Austin Carroll is a writer and web designer from Eugene, Oregon. He's been at HGG for five years and maintains an active role designing and develop... Read more
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Every gamer’s been there. You’re in the midst of a marathon session, the red bull is flowing, and you’re not missing a beat. Then, something starts to feel off. You begin missing easy shots and your eyes start to flicker at inopportune moments. Eye fatigue has set in, and your chances of victory are dwindling before your very eyes. The good news? The best gaming glasses for enhanced optics can fix all that… and more!
Gaming glasses eliminate eye strain by blocking blue light, preventing glare, and protecting the corneas from stress. This means no more headaches, blurry vision, or insomnia. Want to game without the worry of eye strain? Try a pair of the best gaming glasses and see the difference for yourself.
10 Best Gaming Glasses
We’ve created this list of the top gaming glasses to help you level up your game. Check out the summary and main features of each pair below.
1. Gunnar Riot Glasses
The best gaming glasses overall
Brand: Gunnar | Style: Rectangle | Tint: Amber | Protection: 65% blue light, 100% UV light, anti-reflective | Price: 💰💰💰
Gunnar Optiks has a reputation for making the best gaming glasses on the market. That reputation is well-deserved, as pro Esports gamers and Twitch streamers alike can attest. They come with various blue light blocking options, 100% UV protection, and anti-reflective coating to reduce eye strain. They also utilize “Gunnar-Focus,” which provides a 0.2 magnification to help gamers zero in on those little details.
We think the Riot series are the best Gunnar glasses for gaming because of the combination of features, protection, and value. They have a minimalist, rectangular design that will look good on any face shape. You can get them in espresso or onyx.
- USERS LIKE
- Sturdy build quality and light frame
- Comes with a cleaning cloth, and a pouch for traveling
- Eye protection makes eyes feel relaxed and less strained
- USERS DISLIKE
- Amber hue distorts colors
- Hinges are a little bit tight/hard to move
- Some users report headaches due to magnification after prolonged use
2. Gunnar Lightning Bolt 360 Glasses
The best premium gaming glasses
Brand: Gunnar | Style: Rectangle | Tint: Amber/Sun | Protection: 65%/90% blue light, 100% UV light, anti-reflective | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
If price is no object and you want the absolute best glasses for gaming, then you might want to take a look at the Gunnar Lightning Bolt 360s. These top-of-the-line gaming glasses come with all the features we described in the Riots, plus a few extras.
They have three interchangeable “lightning bolt” earpieces designed to relieve temple pressure when worn with a gaming headset. They also come with two interchangeable lenses — “amber” for dim-light or traditional indoor settings and “sun” for bright, sunlit conditions.
They also come with three nose sizes and are available in prescription through Gunnar’s website.
- USERS LIKE
- Highly customizable design
- Made to be comfortable with headsets
- Magnification, blue light, UV, and anti-reflective coating help reduce eye strain
- USERS DISLIKE
- Over $100
- Lightning bolt earpieces aren’t ideal for all users
- Reports of curved lenses refracting light toward the edges of the lenses
3. Feirdio Blue Light Blocking Glasses
The best budget gaming glasses
Brand: Feirdio | Style: Rounded-square | Tint: Clear | Protection: Blue light blocking, UV light blocking | Price: 💰
Looking for the best budget gaming glasses? Nothing says bargain like 2-for-1!
The Feirdio Blue Light Blocking Glasses pack comes in twenty-eight different color varieties. Many cheap “blue light blocking” glasses just throw an amber tint on glass and call it done. These use low color distortion lenses that block harmful blue light without affecting color too much. They come in a stylish square design and are even polarized!
- USERS LIKE
- 28 color combinations
- Includes cleaning cloth
- Two pairs of glasses for $12
- USERS DISLIKE
- Hinge can feel stiff
- Make screens look slightly yellow
- Company requires 5-star review for reimbursement
4. Gunnar Intercept Glasses
The best blue light blocking gaming glasses
Brand: Gunnar | Style: Square | Tint: Amber Max | Protection: 98% blue light, 100% UV light, anti-reflective | Price: 💰💰💰
Blue light has been linked to blurry vision, eyestrain, dry eye, and sleep issues. Most gaming glasses reduce these harmful rays by 35-65%, which is a lot, but there’s nothing better than the Gunnar Intercepts if you want the best blue light blocking glasses for gaming.
