After a long day working from home staring at your computer screen for hours on end, you’ve probably felt the familiar feeling of dry, irritated, and itchy eyes.
Most likely you’ve already heard of and tried some of the most popular solutions, including changing the angle of your laptop or monitor to avoid glare from light sources, adjusting the font size, shifting the blinds or curtains on the window, and adjusting the brightness of your monitor.
However, these limited solutions won’t stop the problem of spending too much time in front of a computer. It’s essential to protect your eyes in the long run, and avoid the short-term symptoms of eye fatigue, which include difficulty focusing, blurred vision, headaches, and even the worsening of age-related macular degeneration. That is where blue light screen protectors come in.
These screen protectors can eliminate almost all of the UV light reflected from the screen into your eyes, reducing computer vision syndrome (CVS). Read on for our blue light screen protector review list, as well as more information on the benefits they provide.
Best Blue Light Screen Protector: Our 4 Top Picks
BEST OVERALL: BLUE LIGHT SCREEN PROTECTOR PANEL BY ACCURATE FILMS
Various layers of coating have been applied to this screen protector, and it shows. Not only will your eyes be protected against blue light, but your monitor will also be protected from scratches without any distortion to the images.
SECOND BEST: KANTEK LCD ANTI-GLARE MONITOR SCREEN PROTECTOR
This screen protector will improve your images by enhancing contrast while reducing glare. Its frameless design fits most computer monitors, giving you real color fidelity.
BEST FOR WIDESCREEN DESKTOPS: 3M ANTI-GLARE FILTER FOR WIDESCREEN LCD DESKTOPS
This screen protector, created with 3M technology, reduces glare and reflections. The design is easy to apply and reapply without any annoying bubbles.
BEST FOR YOUR BUDGET: KUZY ANTI-GLARE MATTE SCREEN PROTECTOR FILTER
Unfortunately this product is only for iMacs, as it works great. The ultra smooth surface enhances the viewing experience without compromising the touch screen or image distortion.
1. BLUE LIGHT SCREEN PROTECTOR PANEL BY ACCURATE FILMS
Our rating:
Details
- Size: Various models fit screens from 19” to 28”
- Blue light reduction: 380 nm - 495 nm
- UV light blocking: Up to 100%
The screen protector by Accurate Films will enhance your monitor’s viewing visibility without any image distortion. The protector is not a film, but an acrylic panel that hangs from the top of your monitor, making installation and removal a breeze. The acrylic panel has received several layers of coating, which reduce eye-strain causing blue light, monitor glare and is scratch resistant.
This screen protector works great at reducing the bad light while enhancing the right light, so the colors appear more appealing to your eyes. If you are looking for higher quality viewing without the interference of dangerous HEV blue light, this is the best blue light screen protector out there.
PROS
- Easy installation and removal
- No color distortion
- Comes with a cleaning kit
CONS
- At 1.6 pounds, it's heavier than most screen protectors
- Can cause some reflection depending on background light
VERDICT
Definitely the best optical quality blue light screen protector on the market. It will block 100% of all hazardous UV light while reducing HEV blue light up to 100%. It’s a blue light screen protector computer users will love!
Second Best
2. KANTEK LCD ANTI-GLARE MONITOR SCREEN PROTECTOR
Our rating:
Details
- Size: Various models fit screens from 15” to 24”
- Blue light reduction: 380 nm - 495 nm
- UV light blocking: Up to 100%
The Kantek LCD protector is a fantastic eye protector, and it will also protect your monitor from damages, such as dust or scratches. The protectors come in various sizes, fitting most HD/LCD monitors.
This blue light screen protector will reduce strain on your eyes, while the frameless design doesn’t get in the way of your viewing experience. As this protector is not a film, but a screen placed on top of your monitor, cleaning and installation is super simple.
PROS
- Easy installation
- Several dimensions, so the fit is perfect for most computers
- Significantly reduces glare
CONS
- The surface can be too reflective for some
- Some image/text blurring
VERDICT
If you work long hours in front of a computer screen, the Kantek LCD protector is a fantastic investment, at a very fair price point. The fact that it’s a panel instead of a film means you can put it on and remove it in a matter of seconds so that you can take breaks from harmful blue light.
BEST FOR WIDESCREEN DESKTOPS
3. 3M ANTI-GLARE FILTER FOR WIDESCREEN LCD DESKTOPS
Our rating:
Details
- Size: Various models fit widescreens from 19” to 27”
- Blue light reduction: 380 nm - 495 nm
- UV light blocking: Up to 100%
No matter the size of your screen, 3M has you covered. The filter will reduce eye fatigue caused by dangerous blue light, and also protects your monitor from scratches.
