Blue-blocking filters do not alleviate signs and symptoms of digital eye strain

There is some controversy about the utility of prescribing blue-blocking filters to mitigate digital eye strain. We found that using commercially available blue-blocking filters was ineffective in reducing orbicularis oculi muscle activity and visual symptomatology during a 30-min reading task from a computer screen.

There are some claims that blue-blocking (B-B) filters may be effective in reducing symptoms and signs of digital eye strain. However, recent studies have suggested that there is no sufficient evidence to support their use. This study assessed the short-term effects of a commercially available, B-B filter on orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle activity and symptoms of digital eye strain during the execution of a 30-min reading tas.

Twenty-three healthy young adults (22.9 ± 3.2 years of age) performed two reading tasks from a computer screen with or without a B-B filter on two different days. OO muscle activity was recorded by surface electromyography 4-5, 9-10, 14-15, 19-20, 24-25 and 29-30 min into the trial. Participants reported their perceived levels of visual discomfort and activation before and after completing the reading task.

A Bayesian analysis favoured the null hypothesis that there was no change in OO muscle activity with or without using the B-B filter (Bayes Factor01 [BF01] = 7.08). Regarding symptomatology, the analysis favoured the time model that reading increased visual fatigue and discomfort but reduced activation levels (BF01 < 0.33 in all cases). However, our data did not support the alternative model that using B-B filter affected these visual symptoms.

The B-B filter did not alter OO muscle activity or visual symptomatology significantly during the execution of a 30-min reading task in asymptomatic subjects. These findings support the idea that B-B filters do not attenuate signs and symptoms of digital eye strain.