In this digital age, many of our daily activities are done on or through a digital screen. According to the World Health Organisation, the recommended daily screen time is two hours. However, children often exceed this limit. In the UK, 93% of children between the age of eight and 15 own a smartphone. This excessive use and viewing of digital devices have been associated with adverse health effects in children, including eye fatigue and strain. Experts recommend frequent screen breaks for children as they may not be as alert to symptoms of eye strain as adults.
For young children and adolescents, a lot of their daily screen time may be due to the availability of video games on different devices, including their smartphones, tablets, and laptops or computers. And while most adults and professionals devote their screen time to work or media viewing, they are also highly likely to spend their free time on various forms of gaming. Fortunately, eyewear and gaming-adjacent companies have been working to combat the adverse health effects of digital screen time and long hours of gaming. In this post, we’ll look at what gaming glasses are and three reasons you may need them:
What are gaming glasses?
Gaming glasses are designed to protect eye health while playing video games. These days, children, gamers, and e-sports professionals can spend long periods in dark rooms in front of digital screens. This can cause eye strain and other health problems, such as headaches, dizziness, or nausea. Gaming glasses protect their wearer from the blue light from screens.
Given this trend, high-end brands are investing in gaming glasses to cater to the growing demographic of gamers. Oakley — better known in the eyewear niche for snowboarding goggles and performance sunglasses — recently ventured into its NXTLVL line of gaming eyewear. These glasses use Oakley’s proprietary Prizm Gaming™ 2.0 Lens Technology developed for OLED and LED screens, which reduces blue light and glare without distorting what you see onscreen. This helps gamers stay comfortable during long gaming sessions while keeping the game’s visuals clear and crisp. So what are some other benefits of gaming glasses?
Additional blue light and UV protection
Even if you don’t game too frequently, gaming glasses can still help protect your eye health by reducing the impact of blue and UV light that digital screens emit. Eyewear brand Ray-Ban has a line of eyeglasses that block blue light from screens, whether you’re playing on a computer, on your phone, or on a Steam Deck at night. For extended gaming sessions, the Eliott Optics Limited Edition glasses help reduce the harshness of the light coming from your screen, reducing eye strain and headaches. For female gamers, the Lady Optics range mixes style with eye safety. Gaming glasses, unlike standard blue light-blocking glasses, prioritise clear lenses instead of ones with orange or yellow tints – however, Ray-Ban’s selection can be purchased with both. Make sure you go with clear – it means wearing them won’t distort the colours and details in your game’s graphics.
Improved sleep quality
Wearing gaming glasses can also help improve your sleep quality. A Frontiers in Physiology study highlighted that blue light emitted by electronic devices suppresses the secretion of melatonin — the hormone that helps regulate your circadian rhythm. Lack of melatonin negatively influences your sleep quality, making it harder for you to sleep or causing you to wake up in a less-than-optimal mood. Gaming glasses can help reduce your exposure to blue light and improve overall sleep quality.
Boost gaming performance
Finally, another reason to invest in gaming glasses is that they boost your gaming performance. Gaming can be an exciting and stressful experience, especially if you’re focused on achieving specific goals or achievements in a game. For that, you will need to focus and concentrate, often for long hours. If you’re serious about gaming, gaming glasses are an excellent investment because they are designed for you. Most brands will prioritise blue light protection, anti-smudge, and anti-slip features in the build of their gaming eyewear so that you can game distraction-free and comfortably. Gaming glasses are also often designed to be worn with gaming headsets and headphones so you can grind competitively and comfortably.
You won’t need gaming glasses if you’re planning on listening to our podcast here at TheXboxHub, great for keeping up to date with all the latest gaming news.