These come equipped with “Amber Max Lenses,” which provide a whopping 98% reduction in blue light. They also have the 100% UV light protection, anti-reflective coating, and “Gunnar-Focus” 0.2 magnification that the brand is known for. We liked them so much that we put them on our list of best gifts for gamers!
- USERS LIKE
- Help eliminate dry eye
- Best blue light protection available
- Double as lightly tinted sunglasses
- USERS DISLIKE
- Plastic material feels cheap
- Center of the glasses is set too low for some users
- Stronger and more distinct tint than traditional amber glasses
5. J+S Vision Blue Light Shield Glasses
The best round gaming glasses
Brand: J+S | Style: Round | Tint: Low color distortion amber | Protection: 52% blue light, 100% UV light | Price: 💰💰
We always say that you should wear whatever makes you comfortable, but there is a methodology to choosing glasses that go better with your face shape. Round glasses are considered ideal for “square” or “heart” shaped faces.
J+S Vision makes a set of round-framed blue light blocking glasses that are incredibly affordable and offer 100% UV protection. The standard low color distortion lenses (which block 52% of blue light) come in black, but you can also get their high-definition lenses (which block 90%) in tortoise!
- USERS LIKE
- Under $30
- Help reduce eye strain
- Help people with trouble sleeping
- USERS DISLIKE
- Get dirty easily
- Poor packaging
- No padding on the nose
6. HyperX Spectre 1st Edition Glasses
The best square gaming glasses
Brand: HyperX | Style: Square | Tint: Clear | Protection: Blue light blocking, UV protection | Price: 💰💰💰💰
Square glasses are the most commonly used style. They’re considered ideal for people with “oval” shaped faces. HyperX recently came out with their new line of Specter eyewear, which comes equipped with different sizes, shapes, and features. Their square-framed Spectre 1st Edition glasses are probably the most popular addition in the line-up.
They come in black, clear, red-trim, or tortoise.
- USERS LIKE
- Excellent style and build quality
- Includes microfiber cloth and hardshell case
- Blue light blocking with minimal color distortion
- USERS DISLIKE
- $100 price point
- Slight magnification
- Slightly heavy on the bridge of the nose
7. Element LUX Blue Light Blocker Glasses
The best aviator gaming glasses
Brand: Element LUX | Style: Aviator | Tint: Amber | Protection: 99% Blue light blocking | Price: 💰
Want to look like you just walked off the set of Top Gun while wearing some of the best computer gaming glasses? The Element LUX Blue Light Blocker Glasses can feed your need for speed while retaining a stunning 99% reduction in blue light!
- USERS LIKE
- Lightweight
- Stylish design
- 99% blue light reduction without being too dark
- USERS DISLIKE
- Flimsy screws
- Orange/yellow tint
- Not good for blocking green light
8. Zenni Optical Hater BLOKrZ
The best prescription gaming glasses
Brand: Zenni Optical | Style: Aviator | Tint: Clear | Protection: Blokz blue light blocking and UV protection, anti-reflective coating | Price: 💰💰
Not all of us have 20/20 vision. Some of us need a prescription to keep us from hunching over our keyboards before we can start worrying about the best gaming glasses. Zenni Optical is known for making affordable glasses, but did you know they can add blue light blocking to any of their lenses too?
As long as you’re looking at Zenni’s collection, you should make sure to check out their Hater BLOKrZ. According to their website, they “were inspired by Super Girl Gamer Pro LoL Caster Kari, who during a Super Girl Gamer Pro tournament, slid on her shades and proclaimed that they were her “hater blockers,” because they kept her focus on the game and not the haters.”
$7 out of every pair they sell goes to No Place for Hate, a program for preventing bullying.
- USERS LIKE
- Good fit
- Fun design
- Proceeds to good cause
- USERS DISLIKE
- Cheap plastic
- Poor return policy
- Blokz blue light blocking costs extra
9. Gameking Ultra Blue Light Blocking Clip-on Glasses
The best clip-on gaming glasses
Brand: Gameking | Style: Square | Tint: Amber | Protection: 85% blue light blocking, 100% UV protection, anti-reflective coating | Price: 💰💰
Maybe you like the glasses you already have and don’t feel like buying a whole new pair. The Gameking Ultra Blue Light Blocking Clip-on Glasses fit on most rectangular frames and add blue light blocking so long as they’re no more than 39mm in height.
