Computer Glasses and Computer Vision Syndrome

If you spend a lot of time each day in front of a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, you are likely to experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS) or digital eye strain. Many people experience this eyestrain and irritation. Computer glasses are prescription glasses specially designed to allow you to work comfortably at a computer or when using other digital devices.

Young woman using laptop
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Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Strain

CVS is a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged computer or digital device use. Symptoms often include eyestrain, dry eyes, headaches, and blurred vision. Many people try to compensate for these vision problems by leaning forward or by looking down to see through the bottom portion of their glasses, often resulting in back and shoulder pain.

Symptoms appear because the eyes and brain may struggle with distance issues, glare, poor lighting or screen brightness. Focusing on a screen at a particular distance for long periods at a time may lead to fatigue and tired, dry, burning eyes.

Symptoms

People who suffer from CVS may experience the following symptoms:

  • Dry eyes
  • Headaches
  • Eye irritation
  • Blurred vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Temporary inability to focus on a distant object (pseudomyopia or accommodative spasm)
  • Double vision
  • Squinting
  • Neck and shoulder pain

You may find that you experience digital eye strain when using your cell phone or tablet but don't have the same problem with a computer screen. Since we typically hold phones and tablets closer to our eyes, we may notice this more with those devices versus a computer screen, which is usually further away.

Symptoms of CVS can also be caused by presbyopia, a vision disorder that develops as we age. Presbyopia is the loss of the eye's ability to change focus to see near objects. This usually becomes noticeable around the age of 40.

Ways to Cope

If you are having trouble with your eyes while using a computer, the following tips are worth a try:

  • Consider a pair of computer glasses
  • Blink, breathe and break. Blink more often, take frequent deep breaths, and take a short break every hour
  • Use artificial tears for dry or irritated eyes
  • Reduce screen glare by adjusting light levels
  • Increase font size on your computer screen

The 20/20/20 rule also can be helpful when using screen-based devices for extended periods. For every 20 minutes of use, take 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away (such as something out a window or across the office/house).

Additionally, better ergonomics, such as employing a proper screen height (where you're looking straight ahead, not tilted up or down), and a better chair with lumbar support can help with digital eye strain.

How Computer Glasses Help

If you think you might be feeling some of the symptoms of CVS, you may benefit from a pair of computer glasses. With computer glasses, the whole lens focuses at the same distance and does not require you to tilt your head back to see the computer screen.

Computer work involves focusing the eyes at a close distance. Standard reading glasses are usually not enough to alleviate symptoms of CVS, as computer monitors are usually placed a little further away than the comfortable reading distance. Computer glasses allow a person to easily focus on the distance of the computer screen.

Contact lens wearers may even need to wear glasses over their contacts while using the computer.

CVS is not a problem that only exists in those over 40 years of age—as computer vision issues occur in young people, too, and CVS is fast becoming a common complaint among all ages in eye healthcare providers' offices.

Even small uncorrected vision problems can become a bigger deal when you spend four or more hours on the computer every day.

How to Get a Pair of Computer Glasses

An optometrist or ophthalmologist will be able to prescribe a pair of computer glasses that will help to relieve symptoms brought on by CVS.

Before your appointment, take a good look at your workspace. It is important to tell your healthcare provider exactly how your workspace is set up, including the distance between your monitor and your eyes, in order to prescribe the appropriate computer glasses.

Also, pay attention to lighting. Bright lights are often a source of eyestrain in the office. Anti-reflective (AR) coatings may be applied to your lenses to reduce the amount of glare and reflected light that reach your eyes.

Types of Lenses for Computer Glasses

The following lenses are designed specifically for computer use:

  • Single vision: Single vision lenses are the simplest type of computer glasses. The entire lens is designed for seeing the computer monitor, providing the largest field of view. Many people, adults as well as children, enjoy these lenses because the monitor appears clear without obstructions. However, distant objects, as well as objects that are closer than the computer screen, will appear blurry.
  • Flat-top bifocal: A flat-top bifocal lens looks just like a regular bifocal lens that some people wear for distance and near vision. These lenses are designed so the top half of the lens is set to focus on the computer monitor while the bottom segment is set to focus on closer reading material. These lenses have a visible line that divides the two focusing segments. Even though these lenses provide comfortable viewing of the computer, objects in the distance will appear blurry. Some people also may experience a phenomenon called "image jump," a phenomenon that occurs when a viewer moves from using one part of the lens to another, and the image appears to "jump."
  • Variable focus: Some eye care specialists call this lens a "computer progressive" lens. Although similar to a traditional no-line invisible progressive multifocal lens in design, a variable focus lens is much more task-specific. This lens has a small segment at the top part of the lens for viewing objects in the distance, a wide intermediate segment for viewing the computer monitor, and finally a small segment in the lower part of the lens for focusing on close objects. These also can be made with the top portion set for the distance of the computer screen as opposed to distance viewing. No visible lines or segments are in this type of lens, so it feels more like normal vision.

The Right Fit Is Key

Computer glasses can benefit computer users as long as they are properly fitted and correctly prescribed.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are knowledgeable in problems resulting from computer vision syndrome and can help you find an appropriate pair.

A Word From Verywell

If you are experiencing eyestrain, see your eye specialist for a checkup and recommendations for how to be more comfortable reading or working at a computer. You may be able to find a solution that will give you relief and you will be checked for any signs of other vision problems.

5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Additional Reading

By Troy Bedinghaus, OD
Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association.