Primark, ASOS and H&M compared

How do fashion retailers approach blue light glasses?

Fashion retailers generally sell blue light glasses as an accessory, alongside sunglasses, hair clips and jewellery. The range follows the season's trends, the prices are pitched as impulse buys, and styles come and go.

That is a perfectly valid model, and it is different from how a specialist eyewear retailer works. Primark is a value high street fashion chain, ASOS is an online fashion marketplace that sells its own lines alongside other brands, and H&M is an international fashion chain with stores and a website. What each one stocks changes frequently, so we are not going to list their products or prices. Check each retailer's own site for what is available right now. It is also worth checking whether eyewear sits in the accessories or beauty section, since some retailers file it in more than one place and the ranges online and in store can differ.

What are fashion-retail blue light glasses good for?

They are good for trying out a shape or colour for very little money. If you have never worn a cat-eye or an oversized round frame, buying a cheap version is a low-risk way to see whether you like it in daily life.

They can also suit occasional use, a costume or outfit-led look, or a spare pair for a bag. When the purchase is really about style, a fashion retailer is a natural place to shop.

• Testing a new frame shape cheaply
• Matching a particular outfit or trend
• An occasional or back-up pair
• Gifts and stocking fillers

What should you check before relying on one daily?

Check what the lens actually does and how the frame is built. A pair you wear for a full working day at a screen is opened, closed, pushed up and put down many times a week, so small details matter more than they do on an occasional accessory.

Look for a product description that clearly says the lenses filter blue light from screens, and whether an anti-glare coating is included, since that coating is what cuts reflections from lights and windows. If neither is mentioned, do not assume it is there.

• Does the description say the lenses filter blue light from screens?
• Is an anti-glare coating mentioned?
• Are the hinges metal and sprung, or moulded plastic?
• Are frame measurements listed so you can check the fit?
• Is eyewear returnable, and is return postage free?

Why does frame fit matter more than the price?

Fit matters because a frame that pinches or slides is one you stop wearing. Accessory ranges are often sized for the broadest possible range of faces, which can mean one size only.

Check the lens width, bridge and arm length on the product page if they are listed, and compare them with a pair you already own that fits well. If the numbers are not shown, you will be relying on the returns policy. Our product pages list the frame style clearly, and our women's and men's collections make it easier to narrow down by look.

How does a specialist range compare on style?

A specialist range tends to carry more shapes and colours at any one time, because eyewear is the whole shop rather than one shelf. You are more likely to find the specific silhouette you want in several finishes.

Our range stays affordable too. Frames such as the Ice Clear, Midnight Square and Cocoa Round are £9.99, and the designer and stylish collection covers the statement looks you might otherwise buy from a fashion chain.

Is there a better way to test a shape than buying several pairs?

Yes. A home try-on lets you compare several frames in your own mirror, in your own lighting, without buying any of them first. Buying three cheap pairs to find one you like works, but it leaves you with two you do not wear.

Our Home Try-On sends up to four frames for seven days, free. Once you have picked a shape, orders are dispatched within 48 hours with free UK delivery over £20, and every order carries a 30-day money-back guarantee with free returns.

How much should you spend on a daily pair?

Spend enough to get a clearly described lens and a frame that survives daily handling; beyond that, extra money mostly buys design and brand. For many people that sweet spot sits comfortably under £30.

At the lowest price points, the saving usually comes from somewhere: simpler hinges, thinner arms, less information about the lens, or tighter returns rules. None of those matter much for a pair you wear twice a month. They matter a lot for a pair that goes on and off your face many times a day.

It also helps to think in cost per wear. A £10 pair you wear every working day for a year costs pennies per use, while a pair that ends up in a drawer costs its full price for nothing. Our Studio Square Twin Pack at £12.99 covers the desk-plus-spare setup in one order.

• Occasional or outfit pair: the cheapest option that looks right
• Daily desk pair: clear lens description and sturdy hinges
• Spare for a bag or car: a twin pack or folding pair
• Statement frame: spend on the shape you will actually wear

So which should you choose?

Choose a fashion retailer when the glasses are mainly an outfit accessory or a cheap experiment, and a specialist range when you want a daily pair with a clearly described lens. Whichever you pick, read the product description and returns policy carefully. Keep the order confirmation, and try the glasses at your desk as soon as they arrive so you are well within any returns window.

For more answers to common questions, see our FAQs and care guide, and read our earlier posts on what Boots offers and caring for your glasses so whichever pair you buy lasts.

Frequently asked