- USERS LIKE
- Super lightweight
- Can flip up and down
- Good for people with complicated prescriptions
- USERS DISLIKE
- Tricky to get on
- Doesn’t fit square or round frames
- Doesn’t fit frames with a double nose bridge or protruding nose bridge
10. HyperX Spectre Scout Glasses
The best gaming glasses for kids
Brand: HyperX | Style: Rounded square | Tint: Clear | Protection: Blue light blocking, UV protection | Price: 💰💰
Adults aren’t the only ones looking for the best gaming glasses. HyperX knows kids spend just as much time in front screens as adults, and they’ve made the Spectre Scouts to help mitigate the effects of blue light on the younger generation. They come in a stylish black and blue design and offer all the same protections as the other glasses in the Spectre line-up.
You can also check out these cheaper ones from Optix 55 if you’re worried about them getting lost or broken.
- USERS LIKE
- Includes microfiber cloth and hardshell case
- Prescription options available on HyperX website
- Made in kid’s size, but doesn’t sacrifice build quality
- USERS DISLIKE
- Plastic
- $40 for kid’s glasses
- Reports of glasses shipping without carrying case
Gaming Glasses Guide Part I: What are Gaming Glasses?
Gaming glasses are a type of eyewear designed to prevent eye fatigue via blue light blocking lenses, anti-glare coatings, and other protective technology. They usually consist of poly-carbonate lenses and acetate frames for comfortable, continuous wear.
While gaming glasses provide a range of eye support benefits, their main purpose is blocking blue light rays. Blue light causes a range of issues from headaches, to insomnia, to possible muscular degeneration in the ocular region. Gamer glasses shield the eyes from these and other harmful rays while simultaneously easing light-related stress.
In terms of gaming, they help players stay alert for faster response times and better overall performance. In the competitive gaming arena, this is a huge boon for players looking to gain the advantage and take out their opponents.
Gaming Glasses Guide Part II: Benefits of Gaming Glasses
There are numerous benefits to using a pair of the best gaming glasses:
- Block Blue Light & Glare. The main causes of eye strain among gamers, blue light and glare start to wear on your eyes as soon as you look at the screen. Stop fatigue in its tracks with this easy solution.
- Protect Your Eyes. A great preventative measure, the best gaming glasses reduce harmful blue light rays for strong and healthy eyes. In addition, they’re reported to eliminate insomnia and even help maintain a youthful appearance!
- Stylish & Comfortable. Many attractive gamer glasses have emerged in recent years, including ones with retro designs, aviator frames, and more. Plus, the options on our list have been thoroughly tested for comfort and ergonomics.
- Gain the Advantage. Yes — the best gaming glasses even offer an in-game advantage! Alongside your other gear, gamer glasses help you stay alert for better performance and enhanced optics.
- Affordable Solution. Gamer glasses begin around $10, making them an inexpensive solution to eye fatigue. Plus, most models are scratch resistant and incredibly durable, ensuring your investment will last.
While each pair of gaming glasses is unique, they all help you to protect your eyes and gain the advantage! But which pair is ideal?
Gaming Glasses Guide Part III: Choosing the Best Gaming Glasses
Getting the right pair of gaming glasses is a must if you want to play comfortably and perform with the pros. To that end, there are a number of things to consider when making a decision:
- Cost. Models start under $10 and reach over $100
- Brand. Choose from Gunnar Optiks, HyperX, Gameking, and more
- Size. Most gamer glasses are one-size-fits-all, but there are exceptions
- Design. This includes shape, color, and lens tint
- Required features. Features include light shield, anti-glare coatings, and more
If you’ve already got your sight set on a particular pair, we say go for it! The options on our list all work well, with a few differences in material, style, and extra features.
However — if you’re just learning about gaming glasses, it’s probably best to go with a well-known brand like Gunnar Optiks or HyperX. These are the industry standard, tried and tested by pro gamers to help them reduce fatigue and achieve victory.
Most importantly, you should find a pair that you’ll actually feel good about wearing. Once you’ve made your decision, there’s only one thing left to do. Slip ’em on, and see the difference for yourself!
Related Reading
- Ergonomics Guide for Gamers
- Best Gaming Chairs
- Best Gaming Desks
- Headsets for Gamers
- Headphones vs. Headsets
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