Can Blue Light Glasses Ease Headaches After Concussion?
Headaches are among the most common and persistent symptoms following a concussion. For many, light sensitivity (photophobia) not only triggers or worsens these headaches but also complicates return to school, work, and sport. Blue light glasses have gained traction as a means of reducing visual strain and discomfort related to screens.
But how effective are they, really?
Recovery can be a challenge when photophobia and headaches linger beyond the acute phase. Athletes, students, and professionals alike are searching for relief that supports function without slowing recovery. This post explores whether blue light-blocking glasses hold therapeutic value or if the solution lies deeper in how — and when — we manage blue light exposure.
Understanding the Problem: Concussion-Related Photophobia and Headaches
Photophobia after concussion is more than just a dislike for bright lights — it’s a neurological symptom often rooted in disrupted visual processing and cortical hyperexcitability. Exposure to artificial lighting, computer screens, and even daylight can trigger or intensify symptoms like:
Frontal or occipital headaches
Eye strain or fatigue
Nausea and dizziness
Difficulty concentrating
These symptoms can interfere with both recovery and the ability to engage in rehabilitation tasks. Research indicates that overactivation of certain visual pathways — especially those sensitive to short wavelengths like blue light — may exacerbate discomfort in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Given these challenges, healthcare providers often recommend environmental modifications, screen-time limits, and visual rest. In recent years, the use of tinted or blue light-blocking glasses has emerged as a non-invasive tool aimed at reducing visual triggers.
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The evidence around blue light-blocking glasses is still emerging, and the effectiveness appears to vary based on individual presentation and usage context.
A clinical study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma investigated the role of tinted lenses in patients with persistent light sensitivity following TBI. The results showed that 85% of participants reported symptom relief when wearing tinted lenses, particularly those with blue, green, red, or purple hues. These colors may help filter specific wavelengths that overstimulate cortical regions in post-concussive states (source).
From a rehabilitation perspective, these glasses don’t cure the root cause of photophobia but may reduce symptom burden, allowing patients to participate more fully in cognitive, vestibular, and physical therapy tasks — a critical piece in the broader recovery puzzle.
Another clinical trial underway is exploring whether blue light-blocking glasses allow concussed college students to extend screen time without exacerbating symptoms. While full results are pending, the hypothesis reflects a familiar clinical scenario: a student-athlete or patient needing to engage in academics or telehealth visits, hindered by screen-induced headaches (source).
Blue Light Exposure: Not Always the Enemy
Interestingly, not all blue light is problematic — in fact, morning exposure to blue light has been shown to be therapeutic in concussion recovery.
A U.S. Army-funded study reported that daily morning exposure to blue light improved sleep quality, cognitive performance, and brain structure in individuals recovering from mTBI. The structured protocol involved exposure to blue light for 30 minutes within two hours of waking, mimicking natural sunlight and supporting circadian rhythm regulation (source).
Another recent publication reinforces these findings, noting that morning blue light therapy reduced daytime sleepiness and improved overall sleep quality in concussion patients — both of which are vital to neurological healing and headache mitigation (source).
This dual role of blue light — therapeutic in the morning, disruptive in the evening — helps explain why glasses that block blue light can be helpful at certain times but counterproductive if used all day long.
Clinical Application: Timing and Individualization Are Key
For athletic trainers and physical therapists working with student-athletes, timing is crucial when implementing blue light strategies. Blue light exposure should not be eliminated entirely. Instead, it should be managed strategically and on an individualized basis:
Morning Exposure: Encourage 20–30 minutes of natural or artificial blue light (like LED panels) within the first two hours of waking to support circadian regulation.
Afternoon-Evening Caution: Screen time should be limited later in the day, and this is where blue light-blocking glasses or device filters may play a role.
Tailored Use of Tinted Glasses: Rather than defaulting to amber or clear blue-blockers, trialing different hues — like blue, green, or purple — based on patient response may yield better outcomes for photophobia relief.
Incorporating this approach into return-to-learn or return-to-play protocols allows the clinical team to optimize visual and neurological recovery while keeping the athlete engaged in academic and team obligations.
Case Scenario: Headache Management in a Collegiate Soccer Player
Ashley, a collegiate athletic trainer, is managing a men’s soccer player who sustained a concussion during practice. By week two, his primary barrier to return-to-class activities is ongoing frontal headaches worsened by computer screens. She collaborates with the school’s physical therapist to assess visual and vestibular function and finds symptoms exacerbated during near-point convergence tasks and exposure to fluorescent classroom lighting.
They implement the following plan:
Morning walks outdoors to encourage blue light exposure early in the day.
30-minute time-limited screen use blocks with breaks.
Use of green-tinted glasses during late afternoon lectures, which the athlete reports significantly reduce light sensitivity.
After 10 days, his symptoms improve markedly. He returns to class full-time and begins low-intensity aerobic conditioning, advancing through a graded return-to-play protocol without symptom recurrence.
This type of case reflects how strategic blue light management — not total avoidance — can enhance functional outcomes and improve quality of life for concussed individuals.
Balancing Screen Time and Sleep
Evening blue light exposure remains one of the most common culprits in prolonged recovery. Smartphones, tablets, and LED screens can suppress melatonin production, delaying sleep onset and reducing sleep quality. For those with mTBI, disrupted sleep impairs glymphatic clearance, emotional regulation, and pain processing — all of which worsen headaches and prolong recovery.
Strategies that may be clinically useful include:
Educating patients about screen hygiene, such as limiting usage two hours before bed.
Recommending blue light filters or blocking glasses for evening use only — not throughout the day unless photophobia persists.
Reinforcing the role of structured sleep routines in brain recovery.
These recommendations are supported by findings from concussion specialists emphasizing that screen-time management is critical in the acute and subacute recovery phases.
The Verdict: Are Blue Light Glasses Worth It?
In short: they can help — when used thoughtfully.
Blue light glasses are not a silver bullet for post-concussion headaches, but in selected cases, they serve as a valuable adjunct to a comprehensive recovery plan. Their greatest potential lies in:
Reducing evening screen-related symptom flares
Managing light sensitivity in controlled environments
Supporting patients with ongoing academic or occupational demands
More importantly, clinicians must recognize that managing light exposure isn’t about elimination — it’s about strategic timing and individualization. Incorporating early morning blue light to regulate sleep-wake cycles and limiting exposure later in the day provides a more complete and evidence-based approach to recovery.
For athletic trainers and physical therapists, understanding the subtleties of light exposure can elevate concussion care. Blue light glasses, when used correctly, may ease symptom load and support reintegration into school, work, and sport. But they should always be part of a broader, research-informed strategy — not a one-size-fits-all fix.
If you're an athletic trainer or clinician navigating persistent concussion symptoms in your athletes, consider integrating Sway’s objective balance and cognitive assessments into your return-to-play protocols. With research-backed tools and simple mobile integration, Sway supports fast, informed decisions and better outcomes.
