Whether you play video games casually or professionally, your choice of gaming accessories can make a significant difference in your performance, comfort, and overall experience.

For example, a previous review of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 headset highlights the importance of prioritizing factors like wireless connectivity, battery life, and sound quality to allow you to feel fully immersed in the gaming experience. Through its 2.4GHz Wireless and Bluetooth 5.2 technology, 80-hour battery life, AI-based noise reduction, and Immersive Spatial Audio, the headset helps you hear the game audio clearly and communicate with other players more effectively.

However, besides gaming headsets, another essential piece of equipment worth looking into is a pair of computer glasses. The digital displays for computers, laptops, and consoles can expose your eyes to excessive amounts of blue light, which is a known risk factor for computer vision syndrome.

Also known as digital eye strain, computer vision syndrome affects individuals like gamers who spend prolonged periods in front of screens through symptoms like dry eyes, visual fatigue, redness, eye strain, and irritation. These ocular problems can negatively impact your gaming experience, health, and overall quality of life but can, fortunately, be managed through ergonomic practices, such as wearing computer glasses during electronic use.

Below, we highlight factors to look for in computer glasses to ensure visual comfort and reduce health risks while gaming.

Frame style and material

Since gamers typically spend consecutive hours in front of digital screens, it’s essential to choose computer glasses with frames that maximize comfort. When browsing eyeglasses online on the retailer Eyebuydirect, you can find a wide selection of frames that are not only affordable and stylish but also practical due to their lightweight designs that are compatible with gaming headsets. These include the Romy frames made of acetate and the browline Coexist glasses in stainless steel. To further ensure that the frames do not cause discomfort and dig into your ears or nose, Eyebuydirect lets you sort the products based on their fit, such as frames with adjustable nose pads and frames for those with a low nose bridge or a small face.

Specialized lens technology

In addition to choosing lightweight and comfortable frames, ensure that the computer glasses are equipped with lenses that can minimize the amount of blue light that enters the eyes to combat digital eye strain. Viable options can be found in the brand GUNNAR Optiks, which released gaming-themed frames in collaboration with the video game franchise Call of Duty. The release not only includes thin flat frames that work well with headsets but are also suitable for gaming through specialized Sun Shift lenses. These lenses can block blue light from electronic devices to relieve symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches while also transitioning to a darker tint for sun protection while outdoors.

Protective lens coatings

Lastly, it’s worth looking into additional lens coatings for your computer glasses to ensure durability and further protect your eyes from screen use. This means considering anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings, which aim to increase contrast and reduce screen glare for sharper vision. This way, you also reduce the risk of squinting excessively to see text and images on the screen clearly, making it easier to play fast-paced games like Overwatch and Valorant. Anti-scratch coatings are also available at leading optical retailers like LensCrafters to improve resistance to scratches, smudges, and dirt, which may otherwise damage your lenses.

In addition to wearing computer glasses, taking regular breaks during gaming can preserve visual comfort and protect your long-term eye health. Continue reading The Geek Church for more guides and resources on tech and gaming.