Here's my full review of RA Optics blue light blocking glasses, which I've been using for several years now. Wearing these consistently has been a game changer for my sleep quality and regulating my circadian rhythm.
Disclaimer: I am an affiliate with RA Optics, so I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my links. That being said, I'm sharing my honest experience with using their products. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Before I discovered RA Optics glasses, I wore cheap blue light blockers I found on amazon. I didn't realize that most blue light glasses don't actually work effectively. If they have clear lenses, you can assume they're not blocking out much blue light.
While on my chronic illness healing journey, I became particularly interested in circadian rhythm and light environment. Most of us spend the majority of our waking hours on our computers, phones, and TVs and don't realize the implications this can have on our health.
Why is artificial blue light harmful for our health?
Our light environment is what sets our body's internal clock or circadian rhythm. This affects our sleep cycle, hormone production, metabolic activity, mitochondrial function, and more. Light environment has an impact on most processes in the body—making it very important to optimize for our overall health.
When we are exposed to artificial lighting (via electronics or light bulbs), it signals to the brain that it's the middle of the day no matter the actual time. This greatly affects sleep.
Research has shown that poor sleep is linked to depression, obesity, heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, etc.
The goods news is that minimizing artificial blue light exposure can improve sleep, energy, mood, headaches, anxiety, and reduce risk of chronic disease.
My experience with RA Optics glasses
I discovered RA Optics in my search for learning more about light environment and how it impacts our sleep and overall health. They have lots of educational content on their instagram and website under the "learn" tab.
RA Optics has both daytime and sunset blue light blockers, and as you can tell by the photos, they are tinted yellow and orange. The daytime glasses block 95% of blue light, and the night time glasses block 100% of blue light.
After researching several different brands, I decided on RA Optics because of both the quality of the glasses and the research they had done to back their effectiveness.
I started out with the sunset blue light blockers, and wore them several hours before bedtime. I noticed a positive difference in my sleep within the first few nights of wearing them, which was very exciting!
As someone that has struggled with sleep my entire life, this was the quickest improvements I've seen with anything I've tried (though there are many things I've found to be supportive of my sleep).
It's hard to describe, but when I put on the night time glasses, it feels like my brain starts winding down preparing for sleep.
Soon after getting the night time glasses, I got the daytime lenses as well. I try to wear them as much as I remember throughout the day while working on my computer. This helps so much with eye strain and fatigue.
Because of how much they've helped with my sleep, I've used my RA Optics glasses every day for years now. They have been well worth it for me. When we travel, my glasses are at the top of my packing list. I find them to be helpful when adjusting to different time zones.
It's become a habit for me to put them on after dark or a few hours before getting ready for bed. They are very calming for my nervous system. If I happen to go out at night without them, I notice a difference.
How can I optimize my circadian rhythm?
Here are some tips for improving your light environment:
When you wake up in the morning, avoid looking at your phone or other screens. If possible, go outside and spend 10-15 minutes in the natural light (whether or not the sun is out). Even just a few minutes will make a difference!
Try to avoid looking at your phone if you wake up in the middle of the night. If you have to, wear sunset blue light blocking glasses. I keep mine on my nightstand in case I need to look at my phone throughout the night.
Use your laptop/phone outside if possible. The natural light helps mitigate the negative effects of artificial light.
Take short "light breaks" throughout your work day as much as you can. The natural light will help regulate your circadian rhythm.
Wear blue light blocking glasses during the day when inside and using screens/artificial lighting. Switch to sunset blockers after sunset or a few hours before going to sleep.
Watch the sunset whenever possible & minimize screen time before bed.
Do you have to wear blue light blockers to optimize circadian rhythm?
Before artificial lighting was created, there was no need for blue light blockers. The only kind of light our brain knew was sunlight and fire. Now, artificial lighting is found just about everywhere. It's important to minimize exposure where possible to optimize circadian rhythm. One of the easiest ways to do this is with blue light blocking glasses.
While it's possible to have full spectrum lighting installed in your house or to only use candle light after dark, it's not very realistic for most people.
If I had to pick only one of the many biohacking tools I've tried to keep, it hands down would be my blue light blockers. Because I haven't found another way to optimize my light environment without them.
Does RA Optics offer discounts?
Yes! RA Optics has generously offered my community 10% off your order through my affiliate link and coupon code RIBEYERACH.
Is it difficult to adjust to wearing RA Optics glasses?
When it comes to the daytime glasses, I don't notice the coloring change very much. The sunset glasses definitely change the coloring of screens and it can be difficult to differentiate between certain shades. Some people find this more difficult to adjust to than others.
Personally, I don't mind the color change at all because it calms my brain down so much before going to bed. We often still watch some TV after sunset and I find my eyes adjust to the difference quickly. I'm still able to do everything I need to while wearing the glasses. I sometimes even shower with them on!
Can you get prescription lenses with RA Optics glasses?
Yes, you can! There is a prescription option with most styles of RA Optics glasses for both the sunset and the daytime lenses. This is an additional cost, but you should be able to use an HSA card to purchase them if you have one.
Should you wear RA Optics glasses outside?
No, definitely not during the daytime! The best thing you can do for your circadian rhythm is to get in as much natural light as possible. Even if it's cloudy or raining, your brain is able to take in the light as valuable information.
The only time I wear my glasses outside is it's night time and I'm in an area with a lot of artificial lighting (ex. cities, shopping centers, etc).
Does RA Optics make blue light blocking glasses for kids?
Yes, they do! They make both daytime and sunset lenses for toddlers and kids (find them here). They're adorable. I can't wait to get some for my little girl on the way!
What is RA Optics return policy?
RA Optics has a 30 day return window for a full refund, and they even pay for return shipping for those in the USA. This applies even if the glasses are used, as they want to make sure you're satisfied with the product. This makes it so there is very little risk with purchasing RA Optics glasses.
Here's an excerpt from their webiste:
"We are so confident in our products that we offer you the opportunity to purchase and try your product for 30 days from the date you receive it. If you are not completely satisfied with your product, you can return it, regardless of whether it has been used or not, for a full refund."
Are there any "cons" to RA Optics glasses?
The only potential downside I can think of is the price—they certainly aren't cheap. But they're made to last and it's nice that it's a one time purchase. When it comes to blue light glasses, you often get what you pay for in terms of quality.
In Conclusion
Investing in high quality blue light blockers is well worth it. There are several brands that make a great product, but RA Optics is my top favorite because of the quality and all the research backing their glasses. This is truly the only "biohacking" tool I have that I wouldn't be willing to part with—because our modern world makes it so difficult to avoid artificial lighting.
The more I've learned about the importance of light environment for our overall health, the more I'm grateful for these glasses! I hope you find them as beneficial as I do.
I hope this article was helpful! I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and YouTube for more recipes, reviews, and fun content!
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