Computer Glasses: Relief from Computer Vision Syndrome

According to recent studies, 60% of people spend as much as 6 hours a day in front of a digital device whether it is a computer, tablet, smartphone or other gadgets.

These devices emit "blue light" or high-energy visible (HEV) light, which is a known cause of computer vision syndrome, sleep disruptions and other potential dangers to the eyes. Blue light radiation is naturally emitted from the sun, but also artificially from television screens, electronic devices, and fluorescent and LED lighting.

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What is Blue Light?

Emitted from the sun, blue light is naturally occurring in the world around us. On the spectrum of visible light (light that humans can see), blue light has the highest energy and the shortest wavelength.

It is also sometimes known as blue-violet or violet light, which is where ultraviolet (UV) light rays that are just beyond our perception get their name. Much like ultraviolet light, blue light has both dangers and benefits to our health, particularly to our eyes.

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Finding The Right Pair

There lots of options for computer glasses, even some that are designed for device users without a prescription or to wear with contact lenses.

When shopping for computer glasses we want to be sure you find the right pair. Ask us about your options! Here are some of the options available.

While all of these are good options for protecting your eyes, the 20/20/20 rule still applies – after every 20 minutes of near tasks, look at something beyond 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds…it’s a good time to stretch the rest of the body too.

Eye exams are important to test your focusing ability, and to ensure that both eyes are working and focusing at the same place. Many people do not have the same prescription in each eye.

What Are Your Options?

Single Vision Computer Glasses

Provide the optimum lens power and field of view for viewing your computer screen without straining or leaning in to reduce symptoms of CVS.

These are ideal for when the computer is at a fixed working distance and work well if the user needs to view multiple screens at the same working distance.

Office Lenses or Progressive Lenses

No-line multifocal eyewear that can be made to correct near, intermediate and some distance vision with a larger intermediate zone for computer vision if indicated.

Perfect for those with presbyopia which is the gradual loss of focusing ability that occurs naturally with age. Office lenses work like progressive lenses but provide a wider field of view for intermediate (1-3 m) viewing distance and near working distance (about 40 cm).

Blue-Blocking Lenses

Definitely recommended for this electronic age, blue-blocking lenses block blue light emitted from computer screens that are associated with glare, eye strain, and possible sleep disturbances.

How Do Computer Glasses Work?

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As people move from their computer to their tablet to their phone, more and more of these symptoms are seen, and in younger and younger people. Computer glasses offer a solution to reduce the strain on your eyes and your exposure to blue light radiation. If you experience any pain or discomfort call Village Eye Centre at 587-410-5920.

Computer glasses reduce eye strain by adjusting the focus slightly so that your eyes feel like they are focusing on something further away. They also have a tint to remove the glare and block blue light from entering into your eyes.

They specialized glasses designed to emphasize comfortable intermediate viewing, helping your eyes more easily focus on the computer screen with less effort and making computer viewing over an extended period of time noticeably more comfortable.

The lenses are equipped with special coatings or lenses that are made to filter the harmful blue light waves. By filtering out harmful HEV rays they make extended computer use more comfortable while reduces the risk of developing macular degeneration in the future and other vision health issues.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Blue Light Emissions?

As the dangers of blue light from digital devices emerge, more and more options are becoming available to protect your eyes. The eyes have very limited natural ability to block out blue light radiation so we need to be aware of blue light exposure and how to minimize it.

Computer glasses with blue-blocking lenses, coatings, and filters are a good solution for those working on a computer for long periods of time each day.

You can also add anti-glare coatings with blue light protection to your regular eyeglass and sunglass lenses. Additionally, there are filters available for devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, to reduce the amount of blue light radiation that can reach your eyes.

The easiest way to reduce blue light exposure is to take frequent breaks when working on a computer and to reduce screen time overall.

We provide our patients with sophisticated blue light blocking lenses that can shield your eyes from direct exposure to blue light.

ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect

The ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect lenses filter out wavelengths of blue-violet that are shorter than 440nm — the range of light which is considered by eye doctors to be the most dangerous.

By blocking only these very high energy wavelengths, the ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect coating protects your eyes from retinal cell damage, phototoxicity, and disruptions to your sleep cycle while allowing beneficial frequencies of blue light through. You will be protected with clear and true-color vision while still enjoying the benefits of blue light.

Shamir Blue Zero

Shamir uses a unique polymer formula to produce these high-tech lenses. The Shamir Blue Zero High Index 1.67 and Trivex lenses block up to 98% of high energy blue light in the 415-435 nm range. The Shamir Blue Zero Polycarbonate lenses block up to 50%.

This allows you to enjoy significant protection from blue light while still enjoying crisp, clear, and true-color vision. On average, Shamir Blue Zero blocks about three times the amount of harmful blue light as compared to standard clear lenses.

Hoya BlueControl

These lenses from Hoya provides blue light protection along with excellent contrast and reduced glare for clear and comfortable viewing of digital devices in a way which reduces eye strain and improves color perception.

The Effects of Digital Eye Strain

Nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults experience digital eye strain as a result of the growing use of computers and digital devices. Adults aged 18 to 34 report feeling eye strain at a higher rate (45%) than their older counterparts.

New research also suggests that overexposure to blue light, also referred to as high-energy visible or HEV light, may contribute to vision problems such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Implications are just now being studied, but the short-term impact of digital eye strain affects individuals on a daily basis. Eye care providers are noting a steady rise in the incidence of myopia as well, which research suggests could be correlated to the increase of screen time and near focusing.