Celebrities, Athletes, and Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Biohacking trends have surged, with blue light-blocking glasses taking centre stage among top athletes and celebrities. Leading tennis and football stars increasingly embrace these glasses, recognizing their potential to sharpen performance and boost recovery. Even a small 5-10% health upgrade could be the difference between scoring a last-minute goal or clinching a grand slam point for these high-performers.
Once seen as a fleeting trend, blue light-blocking glasses are now supported by emerging science. These glasses mitigate the effects of constant artificial light exposure—from lightbulbs to screens—that permeates our modern lives. By wearing them, athletes and celebrities aim to reduce eye strain, improve sleep quality, and ultimately gain an edge in their physical and mental performance.
“I tried these on and I really enjoyed it, because it helps you be more focused. It stops the blue light, light from the phone, so it gives you maybe 10 or 15 (energy) percent back.” said Alexander Bublik, who at the time was the No. 17 seed at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open
Why Celebrities and Athletes Use Blue Light Blocking Glasses
In high-performance sports, every marginal gain counts. This is why top athletes in sports like tennis and football are increasingly turning to blue light-blocking glasses. These glasses help optimise performance by preserving the body’s natural circadian rhythms and maximising melatonin production. Melatonin, often known for its role in sleep, also supports energy production by enhancing mitochondrial health the “powerhouses” of cells, crucial for athletic performance and recovery. Melatonin’s primary function is to repair and regenerate mitochondria during sleep, triggered by the brain’s response to darkness. Without sufficient melatonin, the body’s restorative processes are limited. By wearing blue light-blocking glasses, athletes and celebrities can maintain this “darkness” signal, even in environments saturated with artificial light, allowing melatonin to function optimally.
Rick Rubin, one of the world’s most influential music producers, advocates for blue light-blocking glasses. He’s discussed their benefits on popular platforms like the Andrew Huberman Podcast, sharing how they’ve become a staple in his routine.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Celebrity and Athlete Endorsements
High-profile advocates for blue light-blocking glasses are emerging across the worlds of entertainment and sports. The influential music producer Rick Rubin has openly shared his journey toward improved mental and physical health by embracing these glasses. Rubin, who regularly wears Ra Optics glasses, learned about the significance of natural light and the risks of artificial blue light exposure through Dr. Jack Kruse—a pioneering neurosurgeon and early biohacker. Rubin discussed this health transformation and his battle with night owl habits in his two-part series with Dr. Kruse and neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, emphasizing the glasses’ role in combating artificial light’s health impacts.
Erling Haaland, one of football’s biggest goal scorers, also advocates for Ra Optics glasses. Haaland’s friend and Ra Optics founder, Matt Maruca, has likely influenced his understanding of how light affects mitochondrial health and recovery. Known for his commitment to health and sleep. Haaland says,
“Sleep is the most important thing in the world. I put on blue light-blocking glasses three hours before bed to help unwind and reduce disruptive signals, ensuring quality rest vital for his performance.”
Another Manchester City star, Jack Grealish, has joined Haaland in using blue light-blocking glasses, both seen sporting them on flights to combat jet lag and protect their circadian rhythms. Their choice of eyewear showcases how top athletes are turning to this biohacking tool to maintain peak performance, especially during the demands of travel.
Beyond the sports world, many celebrities are embracing blue light-blocking glasses as part of their health routine. Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Chrissy Teigen, Drew Barrymore, and Kylie Jenner are frequently mentioned in discussions around blue light protection. Whether for better sleep, improved recovery, or reduced eye strain, these icons highlight the growing appeal of blue light-blocking glasses across lifestyles and industries.
Which Celebrities and Elite Athletes Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses?