The lightweight film is easy to apply and frameless, so it won’t intrude with your vision or block your screen. The screen is also reusable; once applied to your screen, you can remove it and apply it to another screen of the same size. To adhere the film, you use clear adhesive strips, which can be removed and reapplied numerous times.
PROS
- Various sizes to fit all widescreens
- Product comes with one year warranty
- Easy to clean, comes with its own cleaning cloth
CONS
- Doesn’t prevent as much glare
- Slight image/text distortion
VERDICT
This product is made by 3M, so you know you’re receiving a high-quality product. The film is super easy to install and clean, while also being compatible with most touch screens. Some users found that it doesn’t reduce as much glare as they would have hoped, but it still works great at protecting your eyes.
BEST FOR YOUR BUDGET
4. KUZY ANTI-GLARE MATTE SCREEN PROTECTOR FILTER
Our rating:
Details
- Size: Two models for 21.5” and 27” iMacs
- Blue light reduction: 380 nm - 495 nm
- UV light blocking: Up to 100%
If you have an iMac, then the Kuzy Anti-Glare Matte Screen Protector Filter is the ideal blue light filter for you. The filter protects your iMac from scratches, along with reducing eye strain, and enhancing your touch screen and stylus experience.
The only downside that we found is that applying the screen can take a bit of time to get just right, but once it was on there, we found no trapped dust or irritating bubbles, just a seamless matte screen with a crystal-clear picture. The matte finish sure beats a glass screen protector.
PROS
- Enhances touch screen experience
- No picture distortion
- Greatly reduces glare
CONS
- Difficult to apply
- Only available for iMac
VERDICT
Even though the installation requires your screen to be as clean and dust-free as possible, once you’ve managed to install the protector it’s worth it. There is no color or text distortion, and it will protect your investment against scratches.
5. CPROFESSIONAL COMPUTER SCREEN PROTECTOR
Our rating:
Details
- Size: Two models for 22” and 24” screens
- Blue light reduction: 380 nm - 495 nm
- UV light blocking: Up to 100%
This protector is made from high-quality electrostatic material, which will reduce the screen radiation leading to CVS and eye strain. The protector will reduce glare and protect your computer from scratches. The flexible screen can be easily applied, and it is also fingerprint resistant, though it’s not compatible for touch screen monitors.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Comes with microfiber cloth for easy cleaning
- Antiglare screen protector
CONS
- Not available for touch screen
- Only compatible with DELL computers
VERDICT
The anti-glare screen works, and the durable high-quality protector will last you a long time. The matte finish of the product can make some small pictures or numbers somewhat blurry, but if you use your screen for regular purposes then it works very well.
What is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)?
Research has shown that between 50% and 90% of all people that work in front of a computer will experience some symptoms of eye trouble and the leading cause is long hours focusing on a screen without enough breaks.
People usually blink around 18 times a minute, which naturally refreshes the eye. However, when we are staring at a computer, we reduce our blinking rates, making your eyes dry out, feel itchy or turn red.
The most common symptoms of CVS include dry, teary or sore eyes, double or blurry vision, difficulty focusing on images, headaches, neck pain, or a combination.
Blue Light Messes With Your Sleep
If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, it could be because the light given off by our computer, tablets, and phone screens affects our sleep health, throwing off our natural circadian rhythm. This information has been backed by several studies.
The light given off by LED screens slows or halts melatonin production, which is the hormone that gives our brain the signal that it’s time to fall asleep. If the brain doesn’t produce enough melatonin, we stay awake and alert and go to bed later than we intended.
Blue Light Screen Protectors
Blue light screen protectors will protect your eyes against the blue light, or high energy visible light (HEV) which is emitted from LED screens, including tablets, laptops, computer screens, TVs, and smartphones.
To achieve more vibrant images and higher resolutions, manufacturers have been increasingly using blue as the primary color in order to light up your screen. Your eyes can’t absorb this harmful blue light, so it shines through your retina, causing damage to your eyes. This damage can contribute to cataract formation and retina cell destruction.
Blue light screen protectors block out around 90% of the harmful light, reducing the possibility of eye fatigue, CVS and other damages to your eyes. Therefore, don’t turn a blind eye to the damage your computer may be causing to your eyes, and take a look at our reviews for the best blue light screen protector.
Besides using desktop screen guards, there are other ways you can help your eyes. The best blue light blocking glasses can be worn to protect your eyes while watching television, looking at your iPhone screen, tablet, or your laptop. This may be a more convenient solution if you find yourself switching between screens often and don’t have a protection cover on all of your gadgets.