Pixel Eyewear Computer Glasses Review (and Coupon Code!)

Reading Time: 6 minutes.

Computer screens emit a lot of light. A disproportionate amount of that light is blue light, which, due to chromatic abrasion, can be more difficult to focus on than green or even red light. This introduces eye strain. Furthermore, at least one study suggests that blue light can be harmful to the cells in our retina. This can cause macular degeneration, which can lead to blurred vision and blindness. You can set your screen to be slightly more yellow to cancel out that blue light, but this won’t work for every screen you look at. Besides, an app like f.lux is great, but it can’t cut down on reflections on your screen, hold moisture closer to your eye, or protect your eyes from wind. These are all things that lead to that dry, tired eye feeling.

That’s why I love computer glasses. Modern ones can cut down on blue light without impacting the color of the lenses very much. As a result, you appear to be wearing normal glasses. However, if you’re wearing them, especially in natural light, you can see the clear difference these glasses make. They cut down on blue light and glare, making focusing easier. They also protect against UV rays, so you can wear them outside if you don’t have your sunglasses. Finally, you can use them to block the wind from hitting your eyes and making them water on a cold, overcast day.

I often carry a backpack to and from the office, in part because my glasses case wouldn’t fit in a purse. So, I decided to get a second pair of computer glasses for the office. I thought about going with Felix Gray again, but they didn’t have the color and frame combination I wanted (Roebling in black). I remembered seeing another brand before, Pixel Eyewear. As it turns out, Pixel offers something Felix Gray doesn’t (yet): oleophobic and dust resistant coatings on the lenses. This makes cleaning them easy, something that’s a pain with my Felix Gray glasses. I usually cleaned those at least once a day, so I was ready for something new. I bought a pair of Pixel Eyewear glasses with the Ventus frame.

That was about two weeks ago. I’ve been wearing them every day since. Now I think it’s time for a review.

Do Computer Glasses Work?

I almost didn’t include this section. Then I remembered: many people reading this might be buying their first pair of computer glasses. So, in short, yes, computer glasses work. I’m a software engineer who writes in her free time. I’m literally a professional screen starer. A few years ago I realized I felt extremely tired at the end of the day, but I couldn’t sleep. Turns out, I just had bad eye strain. I then went through two pairs of Gunnar glasses, but didn’t like the extremely yellow color. I got a pair of natural looking Felix Gray glasses, and loved them.They reduce eye strain, keep my eyes feeling relaxed, and keep me on task.

Yeah, but do These Pixel Eyewear Glasses Work?

Also yes! They’re almost exactly the same shade of yellow as the Felix Gray glasses. That means you can’t see that they’re computer glasses, but, while you’re wearing them, you can clearly see they’re making everything you look at a little warmer. They also sit close to my face, don’t slide much, and help my eyes retain moisture. They work beautifully.

If you stare at a computer all day, I highly recommend computer glasses. Here’s why you might want to get these.

Frames

Pixel Eyewear advertises their frames as lightweight. They definitely are. The frames get lost on my face all the time. However, this lightweight feeling also goes by another name: cheap. Now, they’re nowhere near as cheap feeling as generic reading glasses from a pharmacy. However, the material and hinges don’t feel as nice as other glasses I’ve worn, including my Felix Gray glasses.

Furthermore, they were bent slightly out of the box. I fixed it, and they sit straight now, but it was curious. Many people complained of the same issue on Pixel Eyewear’s website. They don’t close all the way either, resting against the opposing arm and sticking out a little. They fit nicely in my Felix Gray glasses case (more on that in a minute), but I don’t like that they don’t close perfectly flat. It’s a reminder that the frames aren’t as nice as they should be.

Despite quality issues, they do look nice, and come in a wide variety of styles. They fit on my face nicely. I can’t complain too much about them when I’m using them, but whenever I’m not using them, I’m reminded that they’re cheap.

Lenses

Computer glasses often make everything seem a bit softer. Not necessarily fuzzier, the clarity is all there, just softer. I’ve found screens themselves don’t appear this way. In fact, they usually appear more sharp than they would if you used a software-based filter. I was surprised at how clear these were. Perhaps there was a layer of film I could never quite get off the Felix Gray glasses, but they were never as clear as these. With any luck, they’ll stay that way.

