Do You Need Computer Glasses?

When young individuals wear glasses or contacts, most of them do so because their distance vision requires correction. Some may be prescribed reading glasses for near vision. As we age, more of us require eyeglass prescriptions for near vision or we buy cheap generic reading glasses without prescription.

Most bifocals prescribed for individuals beyond the age of 40 — often prescribed because they’ve developed presbyopia — correct far and near vision. Yet these glasses do not provide an appropriate lens for the distance and eye activity involved in computer work. Some people believe trifocals and progressive lenses — both of which provide a portion of lense for intermediate distance vision — can be utilized for computer work. However, these lenses don’t provide nearly enough surface space to ease and protect eyes for extended periods of computer use.

Many computer users will suffer headaches, eye strain and blurried vision if they do not utilize appropriate computer glasses. Such symptoms indicate computer vision syndrome. These problems compound themselves with further issues when computer users without computer glasses attempt to adjust for their strained eyes or blurry vision by tilting their head to view the monitor through the bottom of their glasses or by excessively leaning towards the monitor. Such behavior leads to sore back, shoulders and neck problems.

You really should address your vision care just as you monitor your blood pressure.

It is important to appreciate that this is not just about comfort. Besides increasing the likelihood of developing presbyopia and asthenopia earlier or in more severe forms, inappropriate lenses — or lack of computer glasses lenses entirely — can significantly decrease worker productivity and accuracy.

The University of Alabama School of Optometry conducted a study in which they examined a large number of diverse computer users between the ages of 19 and 30. Their vision was carefully measured before, during and after the study.

Subjects were randomly provided either correct computer glasses or a “placebo” in the form of non-corrective glasses. They were then assigned to perform a number of jobs involving a variety of different font sizes on both CRT (the old, large monitors) and LCD (the newer flat, shallow monitors) computer screens.

Subjects were timed and their performance was recorded and measured for accuracy. Individuals with inaccurate or non-corrective lenses which were not designed specifically as computer glasses experienced a 9 percent decrease in productivity and a startling 38 percent decrease in accuracy. Even people who described no discomfort or experienced no problematic symptoms were tested to have significantly lower productivity and accuracy scores.