This is the computer age. More than 200 million Americans spend a lot of time everyday working or studying on a computer. And according to many researches, more than 80% of them are suffering from computer vision syndrome (CVS). This is a medical condition occurred because of prolonged use of computer that arises many vision problems, as eyestrain, dry eyes, blurred vision and headaches. Almost all eye care professionals suggest wearing computer eyeglasses to avoid these vision problems.

"There is no longer any doubt that computer vision syndrome is a very real health condition and that it adversely affects work performance." says VSP network Doctor Stephen Glaser, O.D. of Washington, D.C., and recommends computer eyeglasses.

You focus your eyes from a closer range to view the screen through the bottom portion of the lens for long periods while working on a computer. This unnatural situation develops infrequent breaks of eye focus from the screen. This "state of gazing" can lead several eye problems.

 

Benefits of Computer Eyewear

Computer eyeglasses are designed with the help of special filters, tints, anti-reflection coatings and the work-related progressive lenses and variable-focus lenses to increase comfort and productivity. Opticians who are computer treatment specialists prepare computer glasses according the individual's vision, type of work and custom fitting. These specially designed glasses called "task-specific".

These computer eye glasses obviate the continuous refocusing effort while performing tasks that required them to interact with a computer, keyboard and paper-sheets. These eyeglasses correct near, intermediate and distance vision. Anti-reflective coating (ARC) on your computer eyeglass lenses extensively reduce the amount of glare and reflected light of computer screen.

Computer eyeglasses are recommended by eye specialistss even if you already wear regular eyeglasses or reading glasses, as these glasses are not quite right for computer work. The reason is they don’t provide you the functionality as computer eyewear provides. Reading glasses and regular glasses don’t correct the near and far vision at intermediate zone adequate for comfortable computer work.

Types of Computer Eyewear Lenses

There are a variety of special lenses for computer users:

• Monofocal computer glasses provide the apposite optical rectification for the working distance to view the computer screen properly but objects and reading materials closer than screen will seem blurry.
   
• Bifocal computer reading glasses are prescribed to set the adequate upper segment and lower segment vision, but objects and reading materials farther than screen will seem blurry.
   
• Trifocal computer eyeglass lenses set the proper segments for upper, lower and middle (between the far and near segments) vision, but a disadvantage of these lenses is spherical aberration in peripheral vision.
   
• Progressive Addition Lens (PAL) obviates lines between different focal segments and provides better persistence of vision with less peripheral aberration of vision.
   

Which is the best choice?

Well, there is nothing pre-established as the most adept computer glasses that are the best for every person. Visual acuity, personal priorities, type of work or mode of using the computer, lighting conditions at computer place and prescription of an eye specialist—these are the factors on which selection of computer eyeglasses is based.
However, various surveys and researches have discovered that the progressive addition lens may be the best option for computer eyewear lenses.