Halo 194 · Published 2026-01-01 · DOI 10.5937/halo19432-66491
Increased exposure to digital screens in modern lifestyles has contributed to a higher prevalence of digital eye strain (DES), characterised by ocular discomfort, dry-eye symptoms, blurred vision, and headaches. Blue light-filtering (BLF) spectacle lenses have been proposed as a noninvasive strategy to alleviate these symptoms; however, current evidence on their clinical efficacy remains inconsistent. This randomised controlled study evaluated the short-term effects of selectively designed, commercially available blue-light-filtering lenses on subjective digital eye strain in healthy adults. A total of 53 participants were randomly assigned to three groups: the selective sBLF lenses group, the standard commercially available BLF lenses group, and the standard lenses without blue light filtration group. Participants used the assigned lenses during their usual digital screen exposure over a 14-day period. Unlike previous studies that have considered blue light-filtering lenses as a homogeneous category, this study provides a direct comparison between selective and non-selective spectral designs under real-world conditions of use. Subjective outcomes were assessed using the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire (DES-Q). All participants completed the study without adverse events. Both intervention groups demonstrated greater reductions in DES-Q scores than the control group (sBLF: 45%; BLF: 40%; control: 10%; p < 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference wasn't observed between the two blue light-filtering lens groups. These findings suggest that blue light-filtering lenses may be associated with a reduction in subjective symptoms of digital eye strain over a short-term period. However, given the subjective nature of the outcomes and the short follow-up period, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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