Gunnar Optiks Computer Glasses - Catalyst Edge - Available in Various Color Choices

Other products by Gunnar Optiks

Product Features

• diAMIX lens material - a custom blended proprietary polymer, which beats out polycarbonate on the toughness scale and rivals the undisputed optics of ground glass.
• fRACTYLlens geometry - custom designed to provide focusing power that eases eye strain.  The wrapped lenses also reduce air flow around the eye, creating a microclimate with increased moisture levels. 
• i-FIlens coatings ¿ anti-glare coatings that filter out harsh artificial reflected light.
• iONIK lens tint - Specially formulated tints condition and shift the color spectrum to provide superior contrast, detail and resolution.
• Frame Design - built for visual endurance, GUNNAR frame systems are engineered for optimal weight, comfort and durability.

Product Description

Color: Crimson

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 Edge
A fast and sleek lens profile, Edge gives a rimless and unencumbered view of the digital world. Integrated modular frame with sculpted metal hinges create the optimal ergonomics for long sessions in front of the screen.

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. 

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 3 x 2 inches ; 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001DUSXVY
• Item model number: R6638-C004
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,488 in Health & Personal Care (See Bestsellers in Health & Personal Care)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality eyewear, but a little pricey for what you get., January 21, 2009

By	Nix Cadavre "Nix" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

(What's this?)

First, a disclaimer: I'm an Optical Technician. I dispense glasses for a living, so I know good eyewear when I see it.

Now, the review: This is good eyewear. It's a quality pair of glasses with all the right enhancements to do exactly what they claim they can do. Specifically, this is a pair of glasses with a +.50 add correction on the lenses, so they do magnify just a tiny bit, but are still comfortable for someone with no prescription for corrective lenses. They have a high-quality gold tint that naturally blocks some of the harsh blues from the light spectrum. They seem to be a high-quality material (I'd guess they're a hi-index, but not a premium brand) and have an anti-reflective coating to cut down on glare from the computer screen (or they'd work equally well when driving).

The frame itself is of excellent quality. I wouldn't say it's a high-end frame, but it's certainly good material and a pleasing design. Nothing cheap here. It's a drill-dot frame, and as such could be prone to loosening or breaking if the end user doesn't know how to properly care for them, though. The included instructions don't tell the user HOW to clean them; Only WHAT to clean them with (the included microfiber cloth).

In case you're wondering what I mean, here's my free advice for owners of these glasses (or any rimless drill-dot frames) - When cleaning your lenses, hold the lens between your cloth-covered thumb and index finger ONLY, and then gently rub the lens you're holding between those fingers. Do NOT hold onto the frame in another spot with your other hand (not the bridge, Not the temples, etc.) with these sorts of frames, because the drill dots are not made to take continual stress.

So anyway, all told, this is a quality pair of glasses. My only complaint, being that they are not prescription glasses, nor are they polarized, is that the price is slightly higher than I'd expect to see from an affordable optometrist or prescription eyewear store. It's not outrageously high, but it is marked up just a bit considering that these are marketed as plano lenses (essentially, competing in the sunglasses market).

You can wear these while driving and you'll see an improvement in clarity. They do help a great deal when sitting in front of a computer all day. The slight magnification will even make it easier on your eyes to focus on small fonts all day, so they function more as a pair of high-quality tinted reading glasses, in that respect.

Tinted, off-the-shelf reading glasses range in price, depending on quality. I'd put these in the "best quality" mark, and then you'd add a double-digit fee for their basic AR coating. So the highest I'd expect to pay for these would still be about thirty dollars less than the list price, at best.

I will add, however, that these do come packaged in an excellent box, with a nice case/cloth. They're very stylish and seem quite high-end. I'd be surprised to find anything this nice in a retail store. My opinion is that you're paying extra for the style, the packaging, and the excellent marketing terms (those fancy names for their lens technologies? They're just cool-named brands of AR coating, tinting, add power, and lens material that you can find elsewhere).

