Wearable tech is big business in the wellness industry and light therapy glasses are one of the latest innovations to take hold. While the idea of light therapy itself isn’t new, wearable light therapy glasses are being tapped for their huge potential to support a number of physical and mental wellbeing processes, such as improving sleep, easing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), boosting daytime energy, supporting natural circadian rhythms, reducing jet-lag and shift-work issues, and improving overall wellbeing, productivity and performance.
With that in mind, we’ve shortlisted five of the best light therapy glasses to have on your wellness watchlist.
Vogue’s pick of the best light therapy glasses at a glance:
- Jump to the product reviews
- How do light therapy glasses work?
- Are light therapy glasses always a high spec product or are there variations within the category?
- What should you always look for when buying light therapy glasses?
- How often can you wear light therapy glasses?
- Anyone who shouldn’t wear them?
- What kind of benefits should you start to see and how soon?
- Meet the expert
Best light therapy glasses for boosting mood: Luminette 3 Light Therapy Glasses
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you suffer from SAD or other season-based mood disorders, then these clever glasses are designed to shift your circadian rhythm and give you a boost in under a week of wearing them regularly. To ensure you get your dose of therapy without any dazzling or damage caused, the patented system is designed to mimic how sunlight hits your eyes, scattering the light before reflecting it back into your eyes.
- Light source: Blue-enriched white light
- Brightness: Three levels: 500, 1000 or 1500 lux
- Treatment time: 20-45 mins
- Battery life: Ten days
Best light therapy glasses for eye health: Lukirch Red Light Therapy Glasses
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Harnessing benefits from both red and blue light, these slick glasses help support sleep-wake cycles, boost energy levels, encourage optimum general eye health and reduce fatigue caused by issues like excess screen time. Both wavelengths are UV-free to ensure you get all the benefits without any damage to your eye health.
- Light source: Red-blue
- Brightness: Not specified
- Treatment time: Three options: 15, 30 or 45 minutes
- Battery life: Not specified
Best light therapy glasses for customised use: Ayo+ Blue Light Therapy Glasses
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: While the focus of these glasses is the blue-turquoise light, which works on reinstating healthy circadian rhythms, improving sleep and bolstering mood, the recent update to these specs means that two minutes of narrow band 670 nm red light therapy is added to the end of every treatment option available. This means you also get the benefits of red light, which include improved blood flow to the optic nerve, a reduction in oxidative stress and better support of retinal cells. They also allow you to customise the light intensity for a really bespoke programme.
- Light source: Blue-turquoise
- Brightness: Varies between 150-250μW/cm2
- Treatment time: 5-90 minutes and three default levels: 20, 30 and 60 minutes
- Battery life: Seven days
Best light therapy glasses for device users: RA Optics Popp Glasses in Sunset
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’re looking for a more straightforward day-to-day option, you can’t go wrong with these simple frames, which come in a variety of different colours. This pair, which uses 100 per cent artificial blue and green light, is designed with proprietary lens technology to minimise screen-induced fatigue, protect mitochondrial function and regulate melatonin production for a better sleep-wake cycle.
- Light source: Blue-green
- Brightness: N/A
- Treatment time: As required
- Battery life: N/A
Best light therapy glasses for jet-lag: Propeaq Light Glasses
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: It’s no secret that jet lag can interfere with our circadian rhythm, but these smart glasses have interchangeable lenses which allow you to get the full benefits of the monochromatic blue light when you need to stimulate morning sunlight, before enabling you to change to the amber lenses at nighttime when you need to adjust to a new sleep schedule.
- Light source: Blue light
- Brightness: ~ 35-40 lux
- Treatment time: 15-30 mins
- Battery life: Five days
FAQs
How do light therapy glasses work?
“Light therapy glasses use patterns of light, often combined with sound, to stimulate specific neural networks in the brain,” explains Michal Cohen-Sagi, founder of Vidavii.
Are light therapy glasses always a high spec product or are there variations within the category?
According to Cohen-Sagi, there is a wide spectrum from basic light therapy glasses that simply deliver blue or white light to help correct circadian rhythm issues, such as winter low mood or jet lag. “Not all devices provide the same level of effect.”
What should you always look for when buying light therapy glasses?
As with everything, it’s important to do your research before you buy, as comfort, fit, usage and other preferences within the wearable tech sector are hugely personal. “I would recommend looking at the science behind it, the person who created it, if there’s a variety of programmes, proven results or testimonials,” advises Cohen-Sagi.
How often can you wear light therapy glasses?
“That depends on the actual glasses and the programmes that are being offered. Most systems are designed for regular use, from a few sessions a week to daily. For most basic light therapy glasses, it’s recommended to use up to six hours a day, but always check instructions with the device.”
Anyone who shouldn’t wear them?
“It’s safe for adults (over 16 in most cases), however, not for people with photosensitive epilepsy; people with serious neurological conditions or for those who are highly light-sensitive,” she adds.
What kind of benefits should you start to see and how soon?
“That depends on the glasses and the programme, but you can experience deep relaxation, reduced stress and improved sleep that same night. Over time, you can experience more clarity and focus, increased creativity and with more balanced mood and energy,” says Cohen-Sagi.
Meet the expert
- Michal Cohen-Sagi is the founder of Vidavii, a biohacking and longevity tech-based circuit
