Computer glasses: how to choose the right ones
Eight hours at the computer. Then your phone on the train and the TV on the sofa. Your eyes get screen light almost all day, and the working day is the longest part of that exposure.
Choosing good computer glasses is not about buying the first pair on Amazon. It is about checking four things. Here they are in a table so you can see them at a glance.
Quick answer
Good computer glasses selectively filter the blue (380-500 nm) and green (500-590 nm) light from your screen, don't change colours, are lightweight and include your prescription if you need one. For eight-hour days, choose an almost transparent lens such as Balance Essential.
The 4 things to check
| What to check | Why it matters | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Which light it filters | Screens emit blue light and a lot of green light | Blue (380-500 nm) and green (500-590 nm) |
| Lens colour | A heavily tinted lens is tiring and changes colours | An almost transparent lens for work |
| Weight and frame | You will wear them for eight hours | Around 28 g, a stable frame |
| Prescription | If you already wear glasses, you need a single frame | Prescription or reading version |
Non-prescription computer glasses
If your eyesight is fine, you don't need a prescription. Non-prescription Balance glasses weigh about 28 grams, are made in Spain and come with two lenses: Essential, almost transparent, for all-day work, and Pro, with more filtering, for very long days or the evening.
Prescription computer glasses
If you wear glasses, the most comfortable option is a single frame that does both. Prescription Balance are made to your exact prescription. If you only struggle with close-up vision, Balance reading glasses come with fixed diopters.
Do computer glasses work?
It depends on what they do. A coating that reflects a little blue light does very little. A lens that selectively filters the high-energy bands is something else. Balance come from more than 20 years of research by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), with Dr. Celia Sánchez-Ramos and her team, and the technology is patented. See the studies on our research page.
Glasses and a screen protector: the office combination
If you always work at the same desk, you can add a monitor protector or a laptop protector. The screen then emits less high-energy light, and the glasses protect you from the rest: phone, tablet and LED lighting.
Tips for working at a computer without punishing your eyes
- Place the screen an arm's length away and slightly below eye level.
- Every 20 minutes, look at something far away for 20 seconds.
- Blink on purpose: we blink less in front of screens.
- Match screen brightness to the room.
Frequently asked questions
Which glasses are best for working at a computer?
Ones that selectively filter high-energy light without darkening the image, are light enough to wear for eight hours and, if you need it, have your prescription. Balance Essential glasses are designed for this.
What are computer glasses called?
They are known as computer glasses, screen glasses, blue light glasses or anti-blue light glasses. They don't all do the same thing: check which light bands they reduce.
Can I use computer glasses without a prescription?
Yes. If you don't need a prescription, non-prescription Balance work the same. If you already wear glasses, there are prescription and reading versions.
Do computer glasses change colours?
It depends on the lens. Yellow or orange lenses change them a lot. Reticare's Essential lens is almost transparent, designed to work with true colours.
