Loading... Sight for Sore Eyes

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Posted Fri, Oct 09, 2009 by Ethec

Welcome to the 1,184th edition of Loading...

Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.

One of the more interesting products I've had the pleasure of reviewing lately wasn't a game at all. Gunnar Optiks has created a line of glasses for gamers, complete with stylish and functional designs said to reduce eyestrain for those who spend countless hours in front of a computer.Using my prescription glasses and a pair of similarly shaped and tinted shooting glasses for reference, we'll examine Gunnar's claims in today's Loading... Sight for Sore Eyes.

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Gunnar Optiks has developed a line of "digital performance eyewear" designed to reduce eyestrain when viewing a computer screen over long periods of time. Since I've been known to view a computer screen for long periods of time, I picked up a pair at PAX 2009 just to have, but also possibly for a review. This review, in fact. Note to the FCC - I paid real money, no like-kind consideration was given for a future review, nor did I like the product so much I bought the company. Still, I wasn't disappointed. The glasses are as stylish as anything you'd buy for twice the price at a high-end sunglasses boutique, and they're suitable for other "low blink" applications like night driving. But how and why do they reduce eyestrain?

Sifting through the robust marketing on the site, you'll start to see what makes these glasses unique. The lens material, spiffily dubbed diAMIX, is a proprietary polymer said to be tougher and have better light transmission properties than the polycarbonate lenses commonly found in prescription eyewear.
Lens tints and coatings filter out the harsh blues and upper portions of the color spectrum your monitor is likely pouring into your eyes right now. But even if you opt not to go with the amber tint (best for monitor viewing, I was told) and go with crystal clear lenses, you'll still benefit from the wraparound "lens geometry" - which studies and fancy graphs have shown to increase moisture retention in the eye by creating a "microclimate" that traps in humidity and limits "evaporative air currents." The lens geometry on some models is said to be tuned to the average distance a person sits from a computer screen, too.

That's a bit of the marketing spin, and I'll admit that the demo was compelling enough for me to drop $75 on the product. I like the freedom of wearing contacts (though Gunnar has a prescription program too). Also, I had some alternative uses in mind. So, let's see how the Gunnar lenses measured up for me, and keep in mind that your mileage may very.

Since PAX, I've had occasion to try out my Metallic Marleys through dozens of levels of Aion and Champions Online and plenty of EVE Online too, plus night drives aplenty, on several long flights, and for a few dozen miles jogging and biking in eye-drying chilly weather. On average, under normal wear, I can get about seven hours out of my contacts before my eyes dry out to a noticeable degree. My highly subjective proof that the Gunnar glasses do what they say is that I can get another 2.5 to 3 hours out of my contacts while wearing the glasses for long intervals, and I prefer contacts and Gunnars for long periods of computer work and gaming to my scrips. The amber color tint is fairly mild and doesn't mess with the game's colors nearly as much as you'd think, and the clarity of the small text so common in MMORPG UIs is a little clearer and resolved, especially on smaller screens.

So the Gunnar Optiks glasses compare favorably to my prescription glasses on style, wearing comfort, and clarity. But maybe I could get some of the same benefits. To try it out, I have a pair of amber tinted wraparound polycarbonate safety glasses that I use for shooting. Right off the bat, it was clear that the materials in the Gunnar glasses were much clearer and distortion-free than the polycarbonates. Through the one session I gamed with ballistic protection, I didn't get the same moisture benefit despite a fairly similar geometry, probably due to excessive blinking causes by lower-quality vision. It seems like Gunnar is definitely onto something by combining quality materials with good design.

Nothing beats some occasional rest for your eyes, but if you have trouble with dry eyes in front of a computer screen (like me, and especially during allergy season), I'd recommend giving these glasses a try. I'd probably have paid $20-$30 more for the style and functionality, and am seriously considering taking them up on their prescription program. There's even a thirty-day satisfaction guarantee to limit your risk if your experience is different than mine. And, unlike sunglasses, you're far less likely to accidentally grind these glasses into your car seat or leave them at a restaurant.

