Leveling up your Dark Elf or reading blog posts about technology might be your idea of pixelated paradise, but that doesn't mean your eyes are happy about all the time you spend staring at your monitor. And squinting at email on your phone during the commute home doesn't help matters either. With all the time we spend staring at screens, it's surprising that our eyes work at all.
But if filing TPS reports all day and fragging foes at night leaves you with headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision, you might be suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome. And unless electronic ink displays suddenly take the world by storm, your eyes aren't going to get any better on their own.
Getting away from the computer screen would help. But for those of us who need to be glued to our PCs, a pair of yellow-tinted glasses from Gunnar Optiks just might be the solution to happier, healthier eyes. If the plethora of graphs and slick marketing copy on the company's Web site is any indication, the lenses in a pair of Gunnar glasses will greatly reduce the muscle strain and dryness that eyes typically suffer after hours starinng at a computer screen.
The company sent us a pair to try for ourselves; here's what I thought.
I was initially a bit skeptical of Gunnar's claims, especially since its lens technology is called "i-AMP," and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of independent, qualified testimonials from eye doctors espousing the use of these $100-plus glasses. But once I put a pair on and spent several hours wearing them while writing, gaming, and surfing the Web, most of my skepticism vanished. Not only did my eyes seem to feel better than they do after a typical day of heavy computer use, but my shoulders and back felt less stiff, likely because I spent far less time squinting at the screen and leaning forward to read.
The yellowish tint that the glasses add to your vision takes a few minutes to get used to, but for me at least, they made on-screen text easier to read by cutting out blue light emanating from the screen and the overhead lights. The lenses seem to reduce the intensity of the white background of a word document or web page, without negatively affecting contrast. Text just seems more crisp, which allowed me to lean back in my chair while reading, rather than sitting rigidly up, while sometimes leaning forward.
Text wasn't the only thing that seemed easier on my eyes while I was wearing the Gunnar glasses. Images and games were also less glaring but just as vivid. This likely has something to do with the slight yellow tint, combined with glare reduction, and the blockage of blue light wavelengths given off by the florescent light in the room.
I could go on and on explaining exactly what these glasses supposedly do and how they do it, but you can read the Gunnar Web site for that. Since everyone's vision is different, I'd recommend checking out a pair of Gunnar Optiks' glasses before making the$100 to $190 purchase. You can check here to see if there is a store near you. Or you could just order a pair, and if you don't like them, send them back withing 30 days for a refund.
The lenses are available in 15 different style frames and various colors, which should hopefully minimize the geekiness factor of wearing digital eyewear. And for those who already wear glasses, you can get prescription lenses from Gunnar.
Spending over $100 on a pair of glasses made specifically for staring at computer screens might seem a bit extreme, but if you're suffering daily headaches and severely dry eyes or having trouble focusing after spending a long day at the computer screen, Gunnar Optiks' digital eyewear is definitely worth a look.
Gunnar Optiks digital eyewear is available now in dozens of frame styles and colors, direct from Gunnar, or at a handful of retailers across the US.
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September 5, 2008 2:03 PM
They sound interesting. I wonder whether one can buy the lens as prescription glasses.
September 6, 2008 6:43 AM
I was just thinking the exact same thing as LeisureGuy - I spend most of the day staring at a screen, and the anti-glare coating on prescription glasses just doesn't seem to work. These lenses sound ideal.
September 8, 2008 11:26 AM
The FAQ on their website says that they do prescription lenses.
September 8, 2008 11:38 AM
They sound like Blublockers.
September 8, 2008 12:31 PM
Actually, the best thing that could be done for my eyestrain would be for sites like GearLog to make their fonts adjustable, so I don't have to read what is effectively 6 point type, or worse.
Many sites manage this easily. What can everyone?
September 8, 2008 1:26 PM
Interesting. I personally have had no such problem, so I can afford to be skeptical.
Have you tried using a $5 pair of drugstore yellow sunglasses to test the theory? Or adjusting the brightness and contrast on your monitor? In particular, if your display has a color-temperature setting, try it at the lowest number. Low=yellowish, high=bluish. You can do this right now, free!
If this works, consider replacing daylight fluorescent lamps with warm white lamps as well.
