We all have particular nick nacks in our WFH setups, such as wrist rests, ergo chairs, leg raisers, and even ambient lighting, all of which ease our stay while working or playing. However, with the way things are currently, we spend more time exposed to our computers, and with more exposure, there would be more strain on our eyes that may lead to other illnesses such as headaches, dry eyes, etc. This brings up the topic of computer glasses. What are they and how do they work?
What are computer glasses?
Computer glasses are eyewear specifically designed for viewing computers, tablets, and smartphones. They are intended for close-up tasks and are not supposed to be used for general purposes. Just like how we have different glasses such as reading or sports glasses, there are different variants of computer glasses.
Computer glasses have three variants, which are Single vision, Progressive; and Bifocal and Trifocal glasses. Single vision glasses are the simplest of the bunch and have the same grade throughout the lense, meaning that they work at a fixed distance. Progressive computer glasses are no-line multifocal lenses which means they look the same as the Single vision glasses but can provide clarity through all distances. Finally, we have the Bifocal and Trifocal computer glasses, which have obvious lines of the different graded zones for set distances; this type of lens can be customized to suit computer usage.
As for how they are made for computer exposure, these glasses include an anti-reflective (AR) coating that counters reflections that bounce through the front and back surfaces of the glasses, which cause eye strain. Along with the AR coating, computer glasses are equipped with a blue light filter that reduces, if not completely blocks, the harmful blue light emitted by digital devices.
Common ailments from prolonged computer exposure
Now that you understand how computer glasses work and what kinds there are, we present you with a list of what they prevent. Here are the common experience, symptoms of prolonged exposure to digital devices.
• Headaches – Pain that occurs either on the head or face can be constant, sharp, or dull.
• Blurry vision – This is the loss of sharpness of eyesight, making objects appear out of focus.
• Fluctuating vision – This ailment is basically reoccurring blurry vision.
• Red eyes – This is caused by the dilation of tiny blood vessels.
• Dry eyes – The lack of lubrication on the eye.
• Diplopia – Also known as Double vision, projects an object twice which indicates that either the muscle or the nerve that sends the image to the brain has malfunctioned.
Tips on managing digital exposure
Although computer glasses can help protect your eyes from prolonged digital exposure, you should still take precautions to help keep your eyes healthy.
• Increase the image and font size – It may look a bit jarring at first, but having bigger texts and images helps reduce the strain on your eyes. This would limit those times where you had to skooch in a bit closer to your screen to see the picture better.
• 20-20-20 rule – Eye strain is the most frequent ailment, which is why we should use the 20-20-20, which is to take a break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Add ambient lighting – Whenever you glance away from the screen to a darker area, your eyes adjust and can cause strain. Make sure to add ambient lighting to brighten your work area to lessen the eye strain.
• Eye exercises – Like how your body needs exercises, your eyesight does as well. There are exercises such as the palming or pencil push-ups but if you want to learn more, click here.
• Eat healthy food – I’m pretty sure that you may already know this, but this is a tip nonetheless. The foods that can help improve your vision are fish, eggs, nuts, whole-grain foods, and even beef.
To sum it up, if you’re always exposed to digital screens and already experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, maybe it’s time to consider getting computer glasses. Computer glasses are also priced differently as some are affordable while others are more pricey, like the USD 99 Razer Gunnar. It’s best to visit an optometrist to get your eyes examined and to receive professional advice on what computer glasses you should spend on.
