Let’s dive into the world of computer reading glasses – a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I’m in my 50’s and have been using them since my middle 40’s. As you can probably guess, I’m always in front of a computer or laptop for one reason or another. From looking at eye exam results, writing blogs to looking at social media, my eyeballs are glued to screens.
As I go through my day, my eyes get more strained and tired, my eyes convince my brain that it’s tired too and my productivity plummets. Like many people, I have a to-do list that stares at me like an angry cat. If I don’t get it done, I start to grumble to my wife about my inadequacies (My Asian parents would agree about my inadequacies). Now, she’s been married to me long enough to nod and agree to all my inadequacies but adds more flaws I didn’t even know I had. It’s motivational, in a “prove her wrong” kind of way. Spoiler: I never do.
Enter my knight in shining lenses: computer glasses. When I considered them, I was skeptical. I had LASIK surgery in the ‘90s - freedom from the nerdy, thick glasses of my youth. I was averse to needing eyeglasses again but with my wife’s voice echoing in my head (lovingly, of course) convinced me to give it a try.
What’s the Big Deal About Computer Glasses?
Computer glasses can be custom tailored if you have an eyeglass prescription or without a prescription with a mild magnification to make you see your computer screen comfortably from 20 – 25 inches (where most of us park our monitors). If you’re over 40 and clocking more than 2+ hours daily on screens (aka everyone with a pulse), computer glasses will tackle eye strain, dryness and discomfort. Age doesn’t discriminate here; even people in their 20’s glued to social media could use a pair.
How do these lenses work?
- Reduces Eye Strain: Reducing eye strain is the main reason why these glasses exist. It does this by pointing the focal point to the screen which reduces your eyes’ need to constantly refocus. Your eyes have special muscles that oversee focusing and like any other muscle in your body, if they work less, than your fatigue is less. This is known as Computer Vision Syndrome (because doctors like to name syndromes) and computer glasses directly address the blurry vision, strain and fatigue.
- Blue Light Protection: Blue light is a wavelength of light that computer screen emits directly into your eyes. This makes you squint (like Clint Eastwood) and causes fatigue, increase light sensitivity and potential long term retinal damage. Computer glasses have a lens coating that filters blue light and reduces its harmful effects.
- Glare Protection: Glare is a common problem when it comes to computer screens since it makes it harder to see due to excessive light bouncing off the screen. This makes it harder to see the contrast between what you’re seeing on the screen and the background. This makes your eyes work harder. Computer glasses have an anti-reflective coating that decreases the glare and improves the clarity of the text or image making your eyes work less.
Why I’m Geeking Out Over Computer Glasses
As a consumer and prescriber of computer glasses, I’m stoked about the bells and whistles that lens companies have thrown into their version of computer glasses. I’ve tried a couple of different brands of computer glasses, and they have their own unique strengths and weakness so I would encourage you to do your own research and buy from a brand that fits your needs.
Here’s some features I’m excited about:
- Wider Field of View: Computer glasses have a wider field of view so you can look at multiple screens (I look at 2 or more screens) at the same time.
- Ergonomic Benefits: Computer glasses are specifically designed to reduce neck, head and shoulder strain by focusing directly on the screen, so your upper body strains less.
- Configurable: Tailored to your specific needs. I’ve taken out a tape measure and plotted out my patients’ distance to computer screen as well as the top of the desk to make it custom to patients’ work environment.
- Sharp focus: Designed to boost clarity and contrast for small details on the screen.
Pro Tip:
If you’re serious about screen time, pair these glasses with the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s a quick reset for your eyes, and combined with computer glasses, it’s giving your vision a much needed break. Trust me, your eyes will feel better at the end of a screen watching marathon.
The Verdict: Your Ride or Die for Long Term Screen Jockeys
After prescribing and using computer glasses for years, I can wholeheartedly recommend them for anyone whose life orbits a screen - from stock traders yelling at charts, professors grading papers, CEO’s looking at quarterly reports and social media addicts. They have all raved how computer glasses have saved them from headaches, eyestrain, and blurry vision. So, when your livelihood or your life in general depends on looking at a computer screen; they’re your new best friend.
