All You Need to Know About Computer Glasses

When it comes to getting glasses, the reason used to be pretty straightforward, like if you could not see the blackboard when you are in class or you cannot see the road signs clearly when you are driving, or you are finding it hard to see other equally faraway things. You will then go to the eye doctor, take a test, and then get a pair of glasses if you needed them. However, when you are spending a long time staring at the screens, whether it is from your phone or your computer, you are going to need another type of glasses that will help your eyes, and this type is called computer glasses.

Reasons why you might need computer glasses

• You spend too much time staring at computer screens

When your job requires you a lot of time working using the computer, having vision problems is one of the hazards the results from it. This was evidenced by the research conducted by the Vision Council wherein 59 percent of adults in the United States have been reported to have some type of digital eye strain, or stained, dry, or red eyes, blurred vision, headaches, back pains, neck pains, or fatigue in general from the use of digital devices for many hour at the time.  Thus, computer glasses are can be helpful in preventing such condition to happen.

• Your current prescription glasses are not computer glasses

In order to prevent or reduce the strain in your eyes, you might need another type of glasses and that is the computer glasses that are specifically designed in order to protect your eyes from the blue light that is being emitted by the computer screens and other digital devices.

The Benefits of Wearing Computer Glasses

Truth is, no one really enjoys eyestrain, blurry vision, or the constant computer-related headaches. The benefits the come with the use of computer glasses include glare reduction, an increase in contrast, and being able to look at the screen for an extended period of time.

When at the workplace, we may sometimes feel that it is necessary to peer over our glasses or tend to hunch closer to the computer just so that you can read the screen better. And you know that this is not really helping. When you wear computer glasses, this will help promote a clearer vision which will also help in the reduction of the strain to your back and neck.

Functions of the Computer Glasses

When it comes to optimizing your eyesight when you are looking at digital screens, computer glasses are the perfect special-purpose glasses that you should be using. This is because computer glasses reduce the glare which is one major cause of eyestrain, computer glasses also increase the contrast and then maximizes what you see through the lenses thereby making it easier for you to look at digital screens for a longer period of time.

Main Features of Computer Glasses

• Computer glasses should have anti-reflective or AR Coating

This anti-reflective or AR coating helps in reducing the glare that is bouncing off screens and from other light sources. Pixel features a wide range of computer glasses that are specially designed to help your eyes feel relaxed even when you are spending a lot of computer screen time. Gunnar and Ambr Eyewear also have specially designed computer glasses and gaming glasses that have coatings and prescription glasses that can get anti-reflective features as well.

But, of course, not all of the anti-reflective coatings are the same. There are older computer glasses that might have a cheap coating that has had constant catching of smudges and dirt thus resulting in eyestrain and vision problems. It is therefore recommended that you choose lenses that have advance coating so that you will not have the problem of constantly cleaning the lenses.

In fact, an optometrist validated that the new generation of coatings is much better than the older versions. This is because older versions peel and scratch easily which results in unsightly cracks, so if you have been wearing glasses for a long time, you may have experienced this from a few years ago so you should never discard in considering the newer versions. The new generation coatings have now gotten better since it is already easier to clean, it has reduced reflections, glare, and halos.

• Color Tints for the computer glasses

There are some computer glasses that are having an unmistakable and usually yellow tint that is designed in order to increase the contract on the screen and also to filter the uncomfortable or harsh light spectrums so that the muscles of your eyes can relax.

• How much do computer glasses costs?

The costs of computer glasses range from $55 for the non-prescription versions, however, you can still find them on sale. There are also prescription versions that can cost several hundred dollars. This is because the coating along can set you back for quite a bit. This is because the coating typically costs between $70 to $140 that is in addition to the cost of the lenses and the frame and is also depending on whether your insurance policy has a vision plan.

Types of Computer Glass Lenses

Usually, computers are distanced for at least 20 to 26 inches from the user’s eyes, and this is what is called the intermediate zone. But, just like regular glasses, not all eyes are the same in each zone.

Below are the types of lenses that can be used with computer glasses:

• The Single Vision Computer Glasses

This type of lens is used to reduce the risk of blurred vision, eye strain, and bad posture. The single vision lens can be used by any computer user regardless of age.

• The Occupational Progressive lenses

This type of lens is used as a multifocal lens that helps to correct near, intermediate, and distance vision. This type of lens will allow you to have a larger and more comfortable vision at the computer, however, this is not recommended to be used for longer distance tasks.

