Lunettes pour développeurs : quoi regarder si vous passez la journée devant du code

Programming means reading small text for hours on end, nearly always in the same position and often across two monitors. If you're looking for glasses for programmers, here's what's worth knowing before you buy: what to ask of them, what a blue light filter can do and which desk changes matter more than the glasses.

What to ask of glasses for coding

• Light weight. A day of coding is a lot of hours in a row. A light, flexible frame, like a TR90 one, makes a difference on your nose and behind your ears.
• A clear lens. If syntax highlighting, editor themes or interface design matter to you, you don't want a lens that tints everything yellow.
• Slim arms. They're the ones that sit best under over-ear headphones.
• Non-prescription, if your eyesight is fine. A neutral lens doesn't change how you see. If you have to lean in to read the terminal, the answer isn't non-prescription glasses: it's an eye test.

What a blue light filter does and doesn't do

It cuts part of the blue light given off by your screen. That can be measured. What hasn't been proven is that it relieves eye strain or improves sleep: the scientific evidence is limited, and we cover it in full in do blue light glasses work?.

So you choose glasses for coding for comfort, because they don't change colours and because you like wearing them. They're not a treatment.

Clear or yellow lens?

Yellow or amber lenses filter more blue light, but they change colours: whites turn cream and the blues in your editor go dull. For coding during the day, reviewing designs or joining video calls, a clear lens is more practical. We compare them in clear or yellow lens.

Dark mode, brightness and two monitors

• Dark or light mode: use whichever feels comfortable. In a well-lit room a light theme is usually easier to read; in the dark, a dark theme is less glaring.
• Brightness: your screen shouldn't be the brightest thing in the room. If it looks like a lamp, turn it down.
• Font size: bump it up a point. It's the cheapest change and the one you'll notice most.
• Two monitors: at the same height and distance, with the main one straight in front of you. The top edge at eye level or slightly below.
• Distance: the screen about an arm's length away (around 50-70 cm).

What helps most isn't the glasses

In front of code, people blink less and go hours without changing focus. Two simple habits:

• Every 20 minutes, look at something far away for 20 seconds. That's the 20-20-20 rule; fit it in while tests run or a deploy goes out.
• Get up once an hour. Your back will thank you too.

If you often finish the day with dry or irritated eyes or a headache, talk to an eye care professional.

LenBlu® for coding

Our frame is square, slim and made of TR90, with a clear non-prescription lens and a blue light filter. One size: 53 mm lens, 18 mm bridge and 142 mm total width. You can choose Matte Black or Clear at €34.99 each, or both in the Duo Pack for €49.99: one pair for home and one for the office. Delivery in 8–15 business days, free from €39.99. They're in computer glasses; if you work from home, the guide to glasses for working from home is worth a read too.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need glasses for coding if my eyesight is fine?

You don't need them. They're a choice for comfort and style: a non-prescription lens doesn't improve your eyesight.

Do they work with dark mode?

Yes. A clear lens doesn't change the contrast or the colours of your theme.

Does the filter show on video calls?

With a very bright screen you may see a faint bluish reflection on the lens. Turning the brightness down reduces it a lot.

What if I wear contact lenses?

You can wear non-prescription glasses over them with no problem.

This article is for information only. It doesn't replace advice from an eye care professional.