What are the best computer glasses?
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What are the benefits of computer glasses?
As technology has become a more significant part of our everyday lives, our time spent looking at computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs has increased dramatically. So much time dedicated to screen use can cause digital eye strain. Fortunately, relief can be found with blue-light-blocking computer glasses.
The best computer glasses, available with or without a prescription, effectively protect and relax your eyes from bright screens with a special blue light blocking coating.
What are computer glasses? What is blue light? How do computer glasses block blue light? Our guide answers these questions and will help you determine which computer glasses will best protect your eyes.
What are computer glasses?
Computer glasses have specially coated lenses to block blue light and to reduce the effects of computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain. Symptoms of computer vision syndrome include dry eyes, blurred vision, tired eyes and headaches.
Computer glasses are available in both prescription and non-prescription formats. Computer glasses also can improve your intermediate vision — about 20 to 25 inches (50-60cm) in front of your face — which is the optimal distance from your eyes to the screen. Need an easy way to make sure you are far enough away from your computer or laptop? The distance between you and your screen should be about an arm’s length.
What is blue light?
Blue light emitted by computers, TVs and smartphones contributes to digital eye strain and can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The effect of blue light on our sleep cycles is why it is important to put your phone away and turn off your TV an hour or so before going to bed.
Computer glasses block blue light, making it easier and more comfortable to view your screen during the day and evening.
Another way to limit your blue light exposure? Put your phone on “night mode,” which can reduce blue light and help maintain your body’s natural day-to-night cycle. Or purchase a screen or cover for your devices to block blue light.
What are the different kinds of computer glasses?
Computer glasses can feature a variety of lens features, such as anti-glare and scratch-resistant coatings, and lens tints, which can filter or block varying levels of blue light.
Lens coatings and tints
Computer glasses are available in several coatings and lens tints. But how exactly do they reduce digital eye strain and block blue light? Here are the benefits of these features:
Lens coatings: Adding an anti-reflective coating to your computer glasses can reduce the glare from your screen and the glare from your lenses (which can be distracting to friends and co-workers viewing you via video chat or video conference call).
Lens tints: Lens tints can eliminate nearly all blue light, depending on the tint you choose. Amber and yellow tinted lenses, for example, are able to block up to 94% of projected blue light.
Here's how: On the light spectrum, blue light has short and squiggly wavelengths. Amber and yellow both have long and loose wavelengths. This makes it possible for the amber and yellow lens tints to absorb blue light before it can even reach your eyes.
Prescription or non-prescription computer glasses?
Your everyday glasses can double as computer glasses, but you’ll need to order new lenses that include blue light blocking features.
You also could order a pair of prescription computer glasses as an addition to your current pair of everyday prescription glasses. (Computer glasses when you’re working at the office or at home and your regular glasses when you’re not working, for example.)
If you don’t currently wear glasses, or if you frequently wear contact lenses, computer glasses with non-prescription lenses could be the right choice for you to protect your eyes from blue light and reduce the effects of digital eye strain.
SHOULD YOU GET COMPUTER GLASSES? Get expert advice. Find an optician near you and learn about the benefits of computer glasses and blue light lenses. Your eye doctor can help you find the pair that’s best for your vision needs, work habits and lifestyle.