Discount Glasses Blue Light Blocking Glasses Review

We purchased a pair of blue light blocking glasses from Discount Glasses so we could wear and assess them during long hours of work on the computer and tablet. Keep reading for our full product review.

Even if your day job doesn’t have you sitting in front of a computer all day, don’t underestimate the amount of time you spend in front of some kind of digital screen. In addition to that little rectangle you spend half your day staring at (hello, smartphone), digital technology has seeped into almost every aspect of our lives, from our appliances to our cars to our medical devices.

This is just the way of the world now, right? Maybe so, but spending hours upon hours fixated on those glowing screens and absorbing all the blue light they emit can leave your eyes suffering from major burnout. While natural forms of blue light from the sun helps regulate our circadian rhythm, the excess blue light coming from our newly screen-oriented lives is having the opposite effect on our sleep cycle—and causing eye strain to boot.

It’s basically impossible to avoid digital screens, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your eye health. Eyeglasses that block a percentage of blue light are becoming more and more popular with eyewear retailers, and they work exactly like regular glasses: pop them on and you're good to go. If you’re exposed to blue light from screens, the lenses (which are usually available with or without a prescription) filter out some of that light, protecting your eyes from strain and preserving some of your body’s natural rhythms.

Frame and Lens Options

I’ve worn glasses for about 25 years, so I know a thing or two about what shapes and colors suit my face. One of the most annoying things about needing new glasses is knowing there will be a lot of repetition in the frames you try on: a storefront or online retailer might offer hundreds of frames, but many of them are going to look very similar to one another, with only subtle differences.

Within the first few minutes of browsing through the selection at Discount Glasses, I was impressed. Yes, some of the hundreds of frames offered were similar—but so many of them were noticeably different, ranging in color, detailing, and shape (and they also have a sister site that's one of Verywell Health's favorite stores for buying contact lenses, too). The measurements of every frame were made clear on the individual product pages, so you can get a sense of how large or small the frames are; I used my existing frames to compare and contrast sizes.

At the end of my hour-long browse, I had about 13 frames marked as ‘favorites’ in my account because there were so many unique options. After some deliberating, I chose the Lunettos Skyler frame in gray, mostly because they were different enough from my current frames (which are rectangular tortoise brown) without being too much of a gamble. 

Then it was on to the lens options. I knew I was adding blue light filtration to my single-vision lenses for this review, but there were other choices, too. Discount Glasses offers several different lens packages—standard, thin and light, and ultra-thin and light—and add-on options, including transition capabilities (lenses that darken in UV light), sunglass tint, and anti-reflective coating. Progressive lenses are also available, FYI, if you need them.

Virtual Try-On Software

I’ve been curious about buying glasses online before but always talked myself out of it because it seemed too risky. If I can’t actually put the glasses on my face, how will I know if I like them?

While no virtual software can ever fully replace the real-life experience of trying on a pair of frames, Discount Glasses has the best interface I’ve come across. 

As long as you have a smartphone, tablet, or webcam, you can make a seconds-long video of your face to upload to your account. The software talks you through the process, telling you when to look straight at the screen and when to turn your head from side to side. When you’re done, you have a rotational photo of yourself that can be used to virtually try on any frames and get a realistic idea of what you might look like in them.

Compared to other eyewear retailers’ virtual try-on capabilities, Discount Glasses goes above and beyond. You can see yourself in the frames from multiple angles instead of just directly front-facing, and the whole frame appears in the interface (not just the part containing the lenses, like on some sites). 

Prescription Option

Since I’m a lifelong glasses-wearer, I needed to get my blue light-blocking glasses with prescription lenses. Discount Glasses makes it easy to enter your prescription information and upload a photo of your prescription itself for verification of a doctor’s signature. If you can’t figure out how to input the info yourself, Discount Glasses can contact your provider to get the prescription details on your behalf. 

However, you do need a current prescription to be able to order prescription lenses; usually, this means it can’t be more than two years old. I was overdue for an eye exam with my regular provider, so I went ahead and scheduled a checkup.

