If you’ve played video games until the wee hours of the night, you’ve probably experienced a feeling of regret when you wake up the next morning (or afternoon). In addition to feelings of grogginess, late-night gaming sessions can cause itchy or dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches. 

These symptoms are not exclusive to hardcore gamers; even casual enjoyment of video games can lead to a condition known as digital eye strain. To remedy this, retailers have introduced gaming glasses, which claim to regulate sleep-wake cycles, reduce eye strain, minimize glare, and allow you to play to your heart’s content.

But are these gaming glasses really worth it? Do they actually deliver on their promises? Are they really any different than regular blue light-blocking glasses? Keep reading to find out.

The Dangers of Digital Eye Strain

Before getting into the nuances of gaming glasses, let’s talk about the issues they aim to correct, including digital eye strain. This condition, also known as computer vision syndrome, can happen to anyone who stares at a screen for too long, whether it’s typing on a computer at work, scrolling through social media on your phone, or binge-watching your favorite TV show. However, gamers are often more susceptible to this condition because of the intense focus required to navigate the game successfully.

The symptoms of digital eye strain include:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Dry, red eyes
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Trouble focusing
• Blurred or double vision
• Headaches
• Disrupted sleep
• Reduced productivity

While most of these symptoms are temporary and lessen once you stop using your device, they can continue for longer periods of time, especially if you have uncorrected vision problems like farsightedness or presbyopia. 

The Effects of Blue Light

So, what causes digital eye strain? What makes looking at a screen different than looking at anything else? The answer lies in exposure to blue light, which is emitted by phones, computer monitors, and TV screens. While it’s also found in sunlight, blue light exposure from digital devices is particularly concerning because of the screens’ close proximity to our eyes and the length of time we spend using our devices.

Blue light is on the higher-frequency end of the visible light spectrum, which means it contains higher amounts of energy. Our eyes cannot effectively filter blue light, which means that more of it passes through to the retina. Although blue light promotes alertness, elevates mood, and regulates the circadian rhythm, excessive exposure can have adverse effects, contributing to digital eye strain and sleep problems.

Too much blue light exposure at night — a common time for gaming — can disrupt your circadian rhythm. Blue light tells your body that it’s daytime, keeping you awake and focused. As the sun goes down and the light dims, your body knows it’s time to start producing melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. 

When your eyes are exposed to blue light late at night, your body doesn’t produce the melatonin it needs, making it hard for you to fall asleep and stay asleep. Without sufficient sleep, your eyes don’t have the chance to recover from digital eye strain, exacerbating your symptoms.

Gaming Glasses vs. Blue Light Glasses

Gaming glasses are designed to alleviate some of the negative effects of late-night video game sessions. However, they’re not much different from standard blue light-blocking lenses. 

Gaming glasses usually have a yellowish tint to the lenses, which doesn’t actually contribute much to their effectiveness. They often have anti-glare properties, as well, but this feature isn’t exclusive to gaming glasses — special coatings are commonly added to prescription glasses to reduce glare.

Rather than shelling out extra cash for specialized gaming glasses, you’re better off opting for more versatile blue light glasses. If you need prescription lenses, talk to your optometrist about adding a blue light filter or an anti-glare coating to your next pair of eyeglasses. 

Tips to Protect Your Eyes While Gaming

In addition to blue light exposure, factors like lighting, glare, viewing distance, posture, and underlying vision problems can also negatively affect your vision when gaming. To learn more about how to protect your eyes during screen time, check out these blog posts:

• Do Glasses Help Prevent Eye Strain?
• Computer Vision Syndrome: How Much Screen Time Is Okay For Your Eyes?
• Tired Eyes? 6 Useful Things You Can Do To Help Eye Fatigue
• Blue Light: The Impact Of Digital Eye Strain

Personalized Solutions at Wolcott Optical

If you’re not sure whether blue light filters, anti-glare coatings, or gaming glasses are a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Wolcott Optical. We have helped countless individuals find effective solutions that allow them to see the world more clearly. Come visit us in Millcreek, Utah, to explore our wide range of options.

