If you find it difficult to get to sleep at night, you’re not alone. If you're like most people who struggle with sleep, you’ve probably heard about some of the more popular sleep support tools out there – like blue light-blocking glasses and melatonin, for example.
While taking melatonin pills before bed or wearing blue light-blocking glasses can be an effective sleeping aid for some people, these options may not be the best tool for achieving or sustaining a natural sleep cycle in the long term.
In this article, we will discuss the role natural melatonin plays in our sleep cycle, as well as the differences between blue-blocking glasses and sleep glasses.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. It helps control our circadian rhythm – also known as the internal “body clock”. It also regulates our sleep-wake cycles and sends signals to our brains to help us feel sleepy.
In the evening, the warmer hues of the setting sun induce the natural production of melatonin in the brain. This promotes feelings of relaxation and prepares our bodies for a restful night’s sleep.
However, too much exposure to blue lights – like the glow from our TVs, computers, and phones – can “trick” the brain into suppressing melatonin production in the evening. This, along with a combination of other factors, is a major cause of many sleep problems.
Blue light-blocking glasses have gained popularity over the years for their potential to balance circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality. Blue blockers work by filtering out blue light wavelengths from screens, electronic devices, and artificial lighting throughout the day – all of which can interfere with the natural production of melatonin.
However, blue light is also beneficial during the morning and earlier daytime hours because it sends the same signals to our bodies as the rising sun does. In other words, it sends signals from our eyes to our brains that it’s time to wake up.
This is why some experts think that wearing blue light blocker glasses all day might not be the best solution for attaining a more natural sleep cycle.
Additionally, while recent studies suggest that blue light-blocking glasses may help people struggling with insomnia, some experts say these studies were incomplete.
One of the biggest problems with blue-light filtering glasses is that they aren’t standardized. This means there's no way of knowing for sure how effective one pair is compared to the next or what wavelengths are actually being blocked out. What’s more, it’s still not clear whether intercepting blue light could have other effects on your body clock.
Did you know that some blue-blocking glasses have amber or orange-tinted lenses? This type of sleep-supportive eyewear is called sleep glasses and they work in a different way than normal blue blockers do.
Unlike regular blue blockers which provide an unpredictable level of protection against blue light waves, Ocusleep™ orange-tinted sleep glasses absorb blue light more efficiently while allowing other beneficial light wavelengths to pass through.
Ocusleep™ lenses contain a formulated orange pigment that blocks all blue and some green light, allowing your body to release melatonin to help you fall asleep more naturally. By wearing these specially formulated sleep glasses in the hours leading up to bedtime, you can achieve better rest and a more balanced body-clock.
When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, many people have turned to blue-light blocking glasses. However, while they may be a promising option for those who are exposed to screens throughout the day, supporting studies are still incomplete.
Orange tinted sleep glasses, like those offered by Ocusleep™, are a clinically proven and highly effective way to minimize your exposure to blue light in the hours leading up to bed.
By adding sleep glasses to your evening routine, along with adopting other healthy sleep practices, you can experience a more reliable body clock, improve sleep quality, and feel more refreshed when you wake up.
Order your pair of sleep glasses to rebalance your circadian rhythm naturally with orange precision tint lenses from Ocusleep™.