An impressive list of celebrities and sports stars are now seen wearing blue light-blocking glasses, showcasing the growing awareness of the benefits these lenses bring to performance, recovery, and overall well-being. Here are some of the high-profile figures spotted using blue light-blocking glasses:
- Alexander Bublik
- Andrey Rublev
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Bono
- Brad Pitt
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Elena Rybakina
- Erling Haaland
- Jack Grealish
- Novak Djokovic
- Rick Rubin
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Veronika Kudermetova
While these celebrities and athletes are seen wearing blue light-blocking glasses, this doesn’t necessarily mean they follow best practices or use the most effective brands. Given the popularity of these glasses in health-conscious circles, there are likely many other stars who wear them privately, balancing the benefits of blue light protection with endorsement commitments or sponsorships that may prevent them from openly promoting specific health routines.
These iconic figures are helping to highlight the potential of blue light-blocking glasses, bringing biohacking tools into the mainstream and inspiring others to adopt similar practices.
What You Need to Know About Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Not all blue light-blocking glasses offer the same level of protection, and for elite athletes and performers, this distinction is crucial. The most effective glasses, like those from Ra Optics, are designed to block the entire spectrum of blue light, making them a popular choice among sports stars who publicly endorse their use.
How can you tell if blue light-blocking glasses are fully effective? One clue lies in the lens colour. Glasses designed to reduce eye strain for computer use typically feature clear or lightly tinted lenses and only block a limited range of blue light. While they may alleviate some eye strain, they don't offer full protection, which can lead to skepticism about the effectiveness of blue light-blocking glasses in general.
In contrast, lenses that block the full blue light spectrum often have a deeper amber or red tint, which helps protect circadian rhythms and maximises melatonin production. This level of protection is essential for athletes and high-performance individuals looking to support recovery, optimise sleep, and maintain peak health by minimising the effects of artificial light.
Blue light blocking glasses Strategy
Daytime: During the day, athletes and stars like tennis pro, Novak Djokovic often opt for amber-tinted lenses whilst watching a basketball game. These glasses are perfect for reducing blue light exposure indoors without signaling “night-time” to the brain, making them suitable for press conferences or indoor training sessions where bright lights can be intense. Amber-tinted glasses are particularly helpful for reducing eye strain caused by screens, bright lights, or camera flashes, a common concern for public figures who spend long hours in these environments.
Nighttime: For evening routines, red-tinted glasses provide full-spectrum blue light protection, crucial for maintaining sleep cycles. As discussed on the Andrew Huberman Podcast, music producer Rick Rubin has shared how he incorporates red-tinted glasses in his nighttime routine. He wears them a few hours before bed, which he credits for improved relaxation and deeper sleep—a necessity for high-demand careers that need peak mental and physical function. Erling Haaland, the football star, also adopts this approach, saying, “Sleep is the most important thing in the world.” He regularly wears red-tinted glasses three hours before bed to help wind down and reduce blue light interference with melatonin production.
Additional Tips
Celebrities and athletes often have highly controlled environments at home to support recovery, from dimmed lights to limited screen time before bed. However, when exposure to artificial light is unavoidable, red-tinted glasses become invaluable tools, such as on flights, in late-night media appearances, or at bright events.
Athletes and celebrities alike understand that natural sunlight is essential for health and performance, with artificial light being the primary challenge. Blue light-blocking glasses are an effective tool in their routines, allowing them to mitigate artificial light’s impact without compromising their health and recovery.
Summary
Blue light-blocking glasses are quickly becoming the latest performance tool among elite athletes, and their popularity is likely to grow across sports, from football and boxing to solo tennis players. With access to advanced health advice and wellness innovations, many celebrities and top performers are adopting these glasses to counteract the effects of bright lights, screen time, and frequent travel.
Not all blue light-blocking glasses provide full protection, but brands like Ra Optics offer evidence-based, stylish options that meet the needs of high-performance lifestyles. Once considered a niche wellness product, these glasses are now integral to routines for champions and celebrities alike.
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References:
Cougnard-Gregoire, A., Merle, B.M.J., Aslam, T., Seddon, J.M., Aknin, I., Klaver, C.C.W., Garhöfer, G., Layana, A.G., Minnella, A.M., Silva, R. and Delcourt, C. (2023a). Blue Light Exposure: Ocular Hazards and Prevention—A Narrative Review. Ophthalmology and Therapy, 12(2).