Technically, though, I could have updated my prescription right through Discount Glasses if I didn’t want to drive out to my doctor’s office. They offer a 15-minute online vision test you can take right over the computer, which is then sent to one of their eye doctors for review. Within 24 hours, you’ll receive an updated copy of your prescription for free—and then you can order.

The online vision test does have some restrictions—it’s not for people under 18 or over 55, or those with complex prescription needs—but if you’re just looking for a basic prescription, it’s a super convenient option.

Online Ordering and Payment

Once you’ve chosen your frames, uploaded your prescription information, and selected your lens package and add-ons, the online checkout process is as straightforward as it gets. You’ll input your billing and shipping info, and choose your method of payment.

Discount Glasses doesn’t allow you to pay for your glasses with any vision insurance plans, but you may be able to submit a copy of your receipt to your insurance provider for reimbursement. If your lenses are prescription, you may also be able to use HSA or FSA funds to pay for your glasses, but you should research that in advance. 

There are often discount codes available for customers, too, so consider signing up for the Discount Glasses mailing list or keeping an eye on social media; you might be able to snag a percentage off your glasses or free shipping this way.

Fit and Comfort

When my glasses arrived about five days after I ordered them, I noticed right away that they felt lightweight but solid. They weren’t heavy or flimsy, and fit perfectly straight on my face right out of the case. I’ve had no problems with comfort after hours of wear—they don’t hurt my ears or the bridge of my nose, and I don’t notice them at all while they’re on my face.

I needed to make some adjustments to the arm length of the frames, so they would fit snugly behind my ears without sliding off. I was able to do this easily, though, by running them under hot water for a minute and then gently bending them down. (I’ve had to do this even with frames I purchased in stores, so this didn’t surprise me.) 

I’ve only found two minor downsides so far. While the frames seemed proportional to my face with the virtual try-on, in reality, they cover a bit more of my eye area than I prefer. Looking back, these measurements are definitely available on the Lunettos Skyler product page, but I didn’t know or think to look for them since the virtual photo seemed fine. 

I am also a little disappointed that the lenses smudge incredibly easily, which leaves me cleaning them constantly, and that they cast a greenish reflection in certain lighting which is often noticeable in forward-facing photography.

Blue Light Blocking

It isn’t clear from the website how much blue light filtration the lenses are meant to provide, but there’s no shortage of purported benefits: fewer headaches, less eye strain, more energy, better sleep, and improved cognitive function.

As much as I would love to sing the glasses’ blue light blocking praises, I’ve been a little underwhelmed. I have experienced an improvement in my eye strain, though those effects are mostly only noticeable with long-term use (i.e., if I’m working on the computer for a couple of hours, not just scrolling through Instagram on my iPad). 

Aside from that, I haven’t become aware of improvements in energy, mood, or sleep. As a migraine sufferer, headaches are a bit of a wildcard for me; it’s possible that with time, I could see a decrease in headaches.

At any rate, I think the mileage you might get from wearing blue light blocking lenses is dependent on your situation: if you are on the computer for eight or more hours a day, or are clearly suffering from eye strain symptoms now, you might notice more of an improvement than I did as an intermittent screen user with no obvious blue light-related issues.

Price

After doing some comparisons to other popular online eyewear retailers, it seems to me that Discount Glasses is reasonably priced for the quality of the products they’re selling.

Although you’re not likely to end up paying the initial price associated with each frame option by the time you get done choosing your lens package and any necessary add-ons, I did like how the price given for each pair of frames includes lenses. Many retailers price their frames cheaply upfront and then introduce you to lens costs, but I liked being able to see the base cost for frames and lenses together when considering my options. 

Lastly, Discount Glasses has an excellent return policy. You can exchange glasses if they’re not 100% perfect or even just simply return them, free of charge, for a full refund. As long as there’s no damage to the product, this policy stays in effect for 365 days after purchase.