Everything You Need to Know about Computer Glasses

Using a computer for a long time is hard on your eyes. Looking at a computer screen is not like looking at other things, such as looking out your window or reading a book. The visual demands of working on a computer can cause a number of vision problems, including eyestrain, blurred vision, red eyes and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). Specially made lenses, known as computer glasses, can help you reduce your risk of developing these vision problems when you use computers. Our staff at Overlake EyeCare in Bellevue can help you find the right computer glasses for your needs!

About Computer Glasses

Computer glasses are different from the glasses you use to see faraway objects or for reading. Computer glasses optimize your vision so that you can see the computer screen clearly without straining your eyes.

If you have a typical computer set up, the screen is 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes. This distance is in the intermediate zone of your vision. This means the screen is closer than faraway items, such as street signs while you are driving, but it is farther away than a book you read.

Eye doctors typically prescribe single vision lenses that help people overcome nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The shape of a single vision lens creates one prescription power throughout the lens. This means prescription eyeglasses for nearsightedness helps your eyes focus on objects that are far away rather than on objects that are nearby, for example, and that lenses for farsightedness help you see close-up objects but do not help you see items that are a few feet away. Bifocal and trifocal lenses help you see objects that are very far away and very close, but they do not help you see items that are in the middle range between very close and very far away.

Why would I want Computer Glasses?

Your optometrist or ophthalmologist might prescribe corrective lenses if you have presbyopia, which is a condition in which your close-up vision becomes less clear due to age-related changes in your eyes. Presbyopia affects your eyes’ natural focusing power in ways that affect your ability to see a computer or smartphone clearly.

Without computer glasses, you may wind up with blurred vision, eyestrain, and headaches. You might also develop a stiff neck from leaning forward or tipping your head to look through the bottom portion of your glasses.

Computer glasses resolve these problems. The lenses of computer glasses have about 60 percent of the magnifying power of your typical reading glasses.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

For more information on computer glasses, or to learn if computer glasses can help you avoid the eyestrain, blurred vision and red eyes associated with screen time, make an appointment with your Bellevue ophthalmologist or optometrist at Overlake EyeCare. Computer glasses can help you make the most out of your screen time and your vision. Call us today at 425-643-2020!