For some context here, I spend an inordinate amount of time on the computer. Not only does my profession demand I be on the computer for multiple hours a day, but my personal interests in PC gaming keep me on even longer. Adding to this is the fact that one of my favorite activities is sipping on gourmet coffee while surfing the internet. As someone who can be on the computer for over 12 hours a day, digital eye strain had become an issue that slowly but surely crept up on me. And it wasn't until a fellow gamer friend of mine recommended computer glasses that I really appreciated how severe the issue became.
What's interesting is that in this rapidly-growing digital age, I'm not alone by any stretch of the imagination. Many people don't even realize they suffer from digital eye strain to begin with, so they don't even think to get rid of it. Before going into more depth with this Gunnar glasses review, let's go briefly go over a few things. Click here, if you'd like to skip right to the Gunnar Glasses review.
What is Digital Eye Strain?
In short, it's actually exactly what it sounds like. It's eye strain that's produced from looking at digital screens whether it be from a computer, phone, or television. Many people mistakenly think digital eye strain is only caused by computer screens while forgetting about phones and the television. Have you ever felt like your eyes were really tired after staring at a screen for long periods of time? Well, that's actually a degree of digital eye strain. For more information, check out this American Optometric Association.
What is Blue Light?
Digital screens emit artificial Blue Light which can cause headaches, dry eyes, blurry vision, eye fatigue, and macular degeneration. I can say personally that I've experienced many of these symptoms during my decades on the computer.
Just like many sunglasses are designed to block UV light, Gunnar computer glasses are tailored to block out artificial blue light. For more information on Blue Light, click here. Gunnar also offers a simple chart below to reflect the degrees of protection against Blue Light.
Why Wear Computer Glasses?
It was well over year ago that a fellow gamer friend of mine recommended Gunnar Glasses to me. I don't wear prescription glasses to begin with so the thought of having to wear glasses to be on the computer was admittedly unappealing to me. But boy am I glad I did. I purchased Gunnar's Emissary Glasses since I favor the classic modern look. These particular glasses are rated to block out 60% of all artificial Blue Light.
Gunnar Glasses Review: The Look
The Emissary model glasses feel like they were engineered for both performance and durability. It certainly doesn't feel cheap. The rims are made of an aluminum alloy that's sturdy but impressively light. These are the type of well-balanced glasses that will have you forgetting you're even wearing glasses in the first place. That was a very important feature for me especially since as I mentioned earlier, I don't normally wear glasses.
- One-piece front construction
- Lightweight construction
- Proper weight balance
- European hand-crafted materials
- Aluminum/Magnesium Alloy
- Proprietary patented GUNNAR lens material and tint
- Blocks harmful blue light and 100% UV light
- Anti-reflective lens coatings on front and back of lens
Gunnar Glasses Review
As soon as I put them on and looked at my computer screen, I could feel a major difference. The subtle amber tint made my eyes feel very much at ease and made focusing on small text much easier. I remember that first week of wearing these glasses opened up my eyes to a whole new world of comfort (no pun intended).
I've been wearing these glasses every day now for over a year and I can say my eyes have never been happier and healthier.
Incidentally, after a year and a half, I lost my glasses last week and had ordered a new pair. I went two full days without having my trusty Gunnar computer glasses, and it really made me appreciate the value of blocking out artificial Blue Light. My eyes felt hyper-sensitive and I found myself not wanting to be on the computer for that reason alone. When the replacement set of glasses arrived, it was like my eyes returned to heaven. There literally was a night and day difference between wearing and not wearing these computer glasses.
Gunnar offers 62 different styles, each of which appeal to varying tastes and situations. I'm glad they didn't restrict customers to just a handful of designs. Instead, they developed an array of styles that range from a modern classic look to a sleek futuristic look and feel.
I was also extremely pleased to see they offer prescription computer glasses as well which is called their RX series. I recommended these for my father who wears prescription glasses and also is on his phone and computer a lot.
At the end of the day, I'd highly recommend these glasses for anyone who is in front of a screen for long periods of time. In fact, I'd recommend them to people who stare at screens for even short periods of time. There's a reason Gunnar is known for producing literally some of the best gaming and computer glasses in the business. My personal experiences with these glasses are fully inline with their reputation. When it comes to protecting your eyes, you simple shouldn't skimp on quality. So do yourself and your corneas a favor and invest in some Gunnar glasses. Life in front of the computer will never be the same.
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