The cell phones, computers, TVs, and other electronic devices we use every day emit a type of blue light. While in natural doses, this blue light is not considered harmful, it can have more negative effects on your body in high doses, especially after sundown (i.e. that same time when you’re bingeing your favorite TV show before bed or staying up late to finish a work presentation). It is believed that blue light can interrupt our sleep cycles, contribute to headaches, and that it is possibly linked to certain diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Enter: Blue light filtering glasses—or more specifically, Felix Gray’s Turing glasses.
While the scientific evidence to prove that blue light blocking spectacles work to prevent the harmful effects of blue light is still thin, some people who have used these glasses swear by them. They say they help them sleep and lessen their post-work headaches.
Felix Gray, in particular, has earned a name because all of their spectacles come with blue light filtering technology, not just their sleep glasses. They also offer buyers the chance to pick out glasses that look stylish and appropriate for a workplace setting—though the price tag might be a little much for some.
Design
What sets the Turing blue light glasses apart from others on the market is their style. Like all Felix Gray glasses, the Turing is named after a famous scientist—Alan Turing, the man famous for developing one of the first computers—and the name suits their polished, clean, and slightly vintage look. They have a narrow, classic frame and rounded lenses, and they definitely don’t immediately scream “blue light glasses,” like some of their competitors. This makes them an ideal choice for office and professional settings.
The glasses are unisex, which adds to their versatility. Although they are available in two colors—horn and whiskey tortoise—the horn is definitely more gender-neutral in appearance, thanks to its subtle brown pattern.
One thing to keep in mind is that the glasses are on the fragile side. For example, it was relatively easy for my toddler son to bend the arms at the joint in a matter of seconds when he grabbed them from my desk, though I was able to fix them easily. If you live in a home with young children or if you plan to commute with these glasses, it’s definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind.
Lenses
According to the Felix Gray website, their sleep blue light lenses are made to filter the range of blue light that impacts melatonin secretion (i.e. 440-500 nm wavelengths). The idea is that, by filtering out these wavelengths, you should sleep better—and after wearing the glasses for a little over two weeks, I felt like I slept a little better (though to be honest, it’s difficult to say that for sure). I also seemed to get fewer headaches after long work nights writing at my computer—so for that alone, they were definitely worth it for me.
One of the best things about the lenses is that you can’t necessarily tell that they are blue light glasses simply by looking at the lenses because they don’t have a noticeable (and ugly) yellow hue. In fact, when you put them on, you’ll barely notice a difference when looking at your screen, which helps make them more comfortable to wear.
The lenses do seem to attract dust (and cat hair). I found myself using the included lens cleaning cloth a lot. However, that’s a small price to pay for fewer headaches—and arguably, it’s to be expected in a household where cats live.
Fit
The Felix Gray Turing glasses were relatively comfortable to wear, though after wearing them for several hours, it was hard not to notice the pressure of the hard nose pads. Sometimes, when I took the glasses off before bed, I’d have small red marks or indentations on my nose from wearing the glasses.
The Turing frame is a narrow fit, which won’t work for everyone. Their bridge width is only 21mm, and their lenses are 45mm. In general, narrower frames are better for people with more oblong or oval faces—which suited me well but felt a little tight on my husband (who has a rounder-shaped head).
Accessories
The glasses come with two much-needed accessories: a case and a lens cloth. The case is a durable, attractive, blue-green hardshell with a grey velvety interior. It is easy to open and shut, and even after a few accidental drops on the floor (courtesy of my toddler), both the case and the glasses inside were safe and sound. In fact, thanks to the textured exterior of the case, the case looks just as new as it did the day I received it, even after I carried it around in my bag and my toddler played with it. There isn’t a visible scratch on it.
However, the light gray interior does tend to show more wear and tear, which is a little unfortunate. The lens cloth is high quality and works really well—and despite its pale color, doesn’t really show any dirt even after repeated use over the last few weeks. The only drawback is that it does start to fray a little on the edges.
Price
Starting at $95 for non-prescription or reading glasses, the Felix Gray Turing glasses are better priced than some of their competitors, but the price tag is still a little steep for some shoppers, especially for a set of non-prescription frames. You can definitely find a set of non-prescription blue light glasses for less. However, given the lack of obvious yellow tint to the lenses, the stylish design, and the high quality of these Turing glasses, I’d argue the price is worth it, especially if you spend a lot of time (like I do) staring at your computer all day.
The good news is, Felix Gray offers a risk-free trial with free shipping and exchanges. So if you’re on the fence about spending the money, you can try the glasses and make sure you love them before committing to the $95+ price tag.
