By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Marvel Studios and pioneering eyewear company Gunnar Optiks have just introduced officially-licensed Guardians of the Galaxy Groot Edition blue light blocking glasses.
Gunnar says the Marvel Comic’s Groot Glasses are “perfect for unleashing your inner superhero and combating intergalactic threats, like the harmful effects of visible high-energy blue light, including dry, red, irritated eyes, blurred vision, and eye fatigue.”
Gunnar is an interesting company from a licensing perspective, as it sits at the intersection of high-quality eyewear, pop culture, and gaming culture.
The collaboration with Marvel Studios on the Groot Glasses is just one of many Gunnar has done with film and gaming studios. In fact, the Groot Glasses are the second major collaboration with Marvel. The first involved the release of the Stark Industries Edition, which were precisely modelled after the high-tech glasses worn by Tony Stark in the Ironman and Avengers’ films.
The glasses literally have their own fanbase among the Marvel literati, as they form part of the story. They’re sunglasses designed and used by Tony Stark that house artificial intelligence interfaces such as F.R.I.D.A.Y. and E.D.I.T.H.. After Stark’s death, he had a pair passed onto Peter Parker/aka Spider-Man.
Gunnar has also worked with Blizzard for glasses based on Diablo and World of Warcraft; Ubisoft on glasses for Assassin’s Creed and 6 Siege; Call of Duty; and Tokidoki: Year of the Dragon. The company is also close to releasing a new line based on Fallout, a game series from Bethesda, and now a sci fi series on Amazon Prime, and it also produces a line for the gaming gear company Razer.
The lightweight and stylish Groot Glasses source Marvel’s material as they are composed of sustainably sourced walnut wood … just like Groot! They feature flexible spring hinges, carbon fiber reinforcement, and a sustainably sourced walnut wood material. The flexible metal hinges and laminated carbon fiber internal give these glasses super-power strength and durability.
Gunnar Optiks is much more than just a designer of fancy, themed glasses. While they may not detect alien threats like Tony Stark’s specs, Gunnar has developed new technologies that help protect your eyes from a variety of threats here on Earth.
The company has pioneered and patented the optics behind digital eye strain relief, including issues posed by the prolonged use of computer screens.
For example, Gunnar says intense use of computers can reduce a person’s ‘blink rate’ by up to 60%, which exposes the corneal tissue to damage. It also forces the eyes to focus at a near distance for long periods, which fatigues and damages the eye muscles that flex the lens to create near and far distance focus. Screens emit high energy blue light that strains your visual systems, and even makes it difficult to sleep.
The glasses from Gunnar incorporate technologies to deal with all of these issues. For example, Gunnar patented high wrap lenses that trap in humidity and block out drying air currents. The technology keeps eyes comfortably protected in what Gunnar describes as an ideal ocular microclimate.
The glasses also reduce strain on the eye’s musculature by optimizing the focusing power in the lenses, to let your eyes relax. Consumers can choose the right focusing power for their needs, the same as with reading glasses.
The lenses also filters out or blocks blue light, and limits glare, reflections and visual noise.
While Gunnar’s glasses have an avid following among gamers, they are equally effective for anyone who spends a long time staring at the screen of a computer or mobile device.
You can find the Groot glasses for sale on the Gunnar site and Amazon.
Penguin Random House Announces Publishing Program for Wednesday Series