Gunnar marks ‘Tomb Raider’ 30 years with dark blue sunglasses inspired by Lara Croft

Tomb Raider celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades since Lara Croft first strapped on her thigh high boots and went in search of ancient artifacts around the world.

To mark the occasion, game developer Crystal Dynamics has partnered with eyewear company Gunnar to create a pair of glasses inspired by Lara’s one-of-a-kind look.

Gunnar introduced his new Tomb Raider Croft glasses, the eyewear company’s version of Lara’s signature accessory from early 1996. These glasses are not a 1:1 recreation of both in the game, Gunnar has updated the design for a modern aesthetic. However, they take clear directions Tomb RaiderOriginal design, like its round shape and metal frames. It also includes details like patterning around the rim, which would have been impossible to do with ’90s video game graphics.

Tomb Raider Croft glasses are available with Gunnar’s Amber, Amber Max, or Sun lenses, as well as their Amber Sun Shift lenses. Of these, the orange Amber Max lenses are much closer in appearance than Lara’s original red beauty. The glasses come with a microfiber bag, a cleaning cloth with Croft’s coat of arms, and a case reminiscent of a utility bag. You’ll also find the extremely ineffective Lucky Dagger of Xian’s pin, a mid-range artefact Tomb Raider II.

Credit: Gunnar

These glasses aren’t just for looks, as Gunnar specializes in glasses that make staring at a screen for hours more comfortable. As such, while all options of Tomb Raider Croft’ glasses offer 100 percent UV protection, they also block different levels of blue light.

Blue light is a type of electromagnetic wave produced by the sun, light bulbs, and LED screens — including those found in computer monitors and cell phones. Long hours at your desk can suppress your body’s melatonin, disrupt your circadian rhythm and make it difficult to fall asleep.

If you’re not willing to cut back on your late-night gaming, at least blocking out a little green light should help keep your sleep cycle healthy. Gunnar says its Amber Max lenses block 98 percent of ultra-blue light, recommending it to manage migraines and help improve sleep, while Amber lenses block 65 percent and are aimed more at general computer use.

Both the Amber and Amber Max lenses also have “Gunnar Focus,” which is simply a +0.2 diopter lens. This gentle energy is intended to give your eyes a little extra support, helping to relax muscles and reduce eye strain. Gunnar says this option is suitable for anyone with 20/20 vision, or who wears contact lenses.

Credit: Gunnar

Crystal Dynamics sells an official version of Lara’s sunglasses as well, offering both her round red lens look and her dark one. Angel of Darkness pair for $39.90 each. However, these seem to be mainly intended for cosplay, as the product description gives no information about its performance against UV light, much less blue light. No matter how dark the lenses of the glasses are, they still need a UV-blocking treatment to work as sunglasses. As such, Gunnar’s glasses offer a more functional, superior option Tomb Raider followers.

Gunnar’s Tomb Raider Croft glasses start at $99 for Amber, Amber Max, or Sun lenses, or $135 for Amber Sun Shift lenses.