Why you don't need blue light lenses: Hidden camera investigation (Marketplace)

Many of us are feeling the strain on our eyes from staring at our smartphones and computer screens all day. But some of Canada's largest optical chains are selling you a solution experts say you don't need: lenses that protect our eyes from the blue light emitted from our devices. Leading experts tell Marketplace some of Canada's top chains seem to be using "misleading" claims to sell the lenses. And an opthalmologist reveals some easy and free tips that will ease digital eye strain.

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[LowDoughTech]

Of course this comes up in my feed immediately after I bought a pair.

[philipp]

I worked in a eyeglass store for a couple of years and trust me it's not the sales person's fault . The company brain washes their employees with training. I believed in all that when I worked with glasses.

[AP-exqz]

Now Please don't go and get mad at the underpaid staff who are sitting at the counters. They're just reading off reading points their manager is feeding them. Direct it to the companies and their rich ceos.

[alanf]

Sitting with the optician as they go over all the options, warranties, and add-ons feels just like sitting in the finance office at an automobile dealership. Their #1 job is to transfer as much money from your pocket to theirs.

[alexandernalog]

Who else blinked voluntarily multiple times after hearing that we are not blinking often enough?

[Mr--_--M]

*That awkward moment when I’m watching this through my blue light filter glasses🤦🏾‍♂️😭😭*

[pikameme]

The definition of "Create a problem, sell the solution". They're striking fear in people and using that fear to earn money.

[peyton]

i just picked myself up a pair of glasses that block blue light, ultriviolet light, and x-rays, and regular light. my eyes have never been more happy

[enderbox]

Him: they are not blinking enough
Me: starts blinking vigorously

[rglxytg]

This is why I don’t use my eyes and keep them shut.

[mariajohnson]

As a migraine sufferer, blue light can really hurt. Yeah, sometimes the sun is just too painful.

[phenixslayer]

Windows literally has a night "filter" you can turn on so the screen emits less blue light. It just changes the color pallet so there is less blue, but still it's free.

[darrell_dee]

Buying eyeglasses is starting to get as bad or worse than going to the car dealership.

[aellalee]

When the blue light thing came out first I remember the reasoning was it affects your circadian rhythm. But not damage to the eyes.

[redmed]

It's true. Just like when my parents said I'd get square eyes if I watched too much TV. Funny they didn't say that when I read books which are also square shaped.

[johannagonzalez]

Saving this video for my next eye appointment and they try to sell me "Blue Light Glasses"

[switchion]

Had never heard anything about blue light causing eye damage...only that it can disrupt sleep cycles if you stare at a screen before going to bed.

[biswajeettechie]

ssometimes youtube recommendations are really eye opening

[nestorenriquez]

There are no concrete studies yet that blue light causes damage to retina or any part of the eye. However, there are many anecdotes from the patients themselves that they feel less tired when using this kind of lens versus ordinary lenses. And patients who had this want to have the same lens because there is "satisfaction" when they wear it. Also, patients who are very sensitive to glare that even AR coat is not enough can benefit with this kind of lens.

[CrypticSnow]

I wonder if this is still a trend. I mean now, all devices I own come preinstalled with blue light filters or some way of removing anything blue on the computer.