Computer Reading Glasses for Boomers and Seniors

Reading the Computer Screen is Easy with Computer Glasses

Jan 31, 2009
Christina Gregoire

Glasses for Computer - dawnallyn

Glasses for reading books are not as helpful as computer reading glasses for preventing eye fatigue. The correct eyeglass lens will help a wearer focus on the screen.

Traditional glasses are not the best solution for computer work. Boomers and seniors often wear glasses for distance, or they wear glasses for close-up reading (readers), or they wear glasses for both (bifocals). These eyeglasses can cause vision problems when reading the computer screen. Most older people need computer reading glasses. Computer glasses are a hybrid of medium-distance lenses and reading glasses (magnifiers).

An older person who uses traditional reading glasses or bifocals while reading a monitor will end up with a sore neck from tilting his or her head back and forth. That's because the magnification will be either too strong or too weak.

Computer Glasses, a Hybrid

All computer glasses are designed to be functional for reading a monitor clearly. Specialized computer reading glasses for boomers and seniors are suitable for computers but also for standard reading magnification of books and papers. These are a newer type of glasses for computer work. The breakdown:

Computer Glasses are for reading words at a range of 20 – 30 inches (the distance to the screen).
Reading Glasses are for reading words at a range of 14 – 18 inches (the distance to the papers on your desk).
Bifocal Computer Glasses are a combination. The main lens is for reading words at a range of 20 – 30 inches (on the screen). The lower part of the lens is for reading words at a range of 14 – 18 inches (the papers on your desk).

Boomers or seniors who wear bifocals will readily see the advantages of specialty bifocal glasses for computers. The glasses can also be trifocals with a very small portion of the upper lens dedicated to distance. Thus, the computer user can also see the boss coming or read a clock on the wall.

Computer Vision Syndrome and Eye Fatigue

Up to 90% of computer users suffer through the discomforts of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) after only 2 hours of reading from a monitor. People over 40 are likely at risk because their older eyes have difficulty changing focus. One good way to avoid CVS is to have dedicated glasses for computer work.

Computer Vision Syndrome may sound like something “invented” to sell yet more cute reading glasses but it is not a fabrication, it is a true condition. The symptoms are:

Eyestrain (non-specific discomfort)
Eye fatigue
Dry, irritated eyes
Headache, neck ache or backache
Blurred near or distance vision
Double vision

Clip On Computer Glasses for Current Specs

Computer clip-ons are made to be used with one’s current prescription eyewear. These will add intermediate correction (for computer distance) and are worn on top of traditional bifocals. Pros and cons:

Cheaper
Available in different powers / strengths
Can be flipped up out of the way
Can be removed when leaving computer
Not customized
May need different powers / strengths for each eye
Wrong strength may cause worsening vision

As many older people begin to use computers there are also many computer users who are growing older. One must use the latest eyeglass technology to keep up with younger, fledgling adults. Also, seniors and boomers should use every means available to keep their eye health up to speed.

Note: Author uses computer glasses daily. Anyone who works at a computer should get clip ons or a second pair of glasses just for computers. Get the cheapest thing available. No one cares what they look like.

Edit: Several people have written, asking where to get computer glasses:

Computer glasses can be purchased online or at an optometrist / eyeglasses store.
Any person who normally wears glasses (corrective lenses) can call his/her eye doctor and have the receptionist mail a copy of his/her eyeglass prescription to his/her home.
Then the person can look for specials online or go anywhere where glasses are sold and ask the optometrist to make computer reading glasses with the right prescription.
Computer reading glasses are just like bifocals, only they have a part of the lense that's made for computer work.
An alternative is to buy cheap clip-on glasses through an online website or at an optometry store.
There are several types of computer glasses for people who do not wear glasses.