Do Computer Glasses really work?
Whether you’re an avid gamer who spends long hours shooting things and building imaginary worlds or you’re on computers all day programming or doing any sorts of digital projects, you’ve probably experienced some degree of fatigue in the form of headache or strained eyes due to the constant staring at the screen.
This is, in fact, a medical condition called “Digital Eye Strain” or “Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)” that affects many people these days due to the abundance of monitors that surround us everywhere and our lifestyle where we’re looking at mobiles, computers, and TVs at all times, at home, at the office, and even in the streets.
A popular solution to digital eye strain, especially among hardcore gamers, is using computer or gaming glasses, which helps reduce the effects of monitors on the eyes and slow down their tiredness rate. This can greatly improve your visual health.
Gunnar Optiks is one of these well-known companies that produce some of the best blue light blocking glasses on the market, but do these glasses really work?
Are Gunnar glasses bad for your eyes?
Before looking at what the Gunnar glasses do, let’s understand why looking at screens for a long period causes eye strain in the first place.
Gunnar glasses are NOT bad for your eyes. So you should feel no hesitation in at least trying them out to see how they might help you.
Monitors emit high-intensity blue light that’s harsh on the eyes and require more focus to view objects and words on the screen. Such glare increases the strain and can impair vision.
Another cause of fatigue for the eyes is the lack of sharp contrast between objects on the screen, unlike in reality. This requires the eyes to continuously change focus, which is exhausting over a long time.
Moreover, when the eyes are focusing hard, they tend to blink less, which results in dehydrated eyes, especially in rooms with dry air, which makes them burn an itch.
All this strain on the eyes leads to CVS, which damages the retina and induces disruptive sleep patterns, headaches, stress, and could even cause or worsen depression.
Do Blue Light Filter Glasses really work?
Blue Light filter glasses solve these problems by reducing or eliminating the harmful effects that the screens from technology can have on your eyes.
Tint
The first thing is the yellow tint of the lenses, which acts as a shield for the eyes against the artificial high-energy visible (HEV) blue light emanating from the screen. The tint filters the blue light and tunes the contrast of the colors to comfortable amounts for better visuals.
Gunnar has an index called “Blue Light Protection Factor (BLPF)” that indicates how much blue light the lens filters. It ranges from clear (35 BLPF) to amber max (98 BLPF).
Choosing which lens is better for you depends on your eyes’ sensitivity, how much protection you need, and your comfort with the amber tint. The clear crystalline version is suitable for people who are disturbed by the yellow vision or people whose jobs require seeing true colors like graphic design.
Focus
The glasses’ focus creates a slight magnification effect that’s engineered according to the common distance between the user and the screen. Subsequently, improving visibility and comfort.
Coatings
Anti-reflective coatings on both sides of the lenses help to reduce glare, reflecting and blocking UV light, and protecting the vision from harmful rays.
Design
The curved shape of the lenses and the frame of the glasses make them wrap around the eyes. Hence, reducing the dry air circulation in this area and focusing humidity in it, thus increasing the moisture of the eyes and protecting them from irritation and burning due to dryness.
Prescription
Gunnar provides a prescription option for people who already use glasses and don’t want to keep changing between their prescription glasses and Gunnar glasses. This is suitable for far-sighted people who can get irritated by the normal magnification of the lenses or near-sighted people who want to use the glasses to watch TV or far screens.
What do Gunnar glasses do?
The Gunnar website claims that their gaming glasses have a US patented lens. Several reputable sources like LifeHacker, Gizmodo, PCWorld, and GameCrate give favorable reviews for the lens. They mention that the glasses do in fact do function as advertised.
The glasses were tested by gamers and bloggers who were using them while gaming, watching TV, and using several electronic devices. The testers experienced actual relief from eye strain, headaches, and other CVS symptoms, even after long hours of screen usage.
However, it’s worth noting that people who don’t suffer from CVS will most likely experience little to no difference and might even get more disturbed by the tint or the focus of the lenses.
I personally have a pair of GUNNAR intercept glasses, and not only do I love them, but I think that they’re the best blue light blocking glasses on the market.
Reviews
Here are our reviews of two pairs of computer glasses produced by Gunnar.
GUNNAR Optiks Intercept Computer Glasses
- Recommended by doctors, our blue light blocking computer & gaming glasses (Patented Lens #9417460) protects your vision,...
- Unlike other blue light blocking glasses, GUNNAR developed the Blue Light Protection Factor, telling you exactly how...
- The preferred gaming glasses for men and women, GUNNAR protects against symptoms stemming from prolonged screen-staring...
- Specs: lens Width: 58 mm | nose: 17 mm | frame Width: 133 mm | Temple: 135 mm | weight: 33 grams. Gunnar produces...
The Intercept glasses are very efficient for gaming, as well as outdoor use. They have a retro classic design with wide lenses and balanced frame supports. The frame is made from injection polymers with a sturdy lens mounting, a curved nose rest and multi-barrel hinges to provide comfort.
The lenses are coated with hard silicone to protect against scratches and they come in 65, 98, and 65/90 BLPF, which reacts to sunlight and shifts between 65 and 90 amber tints. Their medium to large size makes them a good fit for men.
Not only are these my personal favorite and the one I recommend the most, but they’re one of Gunnar’s best selling products. My favorite color that they come in is the clear one, but they come in a variety of colors.
GUNNAR Jewel Computer Glasses
The Jewel glasses are great for office use for people who spend a lot of time in front of computer monitors. They feature a handcrafted cat-eye curvy design. The frame is made from acetate materials.
The frame is light and flexible with a good weight balance that provides comfort. The lenses have a wide panoramic view capability and they come in the clear 35 and amber 65 BLPF tints. The small to medium size with the stylish design is perfect for female tech users.
Users report no common issues regarding this product. They talk about Gunnar’s excellent customer support and how the cleverly designed framed not only stay on your face while wearing them but are also comfortable and look good.
Do Gunnar Glasses work?
Yes, it provides a very effective solution to CVS symptoms and eye strain resulting from excessive use of digital screens.
You don’t have to ditch your technology or compromise your visual health. Whether you’re playing video games or checking email, if you’re suffering from digital eye strain and headaches, consider getting yourself a pair to protect your vision and relieve your pain.
What has your experience been with a pair of Gunnar gaming glasses? Share in the comments below.
3 thoughts on “Do Gunnar Glasses work?”
Very energetic post, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be a part 2?
All this lens technology sounds impressive but you’re probably still wondering if it actually works. After one solid week of wearing a pair of the GUNNAR Optiks Intercept model, I can assert that these glasses not only work, but they may have saved my job.
Keep on writing, great job!