and reducing the high-energy light that reaches their eyes.
What is better for a child: glasses or a screen protector?
If they mainly use a tablet or phone, a protector on that screen always works without them having to remember. Glasses protect them on any screen. Ideally, combine both.
How much do Reticare blue light glasses for children cost?
Bremen glasses for children cost €59.99.
