Once you have a pair of blue light glasses in your hand, it stands to reason that you would want to test them to determine how much effect they have.

Unfortunately, not all blue light glasses are the same.

The general consensus is that the more you spend, the better the quality of the lenses and the frames. However, there are a lot of viable budget options out there too.

Here, we take a look at how to test blue light glasses to see how much blue light they actually block.

We go through a number of tests that you should be able to perform without any equipment. Just so you know, the equipment that can accurately test how much blue light is blocked by a lens costs thousands of dollars.

Luckily, you can test the efficacy of your glasses from a few simple at-home tests.

These tests may not be 100% accurate, but they are accurate enough to let you know if your glasses are working as intended. Let’s go through the tests one by one.

Understanding Blue Light Lenses

If you are a regular here at DiamondLobby, chances are that you are thinking of or have purchased a pair of blue light blocking gaming glasses. You may have read about the numerous health benefits that gaming glasses can provide, but aren’t sure how to confirm if your pair is working properly.

Before you begin testing your blue light glasses, it is important that you understand what do gaming glasses do. Blue light glasses, as the name suggests, block blue light. Blue light has a wavelength of 400-450nm. It has been shown to have a disruptive effect on sleep by suppressing melatonin. There are also reports of blue light causing eye irritation and strain.

Before we move forward. It is important to remember that blue light glasses do not help with vision impairment in any form. Vision impairment as a result of screens is largely a myth, and you shouldn’t purchase blue light glasses as a result of false advertising.

Testing Blue Light Glasses – 4 Methods

There are various methods to test blue light glasses. Testing blue light glasses is generally a good idea, as ensuring that you stay healthy and fit during long gaming sessions is important. There are various steps you can take to ensure that you stay healthy, such as learning how to sit in a gaming chair.

Here are 4 methods you can use to test if your blue light glasses are working as intended.

Get the Blue Light Glasses Spectrum Report

This is the easiest and the surest method to check the exact percentage that your blue light glasses are blocking.

The spectrum report can be obtained from the manufacturer of the glasses and it contains data about the performance of the lenses in a lab. As long as you can verify that the report is based on data collected from the exact same model that you have, you can trust the results.

Before you purchase a pair of glasses, you should ensure that you purchase them from a brand that can provide you with a verified spectrum report. Depending on the type of lenses that you purchase, you should expect your glasses to block 10-65% of the blue light.

Remember that while there are glasses that can block 100% of the blue light, they will have an extreme yellow tint that might as well be taken for sunglasses. As such, they provide poor visibility, and wearing them while looking at a screen is probably not a good idea.

Use the RGB Chart to Test Your Blue Light Glasses

If you cannot get your hands n the spectrum report, using the RGB chart is another great way to test if your blue light glasses are working as intended.

The RGB chart, or the RGB color wheel as it is sometimes known, can be used to tell you if your blue light glasses are working. A simple google search can bring the chart on your screen, and you should be able to test your blue light glasses using it. Here is what to do when using an RGB chart.

  1. Pull up the chart on your computer screen.
  2. Take a look at the chart without your blue light glasses.
  3. Put on your blue light glasses.
  4. Now look at the chart, The blue section should be dimmed by an appropriate amount. For example, if your lenses can block 30% of the blue light, the glasses should dim by roughly 30%.
  5. Also, the green circle should dim by a considerable amount. The darker the green circle, the more effecive your blue light glasses are. However, remember that the colors will only dim by the amount that your lenses are capable of filtering.

Using the Pigment Test

The pigment test does not tell you exactly how much blue light your glasses are blocking, but it can tell you if they work. The good thing about the pigment test is that it is extremely easy to perform.

Put on your glasses and look towards an object that is bright and white. If your lenses are capable of blocking the blue light, the object should appear warmer when you are wearing the glasses.

Testing Blue Light Glasses using the Lens Reflection Method

The lens reflection method is the least accurate out of all the methods in this list. While it will not tell you about how much blue light your lens can filter, it will give you an idea of whether or not the lenses are filtering any blue light.

Point the lens towards any light source or screen and take a look at the lens. If they are reflecting blue light, then they are working as intended. If the lenses are not reflecting any blue light, then they are not working as intended and you should opt for a different pair.

Conclusion

One important thing to remember is that you should never do a pen test to determine if your glasses are working properly. Light pens usually emit violet light, which has a wavelength of 380-400nm. Blue light has a higher wavelength, and you should not trust these results.

Once you have tested your blue light glasses and begun using them, you will need to maintain them for optimum performance. As such, learning how to clean blue light glasses is a good idea. It will help you make sure that your pair lasts for a long time and works properly.