Hynek Medřický Red Glasses in a Fabric Case

Product detailed description

If you can’t avoid exposure to artificial light in the evening, put on these red glasses designed by light expert Hynek Medřický. The glasses filter wavelengths between 460–580 nm, and no disruptive light penetrates your eyes from the sides, top, bottom, or around the nose. Vertical vents in the wide temples also prevent fogging. Before bedtime, your eyes will only perceive soft orange light that mimics firelight — a principle that brings you back to nature’s rhythm while being grounded in the science of chronobiology and evolution.

Shedding Light on Light

In addition to vision, your eyes contain an evolutionarily older, non-visual system. It regulates your circadian rhythm and internal clock — including melatonin production before and during sleep, and its suppression during the day.

Specifically, this involves intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) containing the pigment melanopsin, which is sensitive to short blue, cyan, and green wavelengths. When these wavelengths hit the retina, they inhibit melatonin production — helping you stay alert in the morning and throughout the day.

However, when such light reaches your retina before sleep or at night, it sends your body a false signal that it’s not time to rest yet, suppressing melatonin production further. This can make it harder to fall asleep and reduces overall sleep quality. In the long term, such disruption of your natural rhythm can contribute to various lifestyle-related health issues.

Back to Nature

During the day, bright light helps maintain focus and performance. In the evening, switch to softer, warmer white light with reduced blue and green components, ideally at eye level to mimic sunset. About ninety minutes before sleep (and during any nighttime awakenings), expose your eyes only to dim orange light — free of blue, cyan, and green wavelengths — shining from below eye level, simulating firelight. This principle reconnects you with natural cycles while aligning with modern chronobiological and evolutionary research.

The Night Hormone

Melatonin — often called the sleep or night hormone — is produced as the sun sets and the color of light changes. At night, it plays a vital role in sleep quality. The body reaches a healthy nighttime melatonin level only when no blue light around 460 nm reaches the retina.

Material: Durable plastic. Includes a fabric pouch for the glasses.
Dimensions: Lens width 15 cm, height 5.5 cm.

WARNING: Red glasses are not intended for long-term wear and do not replace adequate sleep. Do not use while driving motor or non-motor vehicles.

Country of origin: Czech Republic