Eyesight issues are one of the potential risks of too much screen time. The fact is, the Vision Council discovered that 70 % of American people in one study documented having some sort of electronic eye strain (dry, red, or strained eyes; blurred vision; neck pain; back pain; headaches; or general exhaustion) due to using digital products for several hours.

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We have noted a few ways to avoid or alleviate eyestrain, such as using the 20-20-20 rule to consistently give the eyes a break and anatomically improving the workstation.

Along with these important changes, computer eyeglasses could also relieve or reduce digital eyestrain, depending on your state.

I personally discussed with several eye health professionals to acquire more information about most of these special eyeglasses, and also did a two-week test evaluating new specially-coated eyeglasses with older ones. So, let’s find out are these gaming glasses worth using in our screen times.

How Does Computer Eyeglass Work?

The one popular online optical store Firmoo.com offers its wide range of gaming or computer glasses that are special-purpose glasses designed to optimize the vision when you are looking at digital screens. Most of these glasses from Firmoo are made to increase contrast, reduce strain, reduce glare (which is a major root cause of eyestrain), and improve what a person sees through the lenses – helping to make it less difficult to look at a computer screen for longer periods of time.

Allow me to share a couple of main features you will see in computer eyeglasses like these:

Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating

Anti-reflective coating reduces brightness coming from computer screens and light origins. Specially-designed gaming and computer eyeglasses have this coating on prescription eyeglasses that work as an anti-reflective coating at the same time.

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On the other hand, you cannot assume all anti-reflective coatings are identical. My own pair of glasses a few years back had low-quality coatings that were continuously catching streaks and grime – actually triggering eyestrain and eyesight issues as a result.

Color Tints

Some gaming eyeglasses also have a unique (usually yellow-colored) tint made to optimize the contrast on the computer screen and remove the harsh or uncomfortable light spectrums so that your eye muscle tissues relax. The particular tinted eyeglasses are signatures of VC and Gunnar Eyewear eyeglasses;however, tints may be applied to some other eyeglasses as well.

Costs

Most of the computer glasses cost for $89 or up if you are looking for the non-prescription versions; however, you can usually find discounts on them online. Prescription versions, however, could cost hundreds of dollars.

The coating alone costs a lot. The anti-reflective coating on my eyeglasses cost me $170, in addition to the cost of the frame and lenses.

Are Computer or Gaming Eyeglasses Effective?

Regardless of whether computer or gaming eyeglasses are worth it and meet your needs is fuzzy, because, as Dr. Anshel says, things such as the vision ability and work environmentalconditions, computer usage, and the viewing routines. This is what users and experts have said about most of these eyeglasses.

If you are not suffering from any kind of eye issues, you better just stop here. Computer eyeglasses or specially-coated ones will not do good for you (it just geekify your look). Believe it or not, they could be an obstacle. Dr. Robert Noecker, Director of Glaucoma for Ophthalmic Consultants and an ophthalmologist of Connecticut, says that: Gaming or computer eyeglass doesn’t always reduce eye strain in an already designed environment. Also, the particular range that your eyes can pass from one side to the other is optimized without any eyeglasses.

Having said that, many people have digital eye strain,and they just overlook it. Dr. Bazan who owns Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn and an active member of The Better Vision Institute on the Vision Council, states:People are so familiar with their eyes feeling exhausted at the end of the long day, they accept it. Simply because it is natural, does not necessarily mean that it is fine.

A couple of scientific studies back this up. A scientific study and survey by the New York University of Medicine of 120 patients, noticed that 70% of patients preferred AR-coated lenses over non-coated ones and noted lower vision problems or pain due to brightness. 80% of patients preferred Transition lenses (the sorts that adjust to light) over crystal clear ones.

Are They Gimmicks?

Gaming or computer eyeglasses firms such as Gunnar Optics buzz up their solutions and make use of infomercial-like techniques and conferences (trademarking every brand and using various other “XTREME” advertising terms). Therefore, it is perfectly logical that people are doubtful and believe they are just gimmicks.

Having said that, Krista Anderson, an eye doctor and co-owner of Pointe Vision in Grosse Pointe Woods, the state of Michigan, says that the majority of the options that come with gaming or computer eyeglasses like this are actually ones she suggests to patients in any case: tints, anti-reflective coatings, and so forth.

So,Should You ReallyBuy Them?

Before you decide to choose special eyeglasses, you should make sure you have first set up the workstation and tweaked the computer habits for the best vision health.

Many optical stores have warranties and return policies, so you can easily try out the eyeglasses yourselfin order to find out if it can make a positive change in your eye health.