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Product review: New Smith goggles feature ChromaPop lens
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This coming fall, Smith Optics will release I/O goggles with interchangeable ChromaPop lens options. - photo by Grant Olsen
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Smith Optics has received great customer feedback for their ChromaPop lenses, which optimize natural colors and provide improved clarity.

The company decided to incorporate these vibrant lenses into a select line of their snow goggles. During the fall of 2016, theyll release an I/O goggle with interchangeable ChromaPop lens options.

The lenses come in three tint offerings: Everyday, Sun and Storm. As you might guess, the Everyday lens is designed for a wide range of conditions. The Sun lens mellows the harsh glare of the sun in bright conditions, while the Storm lens will give you impressive contrast on darker days.

With these ChromaPop lenses, putting on your goggles is like wearing your favorite sunglasses. You get that same degree of clarity and protection, and because the I/O frames are so lightweight, they wont give you the clunky feeling that comes with some other goggles on the market.

Each goggle in this line includes a bright light and a low light lens to adapt to a variety of conditions. The interchangeable lenses are available for the I/O7, redesigned I/O and I/O Womens, I/OS, I/OX, Squad, new Riot and Turbo Fan Collection goggles.

If you already own one of the frames listed above, you can simply buy a ChromaPop lens for it, rather than buying a new frame/lens combo. Smith intentionally made these new lenses compatible with older frames to make it more affordable for their customers.

One thing to note is that Smiths I/O frames are generally a medium fit. This means that while theyll fit most faces, theyre not always big enough to accommodate those of us with really big noggins. If youve had trouble in the past with goggle frames that werent large enough to comfortably fit your face, you may want to instead go with an option like the Oakley 02 XL or the Dragon Alliance APX.

GRADE: A-

PRICE: Starting at $180

What is your favorite brand of goggles? Let us know in the comments.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.