Gunnar Optiks R5306/8-C002 Catalyst Bit Surfer Digital Performance Eyewear with i-AMP Lens Technology (Espresso)

by Gunnar Optiks

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001DUOWCI
• UPC: 811127010090
• Item model number: R5306/8-C002
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,008 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Product Description

Color: Espresso

Manufacturer Description

Your eyes are tired...staring at a computer for hours and hours takes its toll. The common solutions for handling eyestrain require you to modify your work habits or take numerous breaks throughout the day. They're all patchy fixes that pull you away from your work. So take your choice...digital eye fatigue or less productivity.

There is a better technology driven solution that works with and enhances properties of the human eye. Gunnar digital eyewear increases visual performance, prevents Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) and protects against full-blown Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It all begins with i-AMP lens technology -- an optical platform that incorporates proprietary lens materials, lens tints, lens coatings, and lens geometry. Gunnar digital performance eyewear is engineered for an immediate and profound visual advantage and now even the most demanding computer users are more productive and more effective for longer periods of time. Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear -- the must have digital performance equipment for your digital lifestyle.

Catalyst Bit Surfer
Bit Surfer's rimless, wide format optics feature a sleek angular lens outline. Flexible polymeric temples conform to a variety of face shapes. Featherweight and ultra-high definition, the Bit Surfer supports the i-AMPTM enabled lenses in a perfect wearable position.

i-FI lens coatings
i-Fi lens coatings filter and protect. Our proprietary nano-filters help capture all of the good light coming from the computer screen while diffusing the bad reflective light and glare. The outer coating provides a protective layer that shields the lens from scratching, abrasion, and oxidation damage.

fRACTYL lens geometry
Computer generated fRACTYL lens geometry mimics nature through advanced science and engineering. Aiding the natural focusing power of the cornea, our lens geometry eases eyestrain caused by near distance computer viewing. fRACTYL lens geometry uses independently curved front and back surfaces to provide unparalleled distortion-free optics. Fused with Gunnar frames, the tightly arced lenses form a personal ocular microclimate that prevents dry eyes.

iONik lens tints
iONik lens tints take harsh artificial light and precisely tune it to match the anatomy of the eye. Our custom organic dye compounds condition and shift transmitted light into the preferred color spectrum, increasing visual contrast, detail and resolution. Edges of screen pixilated images read more easily and interfering blue light is reduced -- ultimately your eyes are less fatigued.

diAMIX lens material
No existing lens material had all the properties we needed. So we gave our lab techs the task of developing the lightest, most optically pure lens material possible. Beating out polycarbonate on the toughness scale and rivaling the undisputed optics of ground glass, diAMIX is the next generation of lens materials for those that demand the highest optical qualities.

Product Description

Digital data streams at you all day, every day.  From computer screens to cell phones, PDA’s to blackberries, the relentless visual assault is frying your eyes.  Now there’s a solution for even the most demanding digital user.   GUNNAR Digital Performance Eyewear helps computer users be more productive and more effective throughout the day.  Our performance eyewear line also helps prevent Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) and protects against Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a visual condition that negatively impacts millions of computer users each year. Constant stress on the eyes causes the symptoms of DEF and CVS, which include blurred vision, eye strain, dry eyes, double vision, light sensitivity, eye fatigue and headaches.  The American Optometric Association estimates that 125 million computer users suffer from some form of CVS.   Every year vision disorders account for more than $8 billion in lost productivity and can decrease employee performance by as much as 20 percent according to research published by the Vision Council of America. GUNNAR Optiks offers digital performance eyewear that gives you a visual advantage by making you more productive and more effective for longer periods of time. It all begins with i-AMP lens technology, a patented optical platform that incorporates proprietary lens materials, lens tints, lens coatings and lens geometry. GUNNAR Optiks focuses on both function and style - designed for the sophisticated, image-conscious digital user. 

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great PC glasses, August 31, 2009

By 

N. S. Phillips - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GUNNAR Computer Eyewear - Bit Surfer Ash Frame (Personal Computers)

The PC glasses are great for using on the PC. I thought they may assist with eyestrain issues with gaming on my 52" lcd TV. For that application they actually made my eyes water up faster. I think it's probably because of the dark screen in most games and the fact that the screen is so big. But for using for hours upon hours in front of a smaller 22" Lcd hooked up to my PC while at work they work quite well. They don't look all the bad or geeky either.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars works as advertised = pass / fashionable = fail, November 28, 2008

By 

sunburst - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gunnar Optiks R5306/8-C002 Catalyst Bit Surfer Digital Performance Eyewear with i-AMP Lens Technology (Espresso) (Personal Computers)

Gunnar Optiks, a new company, never heard of before, just recently came out with these glasses, supposedly reducing eye strain and improving productivity on the computer.

If your a person who sits at your computer for many hours at a time, I would certainly recommend these if your having eye strain or persistent headaches from viewing your monitor.

For the most part, I only use them at night, as eye strain tends to go up due to the decreased room brightness and since I haven't had any headaches or eye strain since using the glasses I can honestly say they work for me.

Fashionably speaking, you wouldn't want to be walking around the office with these on but on that same note, you wouldn't want to be walking around with these on in the first place as the curved lens will make you a bit dizzy when walking.

So, should I buy these? These glasses aren't right for everybody, as said above, I would only recommend these if you spend long hours on the computer, programming, hardcore gaming etc... Otherwise, the average person probably doesn't need these.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gunnar Optiks works really well for me, January 21, 2009

By 

Sidarta Tanu (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: GUNNAR Computer Eyewear - Bit Surfer Ash Frame (Personal Computers)

Though some people seems to dislike it (Your miles might vary), it works really well for me and I think it is definitely worth the try if you use computer regularly or if you experience eye strain when using computer. It doesn't take long for me to get used to with this (less than 5 minutes). I don't wear prescription glasses and I use computer at my work for 8+ hours a day. This glasses reduces glare and brightness while maintaining the same contrast and clarity of the text. I can feel less eye strain when I'm using this glasses. I haven't use this Gunnar optiks glasses at work yet but I have use it for several hours at home. I don't know the long term impact of using this glasses but I will try to update if I have any important update, and I will also research from time to time if other people have update on long term impact of using this product (especially if your eyes are already good to begin with). The price seems a bit steep (especially for the plasticy design but) but most other brand is also quite expensive too. Things seems to be more yellowish (yellow tinted) with this glasses but I'm used to it now after a couple of hours of usage. If color accuracy is critical for you (e.g. editing photos or some art/graphic design work etc), then you might want to try the ones that is not color tinted.

Pros:
1. Reduces eye strain
2. Reduces glare and brightness but maintain clarity and contrast
3. Lightweight
4. Basically, it works for me (but FWIW, I didn't have any issues before wearing this glasses either).

Cons:
1. Plasticy build (and I feel that it can break at any time if I accidentally press it too hard as the glass has no frame, for this particular model)
2. Expensive (but I guess you get what you paid for)
3. Not the best design (it might look good on you or it might not. try a couple other design or know which one that will fit you nicely before buying if possible)
4. YMMV (Didn't work for some people)
5. Yellow tinted (not very good if color accuracy is critical for you)
6. Not sure yet what the long term impact (if any) of using tihs product.

In conclusion, if you are using computer a lot, or already experiencing eye strain from using computer (watching the screen for many hours a day), this glasses should be able to help remediate those issues (though some people might not be compatible and feel dizzy wearing this glasses and I'm not sure why). I'd say it is worth the try.

Hope Gunnar Optiks glasses works for you too,

Sidarta Tanu

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