GUNNAR OPTIKS EYEWEAR: A HCG REVIEW

It sucks to get old.  Things aren’t quite like they used to be.  Reaction times are slower, stamina is limited, muscle-aches flare up more frequently, and your eyes get drier and strain more often than not, especially if you look at computer monitors a lot.  Which I do each day.

I work at a power plant and work a rotating twelve hour shift from days to nights,  many times looking across 26 monitors continuously as we start or shut down equipment.  These monitors range in size from 20” to 42” and are filled with dynamic graphics and numerical values.  After a day at work, I like to come home and fire up the computer to do some website maintenance and check the news.  Then after all that staring into LCDs and LEDs displays, I relax by kicking on my Xbox 360 and some Ghost Recon, or Call of Duty, or some Battlefield 3 on my 52” LCD TV….needless to say, I get eye strain A LOT.

Enter the dragon…..

Well, in this case, Gunnar’s  “hi tech computer eyewear”.  According to their website, these high quality optics are designed to enhance and optimize your vision.  They do so with their proprietary lens material and advanced lens shape, and custom formulated lens tints and coatings in which they call i-AMP lens technology.

Gunnar’s use of Lens Geometry, as their website calls FRACTYL, tunes the focal point of the lens to enhance detail.  The geometry also includes a highly wrapped design that limits air currents near your eye.  As a motorcycle enthusiast, and as someone that wears safety lenses in a hostile environment, I can attest to the necessity of keeping the lens close to the actual eye as possible.  When I would ride with regular sunglasses, the pressure drop across the back of the lens/frames would bring in dirt and debris and dry my eyes terribly.  Once I bought myself a quality set of riding glasses, my eyes were able to hold up to the 150 mile rides without drying out or feeling gummed-up.  I can readily see how frame/lens wrapping near the eye is beneficial…even though I am not moving at 75 mph, but ceiling fans still move air and this design helps in that protection.

They also utilize a material called DIAMIX.  This material ensures clarity by eliminating impurities within the lens. This proprietary polymer is supposedly a higher quality than polycarbonate for its optical quality in both light refractal clarity and it’s scratch resistant properties.

 

 

 

 

To further enhance the lens’ advantages, Gunnars also utilize Ionik tints.  These tints enhance contrast and filter hout UV rays and glaring high-intensity lights.

The last ingrediant to their lens technology is their IFI lens coatings which include anti-reflective layers and help reduce glare.  IFI also assists in the scratch resistance properties.

All of this “science” into the optics sound really great and should result in great returns for the user….but that’s not all of the story.  As anyone that wears glasses for necessity or for sport or recreation, the frames are as important to the comfort as the lens is to vision.

Gunnar frames are stylish, comfortable, and durable.  They come in a variety of colors, shapes, styles, and even accessories. Each style has different dimensions that ensure a best fit.

Speaking of styles and types, Gunnar has 4 major kinds of their technology eyewear, Gaming, Computer, 3D, and outdoor. These categories comprise of 37 different styles, colors, and usage eyewear, all taking full advantage of their i-AMP lens technology.

To further expand their catalogue, Gunnar even offers special branded gaming related glasses so you can further envelop yourself into game!

Now to my experience with Gunnar eyewear.

As I started out in the beginning of this review,  I sit in front of a lot of monitors, honestly upwards of 18 hours a day.  My focal attention is a must….especially if there are problems with equipment….or if my opponent is sniping me from across the map (which is just about as important as the first)!  In addition to the shift rotation upto 3 times per week, my eyes are already tired and at a disadvantage. Throw in my age of 45 years “young” and you start to understand my vision strain issues.

I ordered a pair of the PPK glasses in gunmetal and black onyx.  Granted,  I went with the style more than anything else….I mean, I may be old, but I’m not dead.  These glasses are the style I would wear normally.

I have about 2 weeks with them at work and a couple of weekend gaming sessions, along with some computer time.  They are so lightweight and comfortable, I forget that I am wearing them at all and wonder around the house with them still on, even if I am not gaming, computing, or working.  In fact, they are so easy to wear, the kids keep calling me “Bono” cause I wonder around the house with them on.

At work, these glasses are just as effective reading the dynamic data and graphics as they are with playing Call of Duty on my Xbox.  The contrast is excellent, especially against the light grey screen backgrounds and blue/red/orange alpha/numerical digits. They filter out the cool white fluorescent lights in our control room and replace the glare with warm light that is easy on the eyes….especially after only a few hours of sleep and at 3 a.m.

My focal length from chair to monitors varies at work at about 36”, to my computer at home at about 20”, and my TV and gaming console at about 60”.  Throughout this variances of distances, background lighting, fluorescent lighting, and monitor sizes, these glasses work great and help eliminate eyestrain and enhance vision contrasts.  My eyes feel more rested, comfortable, and relaxed throughout the day and my use of eye drops have all but ceased.

Now all of the above is from someone that has had Lasik eye surgery about 13 years ago, so needless to say, I do not need prescription eyewear.  But if you are someone that has a prescription and need RX glasses, your in luck!  Gunnar eyewear is prescription compatible utilizing the same great technologies as their non-prescription glasses.

Prices vary depending on models.  Looks like most are between $49 to $149.  Considering the hours one can spend on a monitor, I consider these prices very fair, especially considering I wear them most of the day now.  (Just for the record, I received a 30% off coupon from www.RAPTR.COM for being a member).

Overall, I have to say that these glasses, at least the PPK style that I am using, are a great asset for both gamers and computer enthusiasts and users.  I have absolutely no arguments against the glasses themselves and truly believe they helped me with my eyestrain.  With everything that I have experienced with Gunnar, I have to give these glasses a 5 out of 5.  I highly recommend them. Check them out at your local Best Buy or at Gunnars.com

Review by Robert Orcutt

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