GUNNAR Optiks at PAX

Doctors are always telling us that we need to look out for our health. Eat this. Don’t eat this. Exercise more.

The litany of things they tell us to do, or not to do, can be extensive, but not many of them have actually said “Hey, take care of your eyes now, you will miss them later when your eyesight gets poor.”

As more and more people spend a large majority of their time on computers and playing video games, the strain to our eyes is something every individual should consider. How many of us spend 8-hours or more on our computers for our day job, just to go home to a small break from the computer and then either back to it to play an MMO, read the news, or to a console game to play video games? Chances are, among gamers, that number is high. And a large number will agree that there are days our eyes are really tired because of the strain they experience focusing on screens day in and day out.

Well, someone finally realized this was a problem that was growing, not only for gamers, but for people who have to work with computers, whether it be in design, writing, programming or any number of jobs that require 8+ hours in front of a computer and has worked with optometrists to help provide a solution.

Enter GUNNAR Optiks.

I had the opportunity to speak with their Vice President of Marketing, Mark McNabb, Friday morning before PAX opened. Below is the outcome of our interview.

Kayhynn: Tell me a bit about GUNNAR Optiks, how it was founded, etc.

Mark: Essentially the company got started four years ago, one of our co-founders was a Wall Street guy, sat in front of a computer screen eight hours or more a day and would come home, eyes dried, completely fried and would go sit in a dark room for a few hours come back out, still grouchy. Wife would ask him why and he’d say his eyes just felt fried.

He went to his friend and future co-founder, Joe Croft, and asked what can we do for lens technology. He said “let me work on it” and started working with schools of optometry and doctors to work on lens technology. Long story short, GUNNAR was formed with yellow lens, fractal lens geometry, anti-reflective coating on the inside and outside of the lens, real light-weight lens material.

What we’re trying to do with these lenses is help remove the fatigue from the eye of those folks who work in a digital environment and have to stare at a computer monitor for eight to ten hours a day.

It all started out of a garage with the concept of how do we take care of the optical needs for this digital generation.

Kayhynn: Tell me about the different types of lenses here.

Mark: We have a Transcopic lens which is a lens with variable viewing distance. You can sit seven to 15 feet from a console gaming and it will work with your eyes to reduce fatigue

We also have a Neoscopic lens which is designed for near distance viewing, for those sitting near a computer screen all day, whether working or playing. It makes things a little sharper, a little clearer for those folks who sit 24 to 36 inches away from a monitor.

With the yellow lens, we’ve skewed it to a more manageable part of the color spectrum. Since it’s a warmer color, our eyes actually do better with it.

They are light weight with a lot of coverage around the eyes to help prevent your eyes from drying out.

The glasses have straight arms. This is for headset compatibility. You can slip them on under the headset and you’re ready to go without that pressure point on them from normal glasses.

Kayhynn: You mentioned collections. Tell me about about them.

Mark: We have an indoor collection which is the amber tint. We have a clear lens coming out soon for graphic designers and video game designers who have to deal with color and can’t have the amber tint to the lenses.

We currently have a lot of photo and video editors testing the crystal lenses and we hope to bring those out soon.

We also have an outdoor collection. This one is our radiant gold for low-light. Let’s say you’re at Starbucks in the shade, but working on your computer, this will still enhance the screen, but not wash it out. We have a gray lens for bright, intense sunlight.

Our collections, for indoor and outdoors, with different lenses and tints so at the end of the day it’s about how sharp and clear we can make your vision and take the fatigue and load out of the eye.

Kayhynn: What about prescription lenses? Do you provide lenses for people who already wear glasses and would like something like this?

Mark: We do that too. We take your prescription. Our lab will take your prescription and fill it. All we need from you is your doctor’s information and prescription for the lenses and we’re set and ready to go.

Kayhynn: This, obviously, is the first time I’ve encountered these glasses, but hearing about what you guys are doing with the lenses is amazing. I recall my doctor telling me when I had contacts that I should wear reading glasses while working on the computer, being as I write and edit all day long, to reduce the strain of focusing on my eyes. I felt it defeated the purpose, but eventually saw and understood what she was saying. It does take a tool on your eyes.

Mark: And that’s the beautiful thing about what we’re doing here. We’re trying to take care of your eyes when you’re sitting there at the computer screen before you have to wear glasses and be tethered to them to be able to see. At the same time, it gets you used to wearing glasses before you are required to wear them.

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I have to say that the folks at the booth were among some of the nicest and most enthusiastic people talking about their products while also not being pushy about it. They had gaming consoles and games set up for people to play and test the glasses out right there at their booth.

While the glasses are on the higher-priced side, the quality, craftsmanship and benefits are definitely apparent.

I look forward to hearing more from these folks and their products and look forward to reviewing some of their items in the near future.

About GUNNAR Optiks

GUNNAR Optiks is the leading provider of digital performance eyewear designed to enhance computer use by relieving the effects that stem from prolonged viewing of computer screens and other digital devices such as PDAs, cell phones and blackberries.

GUNNAR is the first digital eyewear manufacturer to combine performance, precision, technology and style to help combat Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) and Computer Vision Syndrom (CVS) – a condition that affects 125 million Americans, according to the American Optometric Association. Symptoms include eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes or headaches – caused by exposure to digital screens.

GUNNAR’s patent-pending i-AMP lens technology helps relax the eyes, improves performance and delivers the optimal viewing experience.

GUNNAR is a privately held company founded in 2005. One of the founders who observed her four-year-old son embrace the digital era inspired the idea for GUNNAR Optiks. At that moment, she realized the potential of digital performance eyewear – as equipment that could both protect computer users from the negative impact of view digital data, and at the same time enable anyone on digital screens to be more productive. Thus, the creation of GUNNAR’s stylish frames, scientifically and technologically advanced lens technology.

Located in San Diego, Calif., GUNNAR’s executive team includes several former senior managers from Oakley. GUNNAR offers four collections of high-performance digital eyewear with 15 styles to fit each individual’s personal taste.

GUNNAR’s line of high-performance digital eyewear is available in speciality retail stores nationwide and online at www.gunnaroptiks.com.