Pixel Eyewear puts a dust and fingerprint resistant layer on their lenses. When I go to clean them, I just take a microfiber cloth and the fingerprints, dust, and makeup powder come right off. This was my biggest annoyance about my Felix Gray glasses. It seemed I needed to clean them more often than any other pair of glasses I’ve ever owned. The Pixels don’t have that problem.

Value

When I first got these and took them out of their cardboard box, I was a little disgusted. They felt cheap, didn’t come with a nice hard case like the Felix Gray glasses, and they were warped. If I put them flat on a desk, one of the arms would float in the air. Only three points of contact were on the table. I spent nearly $100 for this?!

But then I gave them a try. This is why my reviews are never first impressions. This is why I wait a week, take my own photos, and really use the product. The frame still feels cheap and needed to be adjusted. I still only have one hard case for my glasses, which I re-use for whenever I’ve got to carry them somewhere. The lenses are where these glasses get their value. These are cheaper than Felix Gray glasses right now, but often go for the same price. The lenses aren’t good enough to make up for the frames though, from a simple value point. I know these are likely an equivalent value, thanks to those lens coatings, but this cheap frame just makes them feel like a poor value. That’s something that’s hard to rectify.

Vs Felix Gray and Gunnar

When I reach for computer glasses right now, I reach for my Pixel Eyewear glasses. The frames make me cringe a little. I miss the soft feel of the Felix Gray glasses, the obvious quality they exude. But then I think of the dust that may have accumulated on the lenses. Do I need to mix up some eyeglass cleaning solution? Will my hand get tired polishing these with a microfiber cloth? Nevermind then, I’ll just use the Pixel Eyewear glasses. If the Felix Gray glasses had fingerprint and dust resistant coatings, they’d be my favorite, despite the lack of a black frame. But without those? I’ll wear my Pixels, even if the frame quality is lackluster.

As for the Gunnars? They’re far too yellow for everyday use. Also, when I got these, Gunnar only made their lenses with a slight magnification. As a result, everything else is blurry, and there’s a sweet spot where you have to sit from the screen. Anything too close or too far from that sweet spot will be blurred, giving you eyestrain as your eyes try in vain to focus. The company now has clear lenses with no magnification, and those may be worth a try, but I haven’t given the company another shot yet. Besides, they have few styles and options for women. I have their Jewel, one of three feminine designs. Of their other two designs, only one comes with a clear lens option. Gunnar is the Oakley of computer glasses, if that paints a good mental picture of the brand. They were good when they were the only option. Now they’re not.

Overall 4/5

I’m happy to have these. Now I have a different style I can wear at the office and at home. I don’t have to cart my Felix Gray glasses back and forth as often. In fact, I’ve been leaving my Pixel Eyewear glasses at the office instead, as I spend 8-10 hours looking at a screen there. Also, I like the style right now, so it works for me. The lenses require less cleaning, which makes me very happy. I haven’t had to spritz them with cleaner once. Meanwhile, I typically have to wash my Felix Gray glasses off with as much cleaners as I can load on the lenses once a week.

I don’t like how cheap the frames feel, but I can’t lie, they look good, stay on my face better than the Felix Gray glasses, and I often forget I’m wearing them. They also come in a wider variety of styles than Felix Gray.

I may like the quality of my Felix Gray glasses more, and I think you get more for your money with their frames, but the Pixel Eyewear glasses have better lenses, and that’s more important. That’s why my Pixel Eyewear glasses are my new primary computer glasses. They’re not perfect, but they relieve eye strain, look good, and fit nicely. If you’re looking for a first or third pair of computer glasses, you can’t go wrong with them.

Coupon Code $15 Off (Good for 1 Use!)

Okay, you made it to the end of the review. If you’d like a pair of Pixel Eyewear computer glasses, head over to their website. This code will work only for the first person to use it, so hurry up! The code is SDP224Z. Enter it at checkout, and enjoy your Pixel Eyewear computer glasses!