Tried Gunnar Optiks before, perhaps at a games shot? Have problems with dry eyes while gaming and found another way to solve the problem? Have your say in the Loading... forums and have a great weekend!

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day

From our Articles, News and Events Discussion forum

Windows 7, gaming, and why you should care

In the past, when my techy husband wasn't around to give me computer advice, I've fired up MSN Messenger and hunted down my co-worker, Eric "Dalmarus" Campbell, to beg his assistance. This is because I know that, by virtue of his techy "day job," Eric knows his stuff.

And, since Eric is so knowledgeable, who better to write up an article looking at Windows 7 and gaming? The article has spawned a great discussion in our forum. If you're wondering whether to upgrade, or if Vista shook your faith in all things Microsoft, check out what our community has to say about Windows 7, then join in the discussion.

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Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread

"lol yeah. I always laugh at the ppl that say Vista sucks. The only people that think it sucks are the ones who shouldn't own a computer anyway since they clearly don't know anything about it. It's a far superior OS to XP, hands down."

- revolution77

"WTF are you smoking because I would like some of it. IT guys hate Vista and my wife works for a high security government position and her IT guys won't touch; Micronuts can't give it to them for free. The only thing it's far superior at is giving people a migraine headache. Screw DX10 and Vista they can keep it."

-OneEyeRed
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!

8 new Ten Ton Hammer MMOG features today! 49 in October! 1,097 in 2009!

Today's New Features & Guides

Aion: First Impressions
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75321/

Aion has been out for several weeks now. Still haven't decided whether to give NCSoft's latest a try? Sepharious offers his first impressions.
Aion Newsletter - The Daeva Weekly #4
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75343

Whether you quest for your experience or you kill for it, how Aion dishes out that experience can become very important. This week's word on the street is that the Korean servers will be seeing a major boost to quest XP. How does this effect NA and EU servers, and how do players feel about it? Find out in this week's newsletter!
Editorial - Top Five (or so) Surprises in Aion
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75342/

Aion does not revolutionize the way we play MMOGs, but in its own way Aion smoothes some of the rough edges of an aging market recipe. Learning from predecessors and contemporaries alike, Aion adds in some much needed components to set itself apart. Today we review some of those Aha! game mechanics that bring a little something different to the players of Aion.
Champions Online - Supergroup Showcase: The Kinship
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75350

The strongest heroes in Champions Online often need a hand, and that's why there are Supergroups. We here at Ten Ton Hammer understand the importance of player communities in online games, and that's why we've chosen to showcase a different Supergroup every couple of weeks. This week we delve into what makes The Kinship tick.
Aion Maps: Pandaemonium and Sanctum
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75317/

Aion's biggest cities may have everything you need, but you can only use it if you can find it! Save yourself some time and check out these Pandaemonium and Sanctum maps provided by one of our helpful community members. The labeled and color coded maps will help you find your way around town so that you can get back into the action faster and more prepared.
Final Fantasy XIV Screens and Concepts
http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/tid/2303

Japanese mega-developer Square Enix has released some new media for their upcoming MMOG, Final Fantasy XIV. The game is being developed for the PS3 and PC and promises to be as immersive as its predecessors. Set in the all new world of Eorzea, the game promises all the scenic beauty and lush landscapes fans of the series have come to expect.
Aion Newsletter - The Daeva Weekly #4
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/75343

Whether you quest for your experience or you kill for it, how Aion dishes out that experience can become very important. This week's word on the street is that the Korean servers will be seeing a major boost to quest XP. How does this effect NA and EU servers, and how do players feel about it? Find out in this week's newsletter!
WoW: Reputation Portal
http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/reputation

We've got a new reputation portal out there for you to find all of our excellent reputation guides at. As if that wasn't enough, we've also got our "Gaining Favor" guide updated with new facts. If you need to gain reputation then our reputation portal will be your first step to leveling up your rep for the items, the achievements, or enchants. We've even got class by class guides to what reputations can get you for you.