SteelSeries Scope Pro Gaming Glasses Review

👤by David Mitchelson Comments 📅15-03-11
Do they really work? Testing

Many reading this may well be sceptical as to whether they do in fact work. Some may have raises the question, "are they really needed?" First, lets just rule out that SteelSeries have employed a marketing strategy here. Below are details of a Survey that was conducted in March-April 2009 by GUNNAR Optiks's. A set number of patients were given these glasses to reveal whether this performance eyewear really works, and to what extent.

* 100% reported improved ease of viewing
* 96% reported reduction in eye strain
* 90% would recommend the use of GUNNAR Digital Performance Eyewear
* 80% reported their eyes were less tired when wearing GUNNARS
* 79% said that wearing GUNNAR eyewear increased their productivity

So, from an unbiased stand-point these glasses really do work in more ways that one. But for the purpose of identifying whether SteelSeries Scope's are effective whilst gaming, I have conducted my own set of tests. For an entire week I have used the SteelSeries Scope both in and out of games - comparing usage with and without the Scopes over my eyes. Here is my feedback.


You might laugh, but this is not style over substance


Gaming

When comparing usage with and without the Scope's the difference is quite significant. FPS is probably the most intense of all game genres in terms of sporadic movements and extreme effects with brightness and lighting. Objects move at an alarming rate and the human eye has to focus on all of these actions at a close proximity - all of this can cause tiredness, strain and even trauma to the eyes. I've felt this after even short gaming sessions, but I'm glad to report that with the Scope's these difficulties are considerably reduced.

For the purpose of testing I played the new Crysis 2 Demo and Call of Duty Black Ops. Both games feature this highly intensive action that I have mentioned and are perfect for testing the Scope glasses. Thanks to the amber tint, terrain is warm and even magnified, thus preventing eyestrain. Graphics under the lens of the Scope glasses are much sharper and you can indeed play for longer periods because the eye isn't straining or drying out. Due to the glasses being extremely lightweight (just 20g) it feels as though you aren't even wearing eyewear at all.

Normal usage - web browsing, graphic design

Of course, the Scope glasses are primarily intended for gaming use but what are they like for general usage?

Well I can confirm that they are again a useful item to be using. Reading text on a page or editing photos within graphics software may not cause the eye to react in the same way that it does when games are being played but eyestrain can still occur and that's where the Scope glasses come in. They reduce that glare from the eye. I used the glasses to edit the photos for this review, and when writing the content too - they really are a helpful tool.

Note: When doing graphic design that needs specific colouration techniques, I would suggest removing the glasses as the yellow tint will not reflect true colour!

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