Do glasses really work to avoid getting dizzy in the car?

Car sickness is more common than it may seem.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
03 August 2023 Thursday 10:26
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Do glasses really work to avoid getting dizzy in the car?

Car sickness is more common than it may seem. There are many people who are prone to motion sickness when the vehicle is running. It is what is technically known as motion sickness and is caused by an imbalance between the signals that reach the brain and those received by the ears, the two organs that are responsible for maintaining the stability of our body. When the organism experiences a dissonance between what it sees and what it feels, this discomfort occurs, which manifests itself mainly in upset stomach, nausea and vomiting.

To prevent dizziness, it is advisable not to eat large amounts of food before starting the journey, keep the cabin clean and well ventilated and drink plenty of water during the trip. At the first symptom of dizziness, the best thing to do is to lower the window so that the fresh air reaches our faces, close our eyes and relax, says RACE on his blog.

However, for a few years now, a goggle-shaped gadget has been on the market that its manufacturers claim is effective in preventing dizziness. It is a device that is popularly known as anti-sickness glasses, although they are not really lenses because they do not have crystals, but they have an appearance as such.

In the following video, posted by TikTok user saesi, you can see what the glasses look like. Its frame has four rings (two on the front and two on the sides) filled with a blue liquid that, through its movement, allows recreating the horizon line to prevent the conflict between the senses that causes the problem. Lacking crystals, they can be used on top of other glasses, as we see in these images. They can also be shared with other people.

These glasses were patented by the French company Boarding Ring and it was Citroën who marketed them for the first time in 2018 under the name Seetroën. Currently, the French car manufacturer no longer has the exclusive and the glasses can be purchased on large online sales platforms with much lower prices than the initial ones.

From the Col.legi Oficial d'Òptics Optometristes de Catalunya they point out that the objective of the gadget is "to generate an infinity line that moves with the same movements that the vehicle does". To achieve the desired effect, the user must wear the glasses for 10 to 12 minutes while the car is moving and focus on a stationary object, such as a book. "The liquid contained in the spheres of the frame, both front and side, generates an effect that counteracts the lack of stability when we look inside the car and which is the cause of dizziness", add the sources consulted.

"The effect must be produced whatever the vehicle with which you travel", point out from the Col.legi d'Òptics Optometristes, although they add that it may not be as effective in situations in which the movement is very abrupt, such as in scenarios rough seas in maritime navigation. First of all, they warn that the gadget is effective in preventing dizziness, but not in overcoming it. "The idea is to always use the glasses before the first symptoms of dizziness appear."

Although we usually associate motion sickness with children, motion sickness can affect all passengers in the car regardless of their age. The RACE warns that pregnant women and adolescents are, along with children, the most vulnerable to dizziness. It also stresses that people who travel in the back seats and carry out an activity, such as reading a book or playing a game console, are more likely to get dizzy on the road.

The motoring club reminds that the person behind the wheel must take care of his driving style. You must do it smoothly, avoiding sudden acceleration or braking, and handle the steering wheel without jerks. Otherwise, it indicates that movements will be transmitted to the passengers that are not detected by the brain, causing the symptoms of motion sickness.