Dedicated Computer Glasses V Reading Glasses

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Technofreak

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#311188 21-Dec-2023 19:40

I wear progressives which I only need for reading. The old issue of aging eyes and not being able to focus as well as in younger days. I could use reading glasses instead but for work progressives are so much more convenient.

However they are a PITA when doing computer work and I'm considering a pair of computer glasses or even just buying a cheap pair of readers.

I'm interested in others experiences.

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Stu

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#3174166 21-Dec-2023 20:29

I have a separate pair of glasses for computer use. My neck suffers when I forget to change them from my progressives.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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#3174168 21-Dec-2023 20:33

Not at work (retired) so not the same situation, but I find that separate glasses for PC and reading work best for me.

Being a tightwad I use the $69.00 a pair from Specsavers (now $99 I think) for each purpose.

For reading outside of the house I find the $10.00 (1.5% magnification) glasses from the variety shops are OK if I need to look at something up close.

With age the trend seems to be you go long-sighted, so progressives are less useful for reading and computer work, especially as the computer work portion in the middle of the glasses is such a small area unless you pay for the "elite" version. Why they have to have so many price variants for changes in usefulness seems like a bit of a con to me, surely they cost the same to manufacture whether standard, advanced or elite.

Technofreak

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#3174182 21-Dec-2023 23:07

Stu: I have a separate pair of glasses for computer use. My neck suffers when I forget to change them from my progressives.

Yep, that's my problem too, my neck suffers with the progressives when in front of the computer. What do you use for the computer, el cheapo readers or dedicated computer glasses?

I have the Elite (or whatever the top of the line ones are called) lenses.

Progressives are a love hate relationship for me.

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#3174184 21-Dec-2023 23:20

Just cheap but comfortable frames from OPSM and I think anti glare coatings or whatever snake oil they pour over them these days. Not sure if there were other options to the lenses, but these work well enough.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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huckster

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#3174412 22-Dec-2023 09:19

Yep Dedicated glasses. Optician can give you a specific prescription or add something to the script for computing e.g. the strength is a little less.

Blue light filter is also worth it, I reckon.

I get my glasses from Clearly. Whilst I know many who buy from OPSM, I can't quite bring myself to pay +$800 for one pair when I can get many more elsewhere for less.

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#3174441 22-Dec-2023 10:08

Dedicated computer specs from Specsavers here. $99 cheapies that are comfortable.

I asked about progressives, but was recommended against it as the middle-distance range was relatively small, and concentrated around the center (rather than the sides) of the specs.

As I have 3 large monitors side by side, and a couple above, I'd have to turn my head fully to get them into focus, which I don't need to do with dedicated computer specs, as they have the right focus all over.

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jonathan18

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#3174459 22-Dec-2023 10:49

I did get computer-oriented glasses as my second pair from SpecSavers, with my primary pair being their elite progressives (I had gone with the mid-range progressives, but two weeks of the world looking distorted and moving weirdly led me to upgrading!).

They work fine for the job, but I have to admit they spend all their time in my desk drawer at work - I think it’s the hassle of having to switch glasses to do other stuff, or suffering from the strange vision if I leave them on, that led to that.

I found it similarly with reading glasses; I didn’t use them much either, and had thought the computer ones would be more versatile. I find these progressives good enough for all uses - including reading and computer work.

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johno1234

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#3174469 22-Dec-2023 11:09

Progressives are such a compromise as the zones are small and you have to move your head to accommodate the thing you are interested in seeing. I do use them most of the time and they are only just OK for computer work for me.

Reading focal length is quite a bit closer than a computer monitor - so reading glasses are not great for computer work as you have to scrunch up close. Your computer screen is more likely to fit the intermediate zone of progressives. Most single vision lenses are for reading or distance, not intermediate. For ergonomic comfort and safety it's well worth seeing an optometrist for a recommendation on computer glasses.

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#3174491 22-Dec-2023 11:30

As has been said previoulsy. Reading glasses are designed for a specific focal length. The Optometrist will give you a book or a prop and will ask you to hold it where you feel most comfortable and then fit the glasses for that focal length. Reading a book will most likley be ~30cm from your face where as most computer monitors will be 40-60cm or even more away. Not uncommon to need more than one pair of glasses fitted to different focal lengths.

My reading glasses are fitted to ~40cm which is good compromise between reading and computer. I find myself really struggling with even shorter work. I was recently doing a lot of fine detail soldering and I struggled even with my reading glasses.