HyperX enters the gaming eyewear market with a stunning pair of specs

By Rich Edmonds
published

HyperX is taking on the likes of Gunnar with their new gaming specs, how do these lenses actually help your eyes? We're here with all the answers.

Gaming eyewear is glasses that are specifically marketed for those who stare at computer screens for countless hours each and every day. Instead of improving vision, these glasses simply help mitigate the negative effects of using screens. Whether or not these actually lend a hand when it comes to protecting vision against strain by making it easier to gaze at a display for extended periods of time is a debate best left to the experts, but many swear by said eyewear and I personally rely on them. Here are my thoughts on the HyperX Gaming Eyewear.

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The magic behind the lens

Various features that can be found in computer glasses include anti-reflective coated lenses and even colored tinting. In the case of HyperX, we have a "crystal clear lens" design with blue light protection in mind. That's the important part, which is the major factor in shielding the eyes. Prolonged exposure to blue light can have a harmful impact on the retina, which is responsible for converting light rays into impulses that head to the brain.

As an added bonus, there's also a coating to repel water, oil, and dust. This may not sound like such a big deal, but when such particles hit the lens, it can cause issues with vision. The last thing you want to have is the task of wiping lenses every hour.

HyperX Gaming Eyewear

The lenses themselves are created using a premium material called MR-8, which offers the following:

The best balanced high index lens material with the largest share of the R.I. 1.60 lens material market. MR-8 is suited to any strength ophthalmic lens and is a new standard in ophthalmic lens material.

What the MR-8 brings to the table is better efficiency at minimizing color distortion compared to that found in lower index lenses like glass, polycarbonate, and CR-39. What sets HyperX's offering apart from more popular competing products is the lack of a yellow tint. Rocking clear lenses make the company's specs excellent to wear during media consumption and gaming where colors are not masked before hitting the eyes.

Unfortunately, the company is not yet releasing any details on Rx prescription support. Plans are in the pipework, however, as noted in the FAQ; "we are working hard to provide them as soon as possible." For anyone with decent enough vision (20/20 will do nicely), these glasses will be absolutely fine, but everyone else will need to hold off for now or pick up a pair from another company that can cater to personal requirements.

HyperX quality

HyperX Gaming Eyewear

If you've used HyperX products you already know about the quality of their hardware. The new eyewear is no different and is extremely comfortable to use, even for extended periods of time. The company hasn't sacrificed on performance to make an attractive pair of specs either. After spending a few days with the pair we received, I experienced no eye strain after wearing them while looking at a monitor, tablet or phone throughout the day.

The frame itself resembles that of a traditional pair of glasses, rather than something more aggressively designed for gaming. This plays into how comfortable the specs are to wear. There's very little in the way of flex with the frame and overall construct being more than sturdy enough. Spring hinges are present for quick release and folding of the temples, and they feel high enough quality to last for some time.

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HyperX Gaming Eyewear

It's lightweight too. One downside to the construct is how the nose pads are integrated into the frame and cannot be adjusted. This can be viewed as a positive by those who don't manipulate them and would rather have something less difficult to keep clean. Lastly, something worth noting is that the HyperX Gaming Eyewear lenses are not polarized but do provide UVA/B 400 protection.

Bundled in the packaging alongside the glasses is a protective bag, as well as a hard case — everything you need to take them along for the ride to LAN events.

Looking through the glass

Are the HyperX Gaming Eyewear worth picking up? Absolutely, especially if you find such lenses to help in keeping your eyes in top condition. Personally, I found them to offer similar levels of protection against harmful rays as Gunnar specs, but without the yellow tint present on my other pair of computer glasses. They're comfortable to use, even after some hours, and should last for a long time (so long as proper care is employed).

HyperX Gaming Eyewear

For $100, the eyewear isn't affordable by any means, but the investment is well worth it when health is affected. Availability officially only includes the U.S. for the time being.

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Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

10 Comments
  • Soooo, is there any peer reviewed evidence that these thing are worth it?
  • After almost 2 years of using Gunnar (with yellow tint), my eyeball pressure level has normalized. Before I used it, the pressure was above normal which caused dizziness (I have my eyes checked by optician twice a year). But note that I am working in front of the screen for over 8 hours a day, hence my condition. If you're not working long hours in front of a screen, or only playing a couple hours of gaming time a day, it may not impact anything.
  • These guys did a small study that indicated they were useful, but the follow up study attributed it to placebo. http://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=verg  
  • These are useless. Blue light is great for eSport gamers and gamers in general. Blue Light is absolutely not dangerous on any existing screen (PC or phone). The only issue is being exposed to it a lot before going to bed: it can prevent you from sleeping. But for actual gaming performance the more blue light the better.
  • blue light makes your brain receive more visual stimulation, so is good for gaming experience and player performance, but of course your retina is heavily stressed (eyes are not meant to stare at bright and dynamic images for too long). And, as you wrote, the brain associate high energy light with sunlight, causing insomnia.
  • @aemond; Lol, are you insane; do some research before spreading BS.  
  • I have read research from actual scientists on the topic, not endorsed by glasses makers. You know that you get much more blue light just by being outdoor, right? Blue light is emitted by the sun. The intensity​ of blue light emitted by any display of any consumer products is much much much much lower than what is considered to be a risk for the health. As discussed the only issue of being exposed to blue light is when it's night time because it prevents you from being sleepy. Also, as some explained, these useless glasses can be replaced by just using customized settings of your display or software like flux.
    Making a break when you're in front of a screen is always good. Not looking at screens when it's super late as well. In any case you don't need overpriced placebo.
  • What this lenses really do, apart from not adding any eyestrain with dust, oil and water coating, is essentially to filter blue light. The low blue light functions implemented in Windows and in most of new monitors are enough, they don't have any color shifting problems (that in any case ARE a consequence of every lense for technical limitations) and they are included in what you already have. Products like this glasses are simply useless. The only solutions to eyestrain is a good quality monitor and healthy habits, like stopping intense gaming sessions for 10' every 30' (search online for further suggestions).
    Taking care of your eyes during pc usage is a must. PS I'm no expert, just a "monitor enthusiast"
  • of course blue light reduction shifts colours toward yellow, but is unavoidable. 
  • I would rather go with Gunnnar less expensive and an established well reviewed brand in the gaming glasses space, but nice to see some competition; the big problem I see with the HyperX glasses is whether they are headset friendly, which does not seem to be the case with the huge behind ear design, so that is a no go for most gamers already.