An East Lancashire school has become the first in the UK to issue blue light-blocking glass to pupils.
The scheme has been met with enthusiasm from parents, staff and students, having launched in the second half of the autumn term at Salterforth Primary School, Barnoldswick,
It is the first school in Britain to issue children with the glasses, which was inspired by concerns over the impact of blue light exposure on children’s eyesight and sleep patterns.
This aims to protect students from the potentially long-term effects of digital screens and artificial lighting.
Ocushield, a company which specialises in blue light protection, provided the glasses for free and the initiative was organised by Nick Tofalos, a parent at the school.
A range of designs and colours have been delivered to the school and will remain in school available throughout the day.
Headteacher Vikki Havers-Strong said: “As a school, we are always looking for ways to support our pupil's wellbeing and learning.
“Research suggests that blue light blocking glasses may help reduce eye strain and can improve sleep quality.
“This is particularly important when we consider the increased use of LED lighting and screens within education.
“The kind donation from Ocushield has allowed us to provide access to blue light glasses to all our children so they can access the potential benefits at any point throughout the school day.
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“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with lots of children choosing to wear them and reporting that they find them comfortable and helpful.
“We have four different styles of glasses for the children and staff to choose from and clip-on varieties for those children who already wear glasses. We are delighted to be the first school in the UK to offer this option to our pupils.”
Blue light-blocking glasses are already used by high-profile figures like footballer Erling Haaland and music mogul Simon Cowell.
They are also reportedly becoming more popular due to the rising number of myopia (short-sightedness), which has been linked to excessive screen time and blue light exposure.
Experts warn that modern classrooms, with energy-saving blue light bulbs and digital learning tools, could be contributing to disrupted circadian rhythms, eye strain, and poor sleep quality due to a lack of natural daylight exposure.
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