Do you feel your eyes getting strained with long hours in front of your PC? Then, you might want to check out the benefits and functions of computer glasses.
With rapid advancements in technology, most offices have become digitized, meaning anywhere you look you might find computer screens or tablets or mobiles. Generally, people work for 8-10 hours a day and that’s around a minimum of 6 hours of screen time. We, humans, have become highly dependent on computers and due to this, our eyes get strained a lot.
You’re reading this article on a screen as well. Those who have a good amount of screen time daily tend to notice high strain and irritation in our eyes. Without proper protection, computer screens tend to strain our eyes a lot.
Computer Vision Syndrome
If you notice that your eyes are strained and irritated during the day, it can be from computer vision syndrome. Computer vision syndrome is a temporary eye condition caused by staring at a computer screen for a long period of time without proper eyeglasses for computer use. Common symptoms of strain due to computer screens include dry eyes, blurred vision, neck or back strain, redness in eyes, and dizziness.
Many of us wear glasses to correct vision problems, but regular eyeglasses are not the same as computer glasses. Computer reading glasses are specially made to help reduce eye strain. They have an anti-reflective coating to help reduce glare and a tint that helps increase contrast for easier viewing and less strain. Prescription computer glasses are also available.
If your eyes feel irritated and dry after a long workday in front of a computer screen, some computer glasses might help.
What is Blue Light?
Blue light is also known as High Energy Visible (HEV) light. What we see, the visible spectrum of light, consists of a range of colors, from blue-violet (on the lower end) to red (on the higher end). Light on the lowest end of the visible spectrum has the shortest wavelengths, and light on the highest end has the longest wavelengths.
We are exposed to blue or HEV light during a regular sunny day. But even light from our smartphones, TVs, computer screens, and artificial lighting expose us to blue light. Our digital devices emit only a fraction of the HEV light emitted from the sun, but the number of hours we spend using our devices can have a negative effect on our eyes.
While our bodies need blue light, overexposure to it can have damaging effects on our eyes.
Blue light regulates circadian rhythm, which is our sleep/wake cycle. It is how our bodies know when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Blue light from the sun is responsible for helping our bodies to wake up, but our habit of checking our digital devices or falling asleep in front of the TV can disrupt our natural sleep patterns by exposing us to blue light during the night.
Blue light suppresses the body’s secretion of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and waking up.
Our eyes were not made for the modern digital world. The eye’s cornea and lens aren’t good at filtering HEV light from reaching our retina (the thin layer of light-receiving tissue that lines the back of the eye). Over time, this can cause damage to the retina’s light-sensitive cells. As we age, it gets worse and makes us susceptible to eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Young children are even more sensitive to blue light exposure since the lens of their eyes is more transparent than adults, allowing more HEV light to pass through.
One of the best ways to protect your eyes from such computer vision issues is to use a pair of computer glasses. Click here for some recommendations.
What are Computer Glasses?
Many people tend to wear glasses for various reasons but not all glasses suit the occasion. You need to find the right glasses that can eliminate eye strain and ensure screen time does not harm your eyes.
Computer glasses help to bounce back the harmful rays emitted from computer screens. They come with an anti-glare coating that ensures your eyes don’t get strained.
[COVID19-ROLL title_widget=”Worldwide” total_title=”Total” confirmed_title=”Cases” deaths_title=”Deaths” recovered_title=”Recovered”]With an average human working more than 6 hours on a computer screen, computer glasses are highly necessary. Else you might go home every day with tired and strained eyes.
Glass tinting has also proved to reduce eye strain by changing the contrast of the screens. At the end of the day, computer glasses come in handy and protect your eyes from long screen time.
Wearing yellow glasses also seems to reduce the strain caused on our eyes as it does not allow the blue light to enter our eyes.
Types of Lenses
Since people have different visions, there are various types of lenses available for computer glasses as well. Most of the computers are placed 20 to 26 inches away from the human eyes and this is just the recommended distance. People may place their screens closer or even further based on their preferences.
Let’s have a look at various types of lenses available.
Single Vision
Single vision computer glasses can be used by anyone from any age group. They are aimed at reducing strain and bad posture. These are the basic computer lenses available.
Occupational Progressive
These lenses are preferred for short distances and correct your vision and provide more comfort than other lenses.
Occupational Bifocal and Trifocal
These lenses offer a bigger zone for comfort vision at near and intermediate vision. These visual zones can also be altered based on your computer position.
Benefits of Computer Glasses
Computer glasses have various benefits and the basic ones include protection from the rays of the screen and reduced blurry eyes and irritation. Their anti-glare feature helps us to look at screens for a long time.
Computer glasses also reduce neck pains and back pains by ensuring that you have a perfect vision from your comfortable posture. You don’t have to squint or go closer to the screen just to see what’s on it.
The computer screens produce harmful blue light that can make your eyes feel tired very quickly and computer glasses tend to block these blue rays. Most computer glasses claim to specialize in protecting from these blue rays.
Do you Need Computer Glasses?
If you do not experience any form of strain or tiredness from long screen time then you probably do not require computer glasses. Not everyone needs computer glasses, but it is a precautionary measure to ensure you don’t get your eyes strained.
The easiest way to decide if you need computer glasses is to meet your optometrist today.
