These glasses truly work wonders for those who suffer from motion sickness. At age 7, while bumping along in the back of my parents' VW bus, I was struck with an overwhelming wave of nausea. Thus began my long and arduous relationship with motion sickness, which I thought would never end. Fast-forward to recent adulthood, when I came across some bizarre-looking glasses that promised to deter motion sickness, thanks to the magic of their cartoonish shape. Tired of being sick every time I traveled, I decided to put these glasses to the test, no matter how ridiculous they made me look.
I will cut right to the chase and say that these things worked. Like, shockingly well. And while they usually retail for around $10 at Amazon, they are currently only $7.99. That is 20% off its usual price!
The flexible frames of these spectacles are made up of four circles filled halfway with a blue liquid that, when worn, can only be seen in your peripheral vision. According to the maker, this design promises nothing less than complete sickness relief, even when reading or looking at your phone in the car – something completely unheard of for motion sickness sufferers.
In the name of science (and at the risk of my stomach), I wore the glasses sitting in the backseat of the car, while reading, as my partner drove around. Normally, and especially under these circumstances, it would take less than a few minutes for the nausea and headaches to hit. But this time, my symptoms never came.
Was this just the placebo effect in action, or was there actual science behind this? To find out, I spoke with Dr. Neil Bhattacharyya, board-certified otolaryngologist and professor of otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School. He explained that motion sickness is caused when a disconnect occurs in the brain's ability to detect where the body is in motion.
"When you get into a car that's moving, your organ systems are still sensing the motion around you, but the body itself is stable, causing the integration of those messages to get disrupted," Bhattacharyya told HuffPost. Although Bhattacharyya cannot say for sure all the reasons the glasses are effective, he thinks that the liquid sloshing back and forth inside the rings helps the eyes to recognize movement and create an artificial horizon, allowing the brain to bridge the gap between motion and stability. "In my opinion, if [these] work for someone, I think it's a lot better than taking anti-nausea medications, which are mainly all just sedatives," Bhattacharyya added.
Had these ridiculous-looking glasses existed much earlier on in my life, my passenger commuting experiences would have been a lot more comfortable. If you or your child experiences a similar struggle, it might be worth your while to grab yourself a pair before your next road trip, plane ride or cruise — especially while they are on sale!
Customer Reviews
Here are some promising reviews from lovers of the motion sickness glasses:
- Amazon Customer: "My son has extreme cases of motion sickness while riding in a car. We just completed a trip with many bends in the road and he got through the trip without getting nauseous or puking. Crossing my fingers that these glasses are the fix we have been looking for."
- rachael: "My 5 year old has gotten car sick since he was a baby and I was at my wits end. Surprisingly he loves his 'throw up glasses' and they seem to help. He is very proactive in using them and when he hasn't had them in the car, he has thrown up. He has yet to throw while wearing them so I think it was a great investment. Saves my car seats!"
- jalynn: "I cannot recommend these enough. I bought them back in July and use them constantly. As someone who gets car sick not even out of the driveway, I pop these bad boys on and it's almost instant relief. ***I do not get barfy car sick, I get queasy, hot, and headaches. So I cannot attest to its effectiveness against wanting to hurl.*** I will add they do slip around a lot but if I'm just looking forward they stay put. They also keep you and the driver from any arguments because no one can be taken seriously with these things on. They are hilarious."
- Mike L: "Didn't believe these silly looking things would work, but they DO! I can drive with my wife again. Also worked on my kid who tends to get car sick! Make sure to put them on BEFORE you get sick though."
- Jeremy Burke: "I have always had motion sickness when playing certain video games. Mainly the newer 3D ones. I really wanted to play Fallout 4, but could not stand it for very long before I start to feel ill. I have tried the wristbands before, and they do not help me at all. I decided to give these a try, and they actually work! I guess something about giving your eyes something solid and non-moving they can lock onto helps. I still feel a little odd with all the quick motion, but it no longer makes me dizzy and ill."
Other Motion Sickness Remedies
Nausea Relief Inhaler
Allclair is a non-medicated nausea relief inhaler. The little tubes, which come in two-packs, are double-sided with an inhaler on one end and an oil dropper on the other. They are also non-drowsy, a huge plus if you are on the go. This product won a HuffPost Shopping Award. "Just the other day, my partner decided to cook well-done eggs — which emitted an odor that, for whatever reason, makes me want to gag," wrote HuffPost senior shopping writer Tessa Flores. "I was driven to reach for this nondescript tube, and after just a couple of inhales, the fresh and medicinal vapor in my mouth and nose completely made the uncomfortable sensation dissipate."
Dramamine Tablets
Dramamine has a near-perfect 4.8-star average across more than 24,000 ratings. HuffPost shopping analytics editor Lily Alig is a fan: "I've had horrible motion sickness since I was a kid, so now I never travel without Dramamine. The non-drowsy formula really works for me: it keeps the worst of my symptoms at bay and doesn't make me too sleepy." Dramamine can relieve nausea, dizziness and vomiting for up to 24 hours, and can work within 30 to 60 minutes.
Acupressure Wristbands
Sea-Band wristbands exert pressure on pressure point P6 (Neiguan) on the inside of your wrist. One size fits most. Promising review: "These little bands have transformed car travel and air travel for me! I used them exactly as instructed, and when we arrived at our destination, I said to my husband, 'Do you realize that I didn't have problems with carsickness this entire trip?' That was a first for me!"
