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GUNNAR OPTIKS® LAUNCHES NEW LINE OF DIGITAL PERFORMANCE EYEWEAR™

Increased performance and productivity delivered in an optical technology

SAN DIEGO, Calif., October 16, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — GUNNAR Optiks® launched its new collection of products nationally today, a line of Digital Performance Eyewear™ created for the most demanding technology users.

GUNNAR Optiks is the first company to develop a specialized lens technology that provides an off-the-shelf solution for high intensity computer users. The technology works with and enhances the properties of the human eye.

"Digital data streams at you all day, every day," said Joe Croft, co-founder, GUNNAR Optiks. "Our digital performance eyewear can help to enhance comfort and ultimately lead to a greater visual advantage in front of any digital screen."

How GUNNARS Work

Digital Performance Eyewear enhances optical performance with GUNNAR'S patent-pending i-AMP™ lens technology, an optical platform that includes the following components:

  • diAMIX™ lens material offers an optically pure viewing experience with ultra-light, ergonomic properties;
  • iONik™ lens tint takes artificial light and precisely tunes it to the physiology of the eye;
  • i-Fi™ lens coatings capture good light from digital screens while filtering out glare and reflective light; and
  • fRACTYL™ lens geometry mimics nature to aid the natural focusing power of the corneal lens and creates a preferential ocular microclimate.

According to the Vision Council of America, nearly 90 percent of those who use a computer at least three hours a day suffer vision problems associated with computer related eye strain.

Many users of GUNNARS have experienced the following results when wearing GUNNARS:

  • An immediate increase in contrast, optical resolution and detail
  • An improvement in visual performance demonstrated throughout the day
  • An increase in productivity attained over longer periods of time

"From computer screens to cell phones, PSPs to BlackBerrys – this constant flow of digital data leaves many of us with dry eyes, blurry vision, eye strain and headaches," said Optometrist Jeffrey R. Anshel, GUNNAR Optiks technical advisor. "With GUNNAR Optiks eyewear, computer users can be more comfortable and more productive for longer periods of time."

GUNNARS are designed to enhance performance, prevent Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) and protect against Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a visual condition that negatively impacts about 125 million computer users according to the American Optometric Association.

A range of vision problems influence productivity in the workplace and some of those problems can be addressed by wearing GUNNARS. A 2004 study at the University of Alabama-Birmingham investigated the link between productivity and exposure to computer screens and found that uncorrected computer vision, even when there are no symptoms, can significantly affect worker productivity and accuracy. With subjects that had focal problems measuring as little as 0.5 diopters, the loss in worker productivity was 8.9 percent, while loss in accuracy measured 38.1 percent. An employer with an employee making $60,000 a year would reap a gain in productivity of $5,400 minus the cost to the employer of an eye exam and pair of computer glasses, which is approximately $300. In the case of this $60,000-a-year employee, the cost benefit is $18 gained for every $1 spent. (Daum, 2004)

GUNNAR Optiks has been named an official member of the Vision Source Plan (VSP) network. GUNNARS are listed as the primary solution for Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) by VSP, which is the nation's largest provider of eye care coverage with 55 million members nationwide.

GUNNAR Optiks also has an agreement with a popular national buying group, which services doctors in the optical community. GUNNARS will be featured under a new category of Digital Performance Eyewear.

GUNNAR Styles

GUNNAR delivers its breakthrough technology in four collections — Sphere, Catalyst, Metallic and Attaché — with 15 different styles to suit each individual's personal taste.

GUNNAR'S line of high-performance digital eyewear is available in specialty retail stores nationwide and online at www.gunnars.com, ranging in price from $99 to $189. GUNNARS are also available with prescription lenses.

About GUNNAR Optiks

GUNNAR Optiks, a privately held company, was founded in 2005 and inspired by co-founder Jennifer Michelsen when she observed her son, Gunnar, fully embrace the digital era at the age of four. At that moment she realized the potential of digital performance eyewear that could both protect users from the negative visual impact of viewing digital data and at the same time enable anyone to be more productive when using a digital display. Located in San Diego, Calif., GUNNAR'S executive team includes several senior managers formerly of Oakley.