Thursday, June 25, 2009

Geek Review: Gunnar Optiks Digital Performance Eyewear

Gunnar Optiks

I'm doing a Geek Review of a new product I just acquired. Like many of you other Geeks out there, I spend a lot of time in front of a monitor. After several hours a night searching the web, blogging, manipulating and posting pictures, my eyes get severely exhausted. I'm constantly putting drops in my eyes. For the longest time, I thought this was due to my laser eye surgery and my big monitor. When a colleague busted out these Gunnar Optiks glasses the other night at dinner, I was intrigued. He complained about the same kind of eye fatique and said these glasses made it 100% better. That's quite an endorsement. Skeptical, I did some research and found many positive reviews as well as a few neutral reviews. One of them calling Gunnar Optiks a plaseebo for the eyes.

So how do they work? I have no idea. But here is their attempt to explain the mojo:

Based on optometric principles developed over years, and fused with the most recent in technological advances from the GUNNAR tech labs, i-AMP lens technology works with the properties of the human eye.

Comprised of a proprietary lens material in an advanced geometry and finished with custom tuned lens tint and coatings, i-AMP lens technology can deliver an immediate and noticeable visual advantage in the short term, and provide performance in the long term.


I think this means the lense and tints filter the light from your monitor in such a way as to reduce eye strain. Think of them as sunglasses for looking at your computer.

Here's the model I purchased. Pretty slick looking, but definitely geeky.

Gunnar Optiks

So what's the verdict? I have to say they really do work. I'm a fairly cynical guy, but when I put these on, I immediately noticed a difference. It's almost as if my eyeballs relaxed a bit and didn't have to strain as much. It was a noticable "ahhhhhhh....." moment. Is it real or just because I plopped down $140? I think real cause after two days, I think the novelty would have worn off by now. Are my eyes completely free of exhaustion? No, but the difference is pretty significant.

Downside? There are a couple of downers. First of all, I got laser surgery years ago so I don't have to wear glasses. Yet here I am back at square one almost. Although it should be noted that these glasses are intended for use in front of the computer only. You don't wear them everywhere or driving or anything like that. Just in front of the computer. Secondly, the amber-tinted lenses make everything look slightly yellow. Not great when i'm color-correcting photographs.

In conclusion, if your eyes get tired from staring at a computer screen all day long, you should consider these glasses. They can also make them with a prescription too. They have several different models and styles but most of them look pretty high-tech and Geeky. I'm a fan.

2 comments:

Brian said...

I'd love to hear a followup review after you've had them for a month or two. I saw these PAX last year and have been very curious.

Shady Grove Eye Vision Care said...

Eyestrain is often caused by excessively bright ambient lighting — either from outdoor sunlight coming in through a window or from harsh interior lighting. For the most comfortable computer use, ambient lighting should be about half as bright as that found in most offices.

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