It was 2 a.m. and there I was, hiding behind a digital wall in Valorant, wearing what could best be described as gamer glasses. My roommate walked in, saw the glowing pc, my intense stare, and tinted yellow lenses, and just slowly backed out of the room, as if he had walked in on a cult gathering. 

But here’s the thing; I wasn’t being a weirdo for the sake of fashion, I had a purpose.

Problem: You’re Not Seeing the Game—You’re Just Seeing the Screen

Let’s be real. We all want that slight edge in games—especially FPS ones. If someone tells you they don’t care about reaction time or clarity, they’re either lying or just… losing a lot.

And you know what? Screens lie. Or at least, they don’t always show things as clearly as we think.

Between screen glare, blue light fatigue, and washed-out contrast, your eyes are probably working overtime just to differentiate an enemy from a poorly textured shrub.

I’m not joking. I once got shot because I thought a sniper was a lamppost.

So yeah. Maybe there is a good reason why some gamers are wearing tinted lenses inside like low-budget rockstars.

Agitation: Eye Strain, Washed-Out Maps, and That Weird “Blue” Tint

Let’s talk for a second about pain. Real pain. When you’re play Call of Duty or Counter-Strike for hours and it feels like your eyes are screaming… this isn’t dramatic, it’s science. Digital displays use blue light and will screw with your circadian rhythm and your depth perception; you’ll realize it when you are running down a neon corridor or going through dark shadows. Your eyes are all like, Dude just pick a light. Don’t get me started on games with poor lighting. Some of these maps are so grey and beige, you might as well be fighting enemies in a bowl of oatmeal. You start to miss and lose movement cues. The contrast goes away.  Then, you turn the brightness all the way up, but now everything is blown out and it looks like it was filmed off a cell phone in 2008.  Yup. This is all something we’ve experienced.

Solution: Colour-Filtered Gaming Lenses—More Than Just a Gimmick

Along comes color-filtering lenses, and I’m not referring to the generic blue-light lenses.  I am referring to lenses tinted in a way to exaggerate contrasts, tone down harsh blue signal output from screens, and improve enemy highlights just a little better than no optics when gaming. I mean yellows, ambers, maybe even some rose lens (which are literally rose-colored, and I don’t mean this in an emotional way).  And, no, I am not saying you look like Neo or The Matrix, but I am also not saying you do not.

Here’s the cool part; the lensing mildly filters out the “visual noise.”  Meaning, you get less blue light, sharper red and orange, and better separation of objects, meaning you might see a camper tucked away in a dark corner a little better than before.

Some lenses even mitigate fatigue caused by flicker from the monitors.  I didn’t even realize screen flicker was a thing I was getting fatigued from until I put these lenses on and played for six hours straight, came out feeling like I didn’t just stare at the sun.

My Real-World Testing: Yes, I Actually Wore Them to Tim Hortons

Because I like to suffer for my content, I tested three different colour-tinted gaming lenses over a full week. And yep, I wore them during gameplay, YouTube marathons, and even while editing blogs like this one. Once, I even wore them into a Tim Hortons out of habit and got a very solid side-eye from the barista. Worth it.

Here’s what I noticed:

• Yellow-tinted lenses: Great for indoor FPS clarity. Think Apex Legends or Overwatch. Colours popped more, and shadows felt “cleaner.”
  
• Amber lenses: These were perfect for longer gaming sessions. Less eye fatigue, and surprisingly helpful for spotting movement in darker maps like Dust II.
  
• Light red/pink tint: This one shocked me. Contrast went up a notch, especially during chaotic fight scenes. Everything felt crisp but not oversaturated. Kind of like switching your monitor from “meh” to “chef’s kiss.”
  

Now, were my reaction times scientifically improved? Probably not. But I felt sharper. My awareness went up. And that alone gave me confidence—which, in FPS games, is half the battle.

For My Fellow Canadians: Winter Gaming & Overcast Eyes

Look, up here in Canada, half the year is spent under clouds or snow. Our eyes aren’t exactly bathing in natural light. That matters. Because guess what? Eyes adapted to gloomy skies strain more under harsh screens.

Color-filtered lenses lowkey fix that. I live in Toronto, and on dull January days, they honestly made gaming feel better. Less squinting. Less fatigue. More headshots.

And hey, if you’re gaming in a shared space, these lenses double as an “I’m in the zone, don’t talk to me” signal. Bonus.

What to Look for in a Pair

Let’s say you’re sold on the idea but don’t want to drop $200 on a gimmick.

Here’s what to check when shopping for your first pair:

• Anti-reflective coating: This keeps light from bouncing off the lenses into your eyeballs.
  
• Lightweight frame: You’ll be wearing them for hours, trust me.
  
• Fit with headphones: Some wider frames don’t vibe well with over-ear headsets. Been there.
  
• UV & Blue Light Protection: Most have this baked in, but double-check.
  
• Actual lens tint: Test a few shades if you can. Sometimes the yellow ones are too aggressive under daylight bulbs.
  

Pro tip: Some Canadian online stores offer trial periods or easy returns. Use them. Gaming is personal—your eyes, even more so.

Is This a Magic Trick or Just a New Comfort Zone?

Let’s not overhype. No pair of lenses will turn you into a pro overnight. But they can make you feel more in control.

And in high-stakes games—where every millisecond counts—feeling more confident and less fatigued? That’s everything.

Besides, wearing sunglasses indoors while dominating in Rainbow Six? Kinda iconic.

The Bottom Line: Worth a Try (and Worth the Look)

I’ll be honest: I still laugh a little when I see my sweaty reflection wearing tinted glasses after a session gaming, and I generally don’t care.

My eyes feel better. My focus is clearer. And I will simply enjoy the gaming more. That is a win that I will take every time.

So next time you are squinting or misfiring or just would like to feel like a futuristic sniper, throw on a pair. You might actually surprise yourself.

Just don’t try to wear them to brunch.