So are they worth it? Well, if you want a nice pair of +.50 reading glasses, they're very worth it. If you want a good pair of glasses for driving, these are just about perfect. If you want something to make computer use less stressful for your eyes, they're also up to the task and will do it with more style than you probably deserve.

They're worth it, but you ARE paying a little extra for style. You'd probably be hard-pressed to find as nice a pair of glasses with such good marketing at your local optical store for under one hundred. And after all, when it comes to glasses we are paying for style as well as function, aren't we?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, But Not Without Flaw, February 2, 2009

By	SevereWX (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

(What's this?)

I was very excited at the prospect of what the Gunnar Optiks eyewear could possibly do for me. I sit at a computer anywhere from 8 to 12 hours per day, and for me, looking at a monitor for any length of time results in headaches, and stressed, tired eyes. Could the claims that Gunnar Optiks make about it's special eyewear hold true? I was about to find out.

Upon receiving my package from the nice folks at Amazon.com, I was instantly impressed with how Gunnar Optiks handled the packaging. Inside a dense cardboard box with the Gunnar Optiks logo, lay another box, presumably some form of aluminum or tin, with a hinged lid. The glasses were pressed into a foam cutout that held them perfectly safe, and covered by a soft cloth pouch. There was no way these glasses could have been damaged during shipping, unless the package were to be run over by a vehicle or some other sort of catastrophe.

The niceties of the product packaging aside, the real question remains, do the Gunnar Optik glasses live up to their hype? Removing the glasses from their nesting place, I was instantly surprised at how lightweight they are. Considering they are crafted of polymer frames and lenses, they weren't expected to be heavy, but I didn't expect them to be quite so feather-light either. Though the glasses are constructed of "plastic", I wouldn't call them cheap feeling. I imagine they would withstand a lot more abuse than metal frames and glass lenses could, before suffering from breakage. As much as these glasses would cost to replace though, I am not about to put that theory to the test.

The amber tint of the lenses reminded me much of the shooting glasses I wear during range sessions. They seem to result in the same effect too, when looking at the computer monitor. Contrast is increased, and the overall screen looks sharper and easier to read text. These glasses will not work well for when I edit photos or do other color-accuracy demanding visual editing however, as the tint does affect how colors are seen. These glasses are best left for reading text, playing games, or other non-color accurate work.

The fit of the Gunnar Optik glasses are surprisingly good, they stay on my face where I put them, and even after hours of wear, they don't slide or feel heavy or irritating. I found I have to physically move them with my hand if I want them to move. I am exceptionally pleased with how well they fit my face and stay put.

The glasses do indeed work as advertised for me. While wearing the glasses, I have not had any more headaches, or tired stressed eyes from long hours at the computer each day. I can see these glasses becoming an important staple in my daily life.

Now for the flaw. The bridge that crosses between the lenses on these particular glasses flow far enough into the lenses that they are visible as a dark blob in the field of vision. Most persons can adjust to this and learn to ignore it, but it is there nonetheless. If you're the type that thinks this would be an unforgivable annoyance, I would recommend looking for a different style of Gunnar Optiks.

The bottom line is this: The Gunnar Optiks eyewear works as advertised. Whether the results are scientifically backed or mere placebo effect is not important to me, as the end results are the same, and just as beneficial.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helps prevent eye strain, but there's an annoyance..., January 21, 2009

By	Juniorverse1 - See all my reviews

(What's this?)

I am a software developer who is in front of the computer for 8 hours a day. I love the way these glasses seem to enhance the text and images on the screen, and I definitely notice less fatigue on my eyes. The last 3 hours of every day is usually when the eye fatigue starts setting in, but since I've been using these, there seems to be a lot less strain.

However, there is one obnoxious thing about these glasses that is driving me crazy. The plastic part in the middle that connects the nose piece to the lenses stretches a bit too far onto the lens, so while you are wearing them it gets a little annoying to have this black thing right there in your line of sight. It's not obtrusive per se, but it is a bit distracting at times, particularly when you move your head. For as much as this product costs, I would think they would not have an issue like this. These seem to be very cheaply made overall, but I would look past that if the nose piece attachment wasn't so noticeable while wearing them.

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