Fake vs Real Blue Light Glasses: 5 Tests You Can Do at Home
How do you tell fake blue light glasses from real ones at home? You can run five quick checks: look at the lens reflection, compare the lens with a plain lens on white paper, compare it on a white screen, compare a blue LED torch through it, and check what the seller tells you about the lens. These checks can show whether a lens has a blue filter or coating, and they can expose obvious fakes. They cannot measure how much blue light a lens filters, and they cannot prove the lens will reduce eye strain. The most reliable test is a seller that names the lens type and has a clear returns policy. Lens & Co by Tiara labels every lens as anti blue light, photochromic or photochromic blue cut, with prices from ₦10,000.
Last updated: 7 October 2026. Prices were checked on the same day. Written by the Lens & Co by Tiara team, a Nigerian eyewear brand in Ogba, Lagos with nearly 10 years in business. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
What do “real” and “fake” blue light glasses mean?
A real blue light lens has a coating or tint that filters part of the blue-violet light from screens. A fake one is a plain lens sold with a blue light label, or a lens whose claims are exaggerated. The difference matters for your money, but it matters less for your health than many sellers suggest. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says several studies suggest blue light glasses do not improve digital eye strain. The 2023 Cochrane review of 17 trials found they probably make no difference to eye strain, and the College of Optometrists reminds optometrists not to promote them for fatigue, sleep or eye health without evidence. A University of Melbourne explainer reaches a similar conclusion.
So the honest way to buy is to pay for what you can verify: a named lens type, a lens that filters some blue light, and a seller who stands behind it. For eye comfort, use screen breaks, good lighting and an eye test, as explained in eye strain from screens and are blue light glasses worth it in Nigeria?.
The 5 tests you can do at home
For tests 1 to 4, use a plain clear lens or a pair of cheap clear glasses as your comparison, and run every test in the same light. These are rough checks, so treat them as hints, not proof.
Test 1: The reflection test
Hold the glasses under a ceiling light or beside a window, in front of a dark background, and tilt them slowly. A blue-filtering lens often shows a faint blue or purple sheen. A plain uncoated lens usually shows a white, neutral reflection, and an anti-reflective-only coating often shows a greenish or purple sheen. What it tells you: a coloured reflection means the lens is coated. It does not prove the coating filters blue light.
Test 2: The white paper test
Lay a clean white sheet of paper in daylight. Hold your plain lens over one half of the paper and the blue light lens over the other half. A blue-filtering lens often makes the paper look slightly warmer or more yellow than the plain lens. What it tells you: a visible shift suggests the lens absorbs some blue light. No shift can mean the lens is plain, or that it is a very light filter, so do not decide on this test alone.
Test 3: The white screen test
Switch off your phone’s night mode, set the brightness to maximum and open a plain white page. Hold the lens in front of one eye and look at the screen, then look through the plain lens. The screen should look a little warmer through a blue-filtering lens. What it tells you: the same as test 2, with a screen as the light source. Do not confuse this with your phone’s own night mode, which also warms the screen.
Test 4: The blue LED torch test
In a dim room, shine a cheap blue LED torch onto a white wall through the lens, and then through your plain lens. Compare how bright the spot looks. A blue-filtering lens should make the blue spot a little dimmer. What it tells you: a rough comparison only. Never shine any torch into your eyes or anyone else’s, and do not use a laser pointer, because lasers can damage eyes and emit a narrow band of light that may not match the lens filter.
Test 5: The seller and paperwork test
This is the strongest check you can do. Before you pay, look for these five things:
- A named lens type on the product page, such as anti blue light, photochromic or photochromic blue cut, and not just “computer glasses” or “fashion glasses”.
- A specification on request. A seller should be willing to tell you what lens you are buying, and not claim “100% blue light blocked”.
- A returns policy that says what happens if the glasses are not as advertised.
- A real address and contact line that you can reach after you buy.
- No medical claims. A seller who promises to cure eye strain, sleep problems or eye disease is overselling.
Scorecard: how reliable is each test?
| Test | Real lens often shows | Plain lens often shows | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reflection | Faint blue or purple sheen | White, neutral reflection | Low: other coatings reflect colour too |
| 2. White paper | Paper looks slightly warmer | No change | Medium, but light filters can look clear |
| 3. White screen | Screen looks slightly warmer | No change | Medium |
| 4. Blue LED torch | Spot looks a little dimmer | Spot looks the same | Low to medium: rough only |
| 5. Seller check | Named lens, policy, contact | Vague label, no policy | Highest of the five |
Pass two or more of tests 1 to 4 and the seller check, and the lens very probably has a blue filter. Fail all of them, and you may have a plain lens. Only a lab measurement can give an exact figure.
Red flags that suggest fake or overhyped glasses
- “100% blue light blocked” or claims that the glasses prevent eye disease.
- No lens type named on the listing.
- A very low price with big claims about UV, blue light and anti-glare.
- Heavy distortion. Look at a straight door frame through the lens. If lines bend or swim, the lens is poor, whatever the label says.
- No returns policy and no way to reach the seller.
- A coating that peels or flakes after gentle cleaning. Read how to clean and store blue light glasses so you do not damage a good coating.
