Do I need computer glasses if I have progressive glasses for working on the computer or reading?

Question

Do I need both kind of glasses for reading and computer work? How are these lenses different and why? Should I spend the money for both kinds of lenses? Are computer glasses good for reading and for computer use? Thx

Answer 1

Computer lenses can be a benefit for you if you use the computer for 2 or more hours at a time. With progressive lenses you are constantly moving your head to find the zone for the computer. Over the course of the day these small movements can literally give you a pain in the neck.

It can be done a couple of different ways. There are lenses designed with intermediate and near only that are also blended, but won't allow you to see any farther than the computer. You can also use a standard lined bifocal, where as the top is computer and bottom for reading.  Basically it depends on your comfort level with the progressive and the length of time you are actually on the computer. Many people don't realize there is an alternative and just put up with the progressive.

You could probably pick out a very inexpensive frame if you wanted to get them since they would get limited use.

Answer 2

Computer glasses are usually made with the same power as your intermediate distance in the progressives. But as a single vision lens, can cause some reading problems when you are presbyopic.

Computer glass can also be made as progressives, with the intermediate power on the top, and reading on the bottom. But they are only good for that use.

If the progressives are working for you at the computer distance without hurting your neck by having to raise your head to much...then you don't need the computer glasses.

It all depends on how comfortable you are using your regular progressives for that work.

The options of computer glasses are there for those who need them, but not everyone does. It depends a lot on how strong your reading power is as to how limited you will be for computer use with your regular progressives.

So, it's all a matter of comfort...if you are having problems...other options are available.

LOL...by the time I finished writing this...there were two other answers.

Answer 3

Progressive lenses for computers are a bit tricky because depending on how high it starts off in your lens you might not be able to see the computer screen properly. Since the progressive bit is in the bottom part of your lens, it can be difficult to read the screen because it is directly at eye level. Progressive is good for reading because you usually have the book beneath you when you read so you can look down into it. When things are at eye level, sometimes you have to tilt your head back a bit (my boss got a kink in his neck from doing that lol). Might be a good idea to have glasses just for the computer and some glasses just for seeing far away for example. You can switch to either of them whenever you need them and they are easier to get used to (finding the focus point in your progressive lens can be a bit complicated in the beginning). Check with your optometrist, they can suggest a few things.

Answer 4

If you have a GOOD progressive lens you should be ok.  They have wider channels overall.  You may want to push them up slightly that can help if your computer is at or slightly below eye level.  If you spend a ton of time on the computer you can have a progressive made with your computer Rx on top and a reading Rx on the bottom for seeing things on your desk.  Just tell your Doc and Optician what you need & they'll modify your Rx accordingly.  There's also progressives designed for this that have very wide areas for mid & near vision but the good one we use (Zeiss Business) seems to have been on backorder for ages.

Answer 5

progressive lenses include the distance, intermediate, and reading all packed into one lens so you don't need a separate set of computer/reading glasses if you are able to adapt to progressives...if you need wider channels for the intermediate and reading, there are different types of progressives to choose from depending on how big your frames are and how much of a visual channel you want...there are short-fit progressives for small frames, but if you intend to do a lot of computer and reading then a larger frame would be recommended with wider channeled progressives....every office would have different types of lenses that are available so check whatever office you plan to order from, they'll explain everything according to your optical needs...

just remember that the more you want glasses to do, the more it will cost....progressives for a lot of people are for convenience...

sometimes the dr will prescribe progressive computer/reading glasses that would not be any good for distance so that would mean no driving with that pair and this would be for people who spend lots of time at the computer and reading so it's like working glasses...

depending on how strong your reading prescription is, it may or may not be able to be used for both computer and reading