If you’re a spectacles wearer then you know the frustrations that come with trying to wear 3D glasses over your prescription pair. The same issue exists with VR headsets too. It’s uncomfortable trying to fit virtual reality headsets over the top of your glasses and it can lead to other issues too.
If like us, you hate smudges on your lenses or get frustrated with getting steamed up when playing on yourfavourite VR headsetthen you know how frustrating it is to deal with two sets of lenses that can get scratched, smudged or steamy.
The good news is there might be a solution to your problems in the form of tailor-made prescription lenses and adapters for your headset. We’ve done the legwork for you to make upgrading your headset a breeze.
What are VR prescription lenses?
Prescription lenses for your VR headset are the key to comfortable VR gaming for anyone with eyesight issues.
If you’re a day-to-day glasses wearer and are cursed with shortsightedness then these lenses work to cut out the middleman. Installing this upgrade to your VR headset means you no longer need to worry about fitting your headset over your glasses. Thus, you’ll have a comfortable gaming session without the hassle or discomfort.
Most modern VR headsets are designed with enough space for glasses or have a spacing system to make them comfortable, but experience really varies.
Wearing glasses underneath a VR headset often leads to smudges on both the headset lenses and your own spectacles, not to mention problems with lenses steaming up.
Why do you need prescription lens adapters?
A quick search online and you’ll soon find a few different sites with people complaining about scratches on their HTC Vive lenses. Often times standard lenses are easy to scratch and not so easy to replace.
In the past, HTC told us that if a user managed to scratch their lenses on the original Vive then they could be sent for repair which will cost €60 (around £52) which includes the logistics of sending the headset for repair and getting them back. If you’d rather avoid costs like these then this upgrade might be an option.
Wearing glasses underneath a headset increases the risk of scratching if you’re constantly repositioning the headset or your spectacles to get comfortable. If you’re wearing the headset tight and close to your face then its far too easy to nick and damage the lenses.
The solution might be prescription lens adapters.
How do VR prescription lenses work?
There are a few different sources for prescription lenses for the various VR headsets out there. One such provider isvr-lens-lab.com, this company provides lens adapters that install quickly and easily over the standard lenses within your headset.
This is a great solution, especially if you buy the adapters early on before you damage the original lenses. They sit over the top and are slightly raised up above the standard lenses, meaning there’s no risk of scratching the originals.
These lens adapters then simply work as a replacement for your current eyewear, meaning before starting a play session you just need to pop your spectacles off and put the headset on. No more struggles with fit or comfort. The adapters mean you no longer risk your spectacles scratching or damaging the original lenses, which is an added bonus.
Fitting the lens adapters doesn’t require any special tools or equipment either, so it’s easy for any VR user. The good news is you may pop them back off just as easily, so if you share the headset with other people or like to show off to friends then it’s no problem.
There are a number ofVR lens adaptersavailable for all manner of headsets including the HTC Vive line-up, Valve Index, Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest 2.
How to get upgrade your VR lenses
Upgrading your headset with prescription lenses is simple enough, just follow these steps:
How do you install VR lens adapters?
Prescription VR lenses obviously take time to craft in much the same way as your specs, so you’ll have to wait a week or two for them to arrive at your door. Inside the box is a neat little storage case and a large cleaning cloth with links to the website.
Taking care to not touch the lenses, remove them from the package and follow the included instructions. These will vary slightly per headset, but usually involve:
What is Blueguard coating?
During the ordering process, you might have noticed an option forBlueguard coating. This is a special coating on the lenses that reflects the harmful blue light radiation emitted by modern screens that have beenshown to cause issues with sleep patterns.
This coating is designed to reflect the rays without impacting how you see the colours in the game. If you’re worried about blue light then this is a worthwhile addition to the lenses at a small extra cost.
Are prescription VR lenses worth it?
If, like us, you’re frustrated with fighting your VR headset when you’re ready for a gaming session or have any discomfort caused by smudges on your glasses, steaming up or the extra pressure on your head caused by the spectacle arms being squashed by the headset, then these lenses are worth the upgrade.
We were impressed with how good they are. It takes a minute to get used to - being partially blind in the real world, but being able to see clearly in the virtual one - but it’s a much more comfortable gaming experience.
Since they’re only adapters and so easy to fit, there’s no need to worry if you like to share your headset with family or friends. you’re able to just pop the prescription lens adapters off when you need to and replace them again when you’re going to use it. The handy carry/storage case and the cleaning cloth make storage and cleaning a breeze too.
In our mind, these prescription lens adapters are a worthwhile upgrade for your VR headset. They’ll help protect the standard lenses from scratches caused by your glasses and give you a much more comfortable gaming experience every time.
We’ve seen reports around the web with distortions caused by the lenses, but this is not something we experienced. The quality is surprisingly good and the comfort and fit is great.
