Oxygen glasses offer relief from eyestrain

Smartphones and PCs may have become an essential part of most people's jobs nowadays, but being glued to a screen for most of your waking life is far from what you would call healthy. However, some eyewear manufacturers have seen the increasing number of people suffering chronic eyestrain as an opportunity.

     Paris Miki, a Tokyo-based chain of upmarket eyewear stores has released a product called "Sanso Megane" (oxygen glasses) to break into the so-called "functional eyewear" segment, which until now has been dominated by its rival JIN.


     Launched on Nov. 27 last year, the glasses supposedly attract oxygen and water vapor to the eyes to prevent dryness and other types of eyestrain. The frame of the new glasses is coated with the company's proprietary technology, a unique light-induced transparent film to create a moistened environment around the eyes.

     The film is mainly comprised of titanium oxide which, according to the company, generates electrons and holes left by electron excitation when it reacts with ultraviolet light. These holes in turn react with hydroxide ions, generating oxygen and water vapor around the eyes.

     In order to back up its claims, Paris Miki conducted a 24-hour performance test at a public facility. The results did indeed show that oxygen glasses generated higher levels of both oxygen and water vapor surrounding the eyes than regular glasses.

     Light-induced transparent films exhibit a paramagnetic property when exposed to light. Since pollen is diamagnetic, the new glasses can also help keep pollen away from the wearer, the company claims.

     Moreover, the glasses' oxidative power can supposedly help break down harmful substances, which contributes to an antibacterial effect.

     The nose pads are coated with diamondlike carbon, which helps diffuse the heat around the area in direct contact with the skin, which the company says stops makeup from rubbing off so easily.

     Oxygen glasses come with the price tag of 5,500 yen ($46.31) a pair, and the company targets sales of 100,000 pieces in total. Paris Miki will also offer to apply their special coatings to customers' existing glasses.

     Paris Miki has cut into the functional eyewear segment with a completely different approach to JIN, another manufacturer that has pioneered the field with JINs PC and JINs Screen, its PC-use glasses. JIN has been a leader in creating demand for functional glasses, which go beyond simply vision correction.