The occupational bifocal and trifocal lenses can offer a higher zone for intermediate and near vision instead of the regular bifocal and trifocal lenses. The position of the intermediate and near vision zones can also be customized to your computer needs.

What you need to know about blue light

For sure you have been hearing a lot about blue light. Blue light has been described as the light emitted from our phones, tablets, and computers that are hurting our eyes, and there are already a lot of companies that are selling blue-light-specific glasses that are separate from the coating that is being specified int his article.

But it must be noted that blue light is not blinding you, thus, you do not really need special blue-light-filtering glasses. Furthermore, there really is no empirical evidence that blue light can cause irreversible damage to our eyesight, and even the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not really recommend any special eyewear for such purpose.

Is Wearing Computer Glasses Effective?

The effectivity of the computer glasses or is it worth the money is subjective because there are other factors that include your visual abilities and computer usage, the work environmental conditions, and your viewing habits. With blue light aside, here is what experts and users have thought about the other types of computer glasses –

First thing, if it is not broken, do not have it fixed

If you are not really experiencing any eye problems, you can choose not to use it. This is because specially coated or computer glasses will not help you with anything. As a matter of fact, they can just even become a hindrance. An ophthalmologist even notes that computer glasses do not really prevent eye strain when you are already in an already optimized environment. Furthermore, the range that the eyes can sweep from one side to the other is even maximized without any eyewear. This is because the frame edges limit this range of motion and it may even hinder people who are not really getting that much benefit from wearing the glasses. Also, the eyeglasses will get smudges which can interfere with your vision as well.

If you are experiencing eye strain, then computer glasses can be worth it

There are a number of people who are experiencing digital eye strain and they choose to just simply ignore it. An ophthalmologist disclosed that the underlying reason for this is because there are a lot of people who are already so accustomed to their eyes feeling tired at the end of the day, and they just choose to accept it. However, just because it is normal, it does not mean that it is ok. Thus, you have to consult with your eye doctor so that your doctor can help you in getting those eyes to feel better.

As a matter of fact, the following are some advantages of the different types of glasses:

There are eyeglasses that have a premium anti-reflective coating that can help you to ensure that your vision will remain clear by keeping out dust, fingerprints, and other things from appearing on your lenses. Furthermore, you might also want to look for glasses that includes a small bump which is going to provide you with just enough boost in power, and that the print in screen will become slightly larger, thereby decreasing eye strain. Also, most of these computer glasses can help in increasing contrast which will make it easier for your eyes to focus on a computer screen.

Are Computer Glasses a Hoax?

When the computer glasses hit the market, computer eyewear companies have been really hyped up about their products and have even used infomercial-like tactics, which is why it seems to sound a little gimmicky.

As years passed by, those computer eyewear companies have already toned it down a lot. Although computer glasses nowadays have been intertwined with the not-scientifically-backed blue light glasses which does not provide you with any help, unlike the computer glasses.

An optometrist noted that most of the features of computer eyewear like this are the ones that such optometrists recommend to their patients anyway because of its anti-reflective coatings, tints, and many more.

About 10 years ago, computer companies claim that they have wraparound glasses that help to keep the moisture in your eyes, but, this has since stopped because there is research indicating that it is not really true. In a clinical study, the researcher studied two control pairs of eyeglasses that are similar to Gunnar eyewear and then tested 38 subjects that are under the glare and dry air conditions. After having measured the tear volume of the patient including the squinting and blinking rates, they have not found any significant difference between the specific brand and the controls.

Thus, computer glasses whatever brand it is equally capable to help you with your digital eye strain.

Are You the Perfect Candidate to Wear Computer Glasses?

Not all person really needs to wear computer glasses. If you are not experiencing any eye strain or if you do not have vision problems when you are using the computer, then you can choose not to wear computer glasses. But when you are constantly experiencing eye strain then you might start to consider wearing computer glasses.

You can consult with your optometrist so that he or she can help you with finding the right pair of computer glasses for your daily work needs.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Before you finally decide to buy computer glasses, you should see to it that you have set up your workstation and adjusted your computer habits for you to have optimum eye health.

If you have already followed the necessary guidelines to prevent eyestrain but is still plague you, then you should now really lean to buying a pair of computer glasses. Thus, you should now really go see your optometrist so that you can evaluate what is the best deal with the necessary features. You should buy one that has a reasonable price with the best feature available.

There are already a number of the optical stores that have return policies and warranties, this is so you can test the computer eyewear first so that you can see if it can help make a difference.