NOTE: Do not try polarized sun glasses - they will just do weird things to your view of the LCD, as LCDs themselves work by polarizing light.
September 8, 2008 2:56 PM
I was skeptical as well. However, I am in front of a three screen system eight hours a day and was willing to try anything. All I can say is - thank you Gunnar - you are a lifesaver!
September 8, 2008 4:34 PM
I wonder if the yellow tinted shooting glasses would do the same thing? You can get those for less than $20, of coarse they aren't exactly a fashion statement and may also make your boss nervous...
September 8, 2008 6:01 PM
I have worn glasses my whole life and I will warn all of you not to go cheap! Good quality lenes are not cheap. You would be defeating the purpose of decreasing eye strain by using cheap imperfect lenes.
September 8, 2008 6:48 PM
@john douglas:
With just about any modern browser, you can use CTRL+scroll wheel to adjust the size of any site.
September 9, 2008 12:10 AM
On thinking about this, there may be an explanation for how these work. The eye doesn't focus red and blue at the same point. You can focus perfectly in red light or blue light--just not at the same time. I remember that the blue lights in the NYC subway were always out of focus--presaging my eyes' increasing inability to focus at a distance, a precursor to needing glasses at 16.
So I won't dispute the effectiveness of these glasses. The price seems far too high for plano tinted glasses, and the developer's explanations of their effectiveness on tonight's news segment was mumbo-jumbo.
Some programmers go for artsy screens. I actually have seen red characters on a blue background, and looking at that for more than a couple of minutes would likely give me a headache too. And what is it about dark gray letters on light gray that is so beautiful? AARGH!
I do find that setting my monitor color temperature up to 7000K (degrees Kelvin) makes the display harsher. 5000K or so seems better.
September 18, 2008 4:24 AM
These are glasses for Gamers? I just googled and saw a few gaming websites that praise this item. No thanks! The last thing I need is to be in my professional office and having some gamer ask me about video games.
September 21, 2008 7:18 PM
John G, I have a few points regarding your comment: firstly, these glasses are intended for anyone who spends a lot of time in front of a monitor. Secondly, if you are in your 'professional office' why would 'some gamer' ask you about video games. Finally, so what if some gamer asks you about video games?
September 22, 2008 3:36 PM
I'm in front of a monitor at least 6 hours a day. The part about the article that concerned me was the lack of testimonials from eye doctors. Mike R's post was from the 8th of this month. Any update, Mike? I don't want to put my eyesight in jeopardy by being a guinea pig for fly-by-night.
September 22, 2008 4:08 PM
I have your back, a. Mr. John G Unbeliever is not worthy of your ire. Do not waste your time with him in defending these magical masks. Just cast a CoD on him. When I have enough G to purchase these fine glasses, I will put out the call for you to join my guild in a 10-man. Until then, my friend...
September 25, 2008 2:42 AM
I was skeptical, but after logging a solid 8 hours of Halo3 with my clan, I can tell you first hand that these things R-O-C-K! It took a while getting used to the yellow color, but they kept my eyes moist, and I was racking up kills, due to my new found agressiveness. The only problem was that the yellow would wear out pretty quick, but for the price of 6 pairs for less than 20 bucks... wait, we're talking about my epic battles playing with Miller High Life bottles on my eyes, right?
November 9, 2008 11:55 PM
I to was very skepticle about these glasses till I tried a pair myself. I manage an optical shop in california and we do a great deal of business with Gunnar. They range from $99 to $139 for most pair and can be made with your rx if needed. We will pick up the tax and shipping within the US.
March 31, 2009 11:07 AM
It is in fact ok to use these glasses for every day use.
Well, not in this review, but tons of others out there say you should not use the Gunnars for every day use (in other words, replace your current glasses)
The FAQ on the site states quite clearly:
Q: Can I wear GUNNAR digital performance eyewear all day?
A: GUNNAR precision frames are designed with one goal in mind - long haul ergonomics. For visual endurance, every frame system is engineered for optimal weight, comfort and durability. Most users prefer GUNNAR eyewear for intermediate distance viewing, however multi-tasking throughout the day is not unusual or harmful.
Not unusual or harmful. Enjoy your new glasses folks! They are stylish and healthy! No eye damage will occur (however you may notice things turn purple when you take them off. It is not dangerous)