Therabody SmartGoggles (2nd Gen) offer biometric eye therapy for stress relief

Los Angeles-headquartered Therabody has introduced the second generation of its SmartGoggles — a wearable eye therapy device designed to alleviate stress, digital eye strain and tension headaches. Retailing at $199 USD (listed at £175 GBP in the UK), the updated model combines heat, vibration and compression, adapting in real time to the user's heart rate for what's promised to be a tailored relaxation experience.

The second-generation SmartGoggles introduce a built-in biometric sensor that adjusts the device’s vibration and massage patterns in real time, based on the user's heart rate. According to Therabody, this innovation is designed to help gently guide the body into a parasympathetic “rest and digest” state — the physiological opposite of stress-induced fight-or-flight.

"That pulse in the goggles, your heart tries to match that," Therabody founder Dr Jason Wersland explained in an interview with Entrepreneur. "So what we're feeding you is a lower stimulus than your heart is beating because your heart tries to match its environment."

The device offers three preset modes — SmartRelax, Headache & Eye Strain and Sleep — all of which are customisable via the Therabody app. Users can also access guided audio content through the TheraMind library, including meditations, ambient music and sleep-focused tracks.

According to Therabody, a six-week trial conducted by SleepScore Labs found that 82% of participants felt less stressed after regular use, while 71% experienced reduced anxiety. Several participants also reported improvements in sleep quality.

User feedback for the first-gen model has been largely positive. Wired reviewer Medea Giordano noted in her 2022 review, “When I wore them during a headache, it did relieve pain. For some of the really bad ones, the pain prevailed past the session time, but for those 30 minutes, I was in bliss.” On Reddit, another user added, “They have so much potential; however, they make a rattling sound during use. Not exactly conducive of relaxing.”, another user added, “They have so much potential; however, they make a rattling sound during use. Not exactly conducive of relaxing.”

The SmartGoggles feature a soft, contoured design and an adjustable head strap for comfort during extended sessions. The battery is rechargeable via USB-C and delivers multiple sessions per charge. Therabody highlights improvements in weight (390 g vs 420 g) and blackout coverage in its second-generation SmartGoggles.

2nd generation Therabody SmartGoggles are available now via the official Therabody website, as well as at selected retailers including Amazon, Target and the Therabody EU store.