sponsored by Gunnar Optiks
Gaming has become more than just a hobby for many of us. It's a way of life, an escape into a virtual world where we can unleash our competitive spirit and immerse ourselves in thrilling adventures. But have you ever stopped to think about the toll it takes on your eyes? Hours of staring at a screen can lead to eye strain, dryness, and even long-term damage.
That's where Gunnar computer gaming glasses come in.
Gunnar Optiks, a company that was featured on Shark Tank, was founded in 2007 by Matt Michelsen, his wife Jennifer, and Joe Croft, an Optical Engineer. In 2003 Matt was diagnosed with Digital Eye Strain after suffering from constant headaches that resulted from long hours on the computer. With technological advances on the rise and people spending more time in front of screens then ever before, Matt and his wife knew that something needed to be done to tackle Digital Eye Strain. They teamed up with Joe Croft, an Optical Engineer, and Gunnar Optiks was born.
My experience with Gunnar glasses goes back several years when I bought my first pair at a STAPLES Office Supply store, I used to work there so the discount was nice. We had just received this small cardboard "side-kick" display that held a handful of glasses and styles. Seeing new merchandise was always exciting and this product just made sense to sell next to computer monitors.
I purchased the PHENOM style back then as it is more of a business professional and conservative frame size that it looked more like regular glasses and less out of place in public. Since my job at the time was computer repair, I wanted to treat my eyes to a little less strain. But to be fair, the real abuse my eyes would suffer was when I would spend long hours in Azeroth when I would play World of Warcraft.
In my 20's I would have very little eye strain or discomfort while playing games, but now that I'm an old man in my mid 30's, my eyes seem to dry out and begin to blur after a few hours of gaming. Over the years I had been inconsistent while wearing my Gunnars, so I attribute some of my current issues to being irresponsible with how I have been treating my eyes. Now you might be thinking, "Why don't you go to the eye doctor for a prescription lens? Maybe you've got something wrong with your eyes." I've gone to two different eye doctors who both told me that my vision is 20/15 and that a lens would not help me, but were both happy to hear about my use of blue light blocking lenses.
I want to thank Gunnar for sending me a pair of their Intercept glasses for review but I want to be clear that my review is my own and in no way influenced by Gunnar or the fact these were gifted glasses for review.
With that out of the way, lets get on with the review.
Let's talk about the Intercept frame style. Intercept have a retro-classic design and rectangle shape and are on the larger frame size, in my opinion. I have sort of a big face and these glasses look like they are a little large even for me so if you have a more petite face, these will likely be an awkward size for you. I don't mind them being a little large for me because the whole reason I reached out to Gunnar in the first place was to see about trying out a pair of their glasses that featured larger lenses. When I got my original pair, I was gaming on a 15" MacBook Pro so the smaller frame didn't pose an issue where the screen would become obstructed by the edges of the frame if I moved my head around while playing. Now that I've moved onto a gaming desktop with 2x 27" monitors, the smaller frames don't give me a lot of room before I notice them in my view and it kind of takes me out of the immersion of the game.
Gunnar's patented lens technology not only enhances your gaming experience but also protects your eyes from harmful blue light and UV rays. With G-shield™ lens coating, it makes these glasses less reflective so you have less glare and reflection on the inside giving you a better view of the screen rather than your eyes. I have been using this pair exclusively now for several months during my long 12+ hour shifts at work, as well as long gaming & streaming sessions and they make a BIG difference on my eye comfort and how long I can go before my vision becomes impaired and I need a break.
I had a lot going on this year so my review has taken a while to come out. My computer being down for 3 months at home due to a faulty ASUS Motherboard taking their sweet time with my warranty replacement and various personal life stuff absolutely played a role. I wasn't overly worried though, because I really wanted to spend a good amount of time with these glasses and I knew that the longer I waited to write it, the better and more accurate the review would be.
So, if you're serious about gaming or spend long hours in front of a computer screen and want to protect your eyes from the harmful effects of blue light, the Gunnar Optiks are the way to go and consider the Intercept frame style as it's durable frame, patented lens technology, and comfortable fit make it a must-have for anyone, especially gamers. Say goodbye to eye strain and hello to a more enjoyable and comfortable gaming experience!