For those in the optical industry or who wear glasses, crazed or crazing is a term you have possibly heard before. But what are crazed lenses anyway? What do they look like and how can they be avoided? Crazing affects the appearance of lenses and sometimes can alter their function. Learn more about this phenomenon in this blog!

What Does Crazing Look Like?

Crazing looks like tiny cracks or fractures that can resemble spider webs on the surface of your lenses. Crazing doesn’t usually penetrate the entire lens, the cracks occur in the protective coating. Because of this, crazing shouldn’t affect the functionality of your glasses. However, small cracks can impact the clarity of your vision while wearing the crazed lenses. 

What Causes Crazing To Occur?

Glasses can easily become damaged by several factors. Scratches, dents, damage to arms, bent frames, and other wear are all common when you use your glasses daily. Crazing is a consequence of a few different factors which are discussed below. 

Age 

After frequent use, glasses and lenses will experience wear and tear. As they age, your lenses are more prone to crazing or cracking. Exposure to multiple environmental factors (heat and moisture especially) can lead to crazing. Not all crazed lenses happen on older glasses. Crazing is still possible when other factors or damage to the protective coating occur.

Temperature Fluctuations

Extreme temperatures or rapid temperature changes can lead to crazed lenses. Temperature impacts the AR coating, causing it to expand and contract leading to cracks. If you want to avoid crazing on your lenses don’t leave your glasses in your car or out in direct sunlight. 

Chemical Exposure

Certain chemicals can cause damage to your glasses. Household cleaners, hair creams, or any other abrasive chemical mixture will strip away the protective coating on your glasses. Once the coating of lenses has been weakened, they are more prone to crazing. 

How Do I Prevent Crazed Lenses?

It may not always be possible to prevent damage to your glasses, but taking proper care of them can lower the risk of problems like crazed lenses. 

The easiest way to protect your lenses is to store them and care for them properly. Storing them in a hard case when not in use will prevent them from getting scratched or broken. When glasses are stored in a proper place, they are less likely to be exposed to fluctuating temperatures and chemicals. 

Cleaning your glasses with the proper solutions and tools will prevent crazed lenses. Using a microfiber cloth to remove build-up will lessen the likelihood of scratches. The right cleaning solution should be nonabrasive so as not to damage the protective coating.

Keep your glasses on your person or in your personal space at all times. Don’t let others touch or wear your glasses or leave them where children or pets can reach them. Taking good care of your glasses will prevent crazed lenses from occurring. 

Will Crazed Lenses Impact My Vision?

Crazing occurs in the protective coating on your lenses, so it typically does not impact your vision while wearing your glasses. The small cracks and webbing can change the clarity of your lenses and reflect light. While this may not negatively impact your vision or worsen your vision, it can cause eye strain while wearing crazed lenses.

Are Crazed Lenses Covered Under Warranty?

Depending on where you get your lenses from, a warranty will vary. Crazing often occurs as a sign of wear and tear, which will not be covered under warranty for your glasses. When purchasing glasses, customers need to read through their warranties to understand what damages or accidents will be covered. Warranties will replace your glasses if an accident occurs within the warranty timeline. Crazing may not be covered under all warranties, so you may find yourself purchasing new lenses with your own money. 

Lenses From Wolcott Optical

Wolcott Optical offers multiple types of lenses to consumers. Lenses are crucial for many who have vision impairments and should be treated with the utmost care. Wolcott offers far-sighted lenses, single-vision lenses, trifocal lenses, progressive lenses, and more! No matter what option you choose, our team can help you find the lenses and frames that will suit your needs. 

We strive to combine a traditional and modern approach to eyewear. Helping people to improve their vision while combining fashionable eye frames and quality care is important to us here at Wolcott Optical. Our focus on customer service will never take a back seat to sales, you will have the best fit when you work with our experts.