Digital eye strain and computer vision syndrome can affect your work performance, posture, and sleep schedule. Investing in glasses specially designed for your needs can help reduce discomfort and improve your overall health.
Unlike bifocals that force you to tilt your head up or down, computer glasses are made for the precise distance between the screen and your eyes. They also typically come with antireflective and blue light-blocking lenses.
Reduces Eye Strain
Computer vision glasses provide several benefits that help reduce eye strain and fatigue caused by digital screen use. The lenses are specifically designed to be worn at a specific distance from the monitor, and the magnification of the lenses can be customized to your computer usage needs. The lenses also offer glare reduction, higher contrast, and the ability to look at a digital screen for longer without discomfort.
They can also help alleviate computer vision syndrome (CVS) symptoms, such as headaches, blurred vision, and squinting. By reducing eye strain, you can work more comfortably and avoid unnecessary damage to the eyes, including dry eyes and macular degeneration.
Another benefit of computer vision glasses is that they can improve posture and prevent back strain. The lens’s magnification helps eliminate the need to hunch over or tilt the head when using the computer, which can cause pain in the neck and back.
In addition to wearing computer glasses, you can reduce eyestrain by changing your screen position and posture, using a humidifier, and following the 20-20-20 rule, which calls for breaks from digital screens every 20 minutes. You can also opt for blue light-blocking computer glasses, which filter out the high-energy blue light emitted by digital devices and help you sleep better at night.
Reduces Glare
Staring at digital screens for too long can cause blurred vision, eye strain, and other symptoms known as computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS can also lead to headaches and neck, and back pain. If you suffer from these symptoms, a pair of computer glasses may help.
Computer lenses are designed with the optimum lens power to allow you to view your screen at a comfortable working distance. This helps reduce the need for excessive focusing effort and unhealthful postures and avoid eye fatigue caused by glare from overhead lighting and digital screens.
Some computer glasses may include a blue light filter to limit exposure to the blue light emitted by digital screens. Studies have shown that excessive blue light exposure can suppress melatonin levels, interfering with the circadian rhythm that regulates sleep and wakefulness.
Other features on computer glasses include antireflective coating to eliminate glare, improve lens clarity, and UV protection. Other options include photochromic lenses that darken when exposed to UV light, which makes them suitable for indoor and outdoor wear. You can also find lenses with multiple prescriptions in one lens — including distance, intermediate, and near — to eliminate the need to switch between two glasses throughout the day. Your eye doctor will ask about your daily activities to determine if computer glasses suit you.
Increases Contrast
Computer glasses are an excellent option for anyone who spends most of their time reading or working on computers or other digital screens. These frames provide clear vision while reducing the risk of blurred vision, eye strain, and bad posture (hunching or tilting your head to see the screen). Unlike general reading glasses, computer lenses are usually tuned for the intermediate zone between far and near. This is why visiting an eye care specialist when purchasing your lenses is essential rather than choosing a generic pair at the drugstore.
In addition to a lens prescription, computer glasses should include an antireflective coating or “anti-glare” treatment that eliminates glare from overhead lighting and the reflected glare off your screen. Choosing a lens tint that blocks blue light emitted from digital screens is also recommended. Blue light has short, squiggly wavelengths easily absorbed by amber or yellow lens tints.
The best computer glasses will be custom-fitted to your needs and feature a decentered pupillary distance. Getting the correct type of computer glasses will make a significant difference in your comfort and quality of life. While it’s essential to follow the 20/20/20 rule and take frequent breaks from your screen, investing in a good pair of computer glasses will help to prevent and ease digital eye strain for a happier, healthier you.
Occupational Bifocal and Trifocal Lenses
Many occupations require specialized lenses to reduce symptoms of eye fatigue, discomfort, and computer vision syndrome. These specialized lenses are single-vision prescription glasses with a modified lens power explicitly prescribed to give you the best close-up and intermediate vision for your work. Unlike store-bought reading glasses, these lenses are designed to position the optical center of the lens directly in front of your pupils when you are using your computer.
This allows you to see the screen at a comfortable distance without experiencing the distracting lines found in lined bifocals or trifocals. Some people are bothered by these lines and find them to be unnatural. These occupational bifocals and trifocals have three prescription zones – a section for distance correction at the top, a more extensive zone for intermediate and near vision, and a small area for straight-ahead viewing. They are a good choice for people who need bifocals but prefer a more natural look for their lenses.
E-D (Enhanced Definition) trifocals are also famous for computer vision users. These specialized multifocal lenses have an intermediate zone with a more muscular strength to meet computer work needs. This is an excellent option for someone who has to keep an eye on several TV monitors, read notes from a clipboard, or recognize people across the room.
