Gunnar Optiks and Uvex computer glasses both promise to reduce eye strain, prevent computer-related headaches, and be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. But Uvex’s basic frames, while not even remotely as visually appealing as the Gunnar line, are a fraction of the cost. Let’s see who is victorious in this battle between beauty and the beast.




The Contenders

You’ve probably heard of Gunnar, or at least seen one of their high-octane, gamer-focused ads with slogans like “keep your balls moist.” Uvex, on the other hand, is relatively unknown unless your job requires a lot of PPE (personal protective equipment). Here’s a quick rundown of what they’re all about:


This comparison is all about how cheap and functional computer glasses like Uvex Skypers hold up against the chic, heavy hitters like Gunnar SheaDogs. Assuming they both work, the Uvex Skypers seem like the obvious choice for those looking to save some coin, and the Gunnar SheaDogs are best for those who like to look good. I’ve been wearing both for the past couple weeks to find out for sure.

Gunnars Block a Lot of Blue Light, but Uvex Block More

Chart via Gunnar Optiks.

In order to judge the effectiveness of these battling blue blockers, you need to understand how they work. Computer glasses have an unmistakable orange or amber tint to their lenses, which filters out the harshest light, or “blue light.” Some also have an anti-reflective, UV blocking coating that reduces the amount of bright light passing through the lenses and into your eyes. The more bright, blue light that’s filtered out, the less your eyes have to strain to look at your display. Do they actually work? We’ve talked about it at length before, and for the most part, they do. In fact, there’s evidence that suggests blocking out blue light before bed even helps you get better sleep.



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In the chart above, you can see that Gunnar’s blue blocking lenses filter out about 65% of blue light. That’s pretty good compared to some of the other lens coatings on the market. However, Uvex Skypers block out a whopping 98% of blue light. Just for an example, my router has some blue LED lights. When I wear the Gunnars, the blue lights are less bright and turn a greenish color. When I wear the Uvex Skypers, the blue lights disappear entirely. The Skypers’ high blue blocking made me the most comfortable during long stints at the computer.

There is a downside though: Everything is a warm, amber color. The Gunnars at least allow for some color variance. Gunnars also have a UV400 anti-reflective coating to help reduce glare, and the Uvex Skypers don’t. I personally can’t tell how much this helps, but as we’ve explained, people prefer AR coated lenses over non-coated ones. Even so, UV protection does not mean Gunnars are designed to be worn outdoors. You’ll still need a pair of sunglasses for that.


Both Are Comfortable to Wear, but Gunnars Look Less Silly

How wearing each pair makes you feel.


Uvex Skypers get the job done, there’s no doubt about it, but they look absolutely ridiculous. Part of that is because they’re also impact-rated safety glasses, and also because they cost about as much as a fast food combo meal. Despite how dorky you might look in them, though, they are super comfortable to wear. They have a molded-in bridge that rests comfortably on your nose, and the cushioned temples are adjustable to three different positions. The lenses also have an anti-fog coating, so you don’t ever have to worry about your nerd goggles getting steamed up.



I can’t speak for all Gunnar styles, but the SheaDogs are pretty comfy as well. They’re super lightweight (only 20 grams), so you barely feel them on your face, and the frame seems flexible enough to fit different face sizes. The temples of the frames are also extra thin and rest right along the side of your head, so wearing over-the-ear headphones works perfectly. You can wear headphones over the temples of Uvex Skypers as well, but things aren’t quite as airtight. If you like to use noise-cancelling, over-the-ear headphones like me, the fit could be better. And of course, the Gunnar SheaDogs biggest boon: they look like a stylish pair of glasses. There’s no denying that all of Gunnar’s frames look way better than what Uvex is offering. That said, I still felt kind of odd wearing them. For reference, I felt silly wearing the Gunnars in a coffee shop, but I couldn’t even bring myself to put on the Skypers. As Dr. John Dorian would ask, “Do those come with allergies and headgear?”


The Gunnar SheaDogs also have a slight magnification to them that’s supposed to further reduce eye strain, but would actually give me a headache after an hour or two. I had laser eye surgery earlier this year, however, so my experience may be different than yours. Many people seem to like the slight magnification. The Uvex Skypers don’t feature any magnification (that I could notice anyway).


Gunnar Offers Prescription Lenses, Uvex Skypers Can Fit Over Some Frames


Gunnars also have the advantage of offering prescription blue blocking lenses for most of their frame styles. They’re not cheap, though. For example, the SheaDog style frames would cost you somewhere between $230 and $350 for prescription lenses. And that cost would be in addition to whatever your normal frames or contacts cost you.



Still, Uvex Skypers are one size fits all with no possible way to get a prescription. If you need vision correction, you’ll have to wear contacts or your normal frames underneath them. The adjustable temples on the Skypers make it possible to fit most frames underneath (I could fit my old thick, hipster frames), but it’s not the most comfortable option. Not by a longshot.


Uvex Offers Way More Bang for Your Buck, Gunnar Is Better for Gaming

No. No it doesn’t.


My eyes feel at rest when I wear my Uvex Skypers. That’s not always the case with my Gunnars. They do a decent job of blocking light, and are plenty comfy, but the slight magnification and smaller field of vision I have with the SheaDog frames end up doing more harm than good in the long run. And bottom line, Uvex Skypers cost me a grand total of $9 with free Amazon Prime shipping—or about 12% of what the Gunnar SheaDogs cost me. That’s insane. I can’t believe I bought a pair of Gunnar’s first. Also, for the record, I wore my Skypers while I wrote this.



If you’re really worried about looking somewhat stylish at the office, and you have money to burn, then sure, go with a pair of Gunnars. They work fine. But, truth be told, you’re not going to look cool anyway. The orange tint of blue-blocking lenses are always going to make you look like a neo-maxi-zoom-dweeby. Life hack: stop trying to look cool, nobody cares. I say go for broke—or not broke rather—and pick up a cheap pair that get the job done.


That being said, the amber tint on Gunnar lenses are better for gaming if that’s the main reason you want computer glasses. They don’t block as much blue light and I wouldn’t recommend them for long days of working in front of a computer screen, but they do let you see more color variation on your display. Uvex lenses make it feel like you’re inside a bottle of orange soda, and that’s not ideal when you want to have adventures in beautiful, colorful worlds. However, even Gunnars will give an amber tint to everything (unless you go for the non-blue blocking crystalline line). And, despite Gunnar’s claims, their glasses do not “increase gaming precision and graphics,” so temper your expectations. At best, they’ll let you play your favorite games for a little longer before your eyes get dry and tired.