How to buy real blue light glasses in Nigeria
Use this short checklist before you pay anyone, online or in a shop:
- Pick the lens that fits your day. See the table below.
- Ask the seller to name the lens in writing, for example on WhatsApp.
- Check the policy. Ours is in the refund and returns policy, and delivery details are in the delivery policy.
- Test the glasses on delivery day. Run tests 1 to 3 as soon as the parcel arrives.
- Report problems within 24 hours. Our policy gives a full refund if the order arrives damaged or not as advertised, such as the wrong frame or lens type, if you report it within 24 hours with your order number and a photo or video. Exchanges are only available for Anti Blue Light glasses.
| If you want | Choose | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Plain clear lenses | Clear lens | ₦10,000 |
| A blue filter for phone, laptop and TV | Anti blue light | ₦10,000 |
| Lenses that darken in the sun | Photochromic | ₦12,000 |
| A blue filter and sun darkening | Photochromic blue cut | ₦12,000 |
These are starting prices for adult frames. The exact price depends on the frame, the lens and your prescription. See photochromic glasses price in Nigeria for a full breakdown.
Frames to compare, with the lens named on every card
Each card shows the lens options and prices for that frame, so you know exactly what you are buying. Try a frame on first with virtual try-on or find your shape with the face shape tool.
Need prescription lenses? Upload your prescription and we confirm your lenses, price and delivery date on WhatsApp before you pay. Not sure what the letters mean? Read what OD means in a glasses prescription. For our quick version of this guide, see how to tell if blue light glasses are real.
Buy blue light glasses with the lens named
Chat to us on WhatsApp, ask what lens comes with any frame, and we confirm your lens, price and delivery date before you pay. Delivery to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Benin City, Ilorin, Warri, Owerri, Abeokuta and Anambra and every other state.
Frequently asked questions: fake vs real blue light glasses
How can I tell if my blue light glasses are real?
Run the five checks in this guide: look at the reflection, compare the lens against a plain lens on white paper, compare it on a white screen, compare a blue LED torch through it, and check the seller’s lens information. No home test is definitive, so the seller’s information and return policy matter most.
Do real blue light glasses have a blue reflection?
Many blue-filtering lenses show a faint blue or purple sheen when tilted under light, but anti-reflective coatings can also show green or purple. A coloured reflection tells you the lens is coated, not how much blue light it filters.
Can I test blue light glasses with a laser pointer?
We do not recommend it. Laser pointers are unsafe if they reach your eyes, and they emit a very narrow band of light that may not match what the lens filters. If you test with light, use a blue LED torch, never point it at anyone’s eyes, and treat the result as a rough hint only.
Do blue light glasses have to be yellow?
No. Strongly tinted lenses filter more blue light but change how colours look. Clear blue-filtering lenses are made for everyday use, and they usually look almost clear with a faint cool or warm tint.
How much blue light do blue light glasses block?
It varies by lens, and the exact figure comes from a lab measurement, not a home test. Ask your seller for the lens type and any specification they have. Be careful with “100% blue light blocked” claims.
Do blue light glasses really reduce eye strain?
Evidence says probably not. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says studies suggest blue light glasses do not improve digital eye strain, and the 2023 Cochrane review found they probably make no difference to it. See our eye strain guide for habits that help.
Why would I still buy blue light glasses?
Some people like them for comfort on long screen days, and they can be combined with prescription lenses. Buy them for what they are, a coated lens with a blue filter, and not as a medical treatment.
Are plain photochromic lenses blue light glasses?
No. Plain photochromic lenses darken in sunlight, and they are not made to filter screen light. Photochromic blue cut lenses do both. Read photochromic vs blue cut lenses.
How do I test photochromic blue cut lenses?
Check the blue filter with tests 1 to 3, then take them outside in sunlight. Photochromic lenses should darken outdoors and fade back indoors. All About Vision notes that they may not darken fully inside a car because windshields block some UV.
Can I test UV400 protection at home?
No. UV protection needs an instrument to measure, so ask the seller to state it. Our photochromic lenses are listed with UV400 protection on the product page.
Are cheap blue light glasses fake?
Not always, but be careful when a seller names no lens type, makes medical claims or has no way to contact them. Price alone does not prove a lens is fake or real, so compare lens names, prices and return policy.
What is the difference between anti blue light and anti-reflective?
Anti-reflective coatings reduce reflections and glare from lenses, while anti blue light lenses filter some blue light. Many lenses have both, so a coloured reflection alone does not prove a blue filter.
What should I do if my glasses seem fake?
Message us on WhatsApp within 24 hours of delivery with your order number and a photo or video. Our returns policy covers items that are not as advertised, such as the wrong lens type.
How do I clean blue light glasses so the coating lasts?
Rinse with lukewarm water, use lotion-free dish soap, and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Read our full guide to blue light glasses care.
Where can I buy real blue light glasses in Nigeria?
Browse our national page on blue light glasses in Nigeria, or buy from a seller that names the lens type, shows prices, has a reachable address and returns policy. Lens & Co by Tiara has a store at Goldrim Plaza in Ogba, Lagos, and delivers across Nigeria.
Not sure which pair to pick?
Browse the shop, try frames on your face, and we will tell you which lens is in each pair.