VISION CORRECTION

The focusing muscles and the coordinating aiming muscles of the eyes are in their most relaxed state when they are viewing something at a distance (beyond 20 feet). As that viewing distance comes closer, the muscles must work harder and coordinate with greater accuracy. When this strain is sustained over time, it causes a loss of efficiency and increased symptoms. These can include blurring, headaches, temporary loss of focus, seeing double, decreased comprehension, brow pain and dizziness. How is this corrected?

Through the examination and the results of a series of visual tests, we get a picture of not only what is causing the problems, but what direction to take to relieve those problems.

It all starts with an assurance of the health of the eyes and then a determination of the proper powers to allow the user to see clearly. Once this is completed, the next step is to decide in what manner the prescription can be fabricated in order to achieve our goal of reduced strain and greater efficiency. This may include conventionally styled eyeglass lenses, such as single vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses or contact lenses. However, when it is determined that, due to the digital users visual demands, conventional lenses cannot satisfy the needs presented, more specific specialty designs need to be employed.

Eyeglasses- Let me present some examples of eyeglass solutions. This is by no means a complete list of lens design options.

In many cases we find that a small or lessened prescription for use while viewing digital devices is warranted. This prescription is designed to decrease the focusing demands of the eyes. That is, the eyeglass lenses do some of the focusing, allowing the eye muscles to relax.

In some cases, where the ability of the eyes to aim properly is determined to be lacking, an addition to the eyeglass prescription, called prism, is added. This allows for a decrease in the demands on the muscles that aim the eyes. The result is a decrease in the amount of effort it takes to maintain the posture of the eyes turning inward to look at the screen. 

Turning to more advanced solutions, there are now eyeglass lenses created specifically for the digital device user. These lenses are designed, simply put, so that the top of the lens allows the eyes to focus and aim more efficiently at the screen distance, while the bottom of the lens is designed to allow for more visual relaxation when viewing the keyboard or deskwork. The designs vary, to allow us to take into account the user’s environment. For example, the lens design for someone who works on three desktop monitors will be vastly different than on who solely uses a laptop for their work. 

There are also lens treatments that can be added or used by themselves to allow the digital user to see more clearly and comfortably. One is an anti-glare coating. This is used primarily on individuals who are already wearing glasses and have the problem of reflections, in the lenses, from the computer screen. The coating reduces these reflections allowing for a clearer, sharper image.

Blue light filters have been in the news and have been touted, erroneously, as a cure for digital eyestrain. While they are useful, one must understand what blue light is. Blue light is part of the spectrum of light and in some studies, under excess exposure, have been attributed to a depletion of the antioxidant, Melanin, in the retina. This depletion can lead to an increased occurrence of Macular Degeneration, a potentially blinding condition. 

However, a number of other reputable studies have shown that the quantity of blue light exposure most individuals are subjected to in a computer using environment are insufficient to cause retinal damage. It is interesting to note that the highest amounts of blue light radiation do not come from the computer screen, but from office overhead lighting. Blue blocking lenses or filters are helpful for those sensitive to that wavelength of light, in particular users with light colored eyes, those who spend very long hours in front of a monitor and to those who use them to reduce screen glare.

Contact Lenses- Many digital device users wear contact lenses. And many have unique problems with the use of their lenses in the computer environment. Many of these are inherent in the wearing of contact lenses, but most are correctable with the right approach.

One of the biggest complaints from digital device users, regarding contact lens wear, is dryness. Understand that when someone is using their desktop computer, laptop, tablet or cell phone the normal blink rate drops to about one-third of its normal rate. With this decreased blink rate, the contact lenses start to dehydrate. This dehydration can lead to dryness, blur, lens sensation and redness of the eyes. The key here is that with all of the contact lens materials that we have available, it is important to match the material of the lens to the tear level of the wearer. In the manner, less dehydration is achieved and greater contact lens comfort results. 

Just as with eyeglass lenses, there are now contact lenses that are specifically tailored to the digital user. These aspheric contacts reduce the amount of focusing effort by the eyes when viewing a screen. They are also made of a material that is resistant to lens dryness which may alleviate the problems mentioned above.

Finally, again, remember that the eyes are most relaxed when viewing a relatively close object, such as a computer or cell phone when they are viewed below the straight ahead eye level. An added benefit of this posture is that when looking slightly downward, the lids get slightly closer together. This reduces the exposure area of the eyes and may decrease the amount of tear dehydration leading to a feeling of dry eyes.