Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#211

Post by simianparrot » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 6:59 AM UTC

nozzlegear wrote: post #208

General question for anyone with this visual discomfort/headache problem: do you ever get dizzy or have feelings of vertigo after prolonged computer usage? I've had the usual eye strain and discomfort problems for years, but have recently started feeling dizzy to the point of nausea after a 6-8 hour shift at my computer. I also get these strange, extremely brief bouts of vertigo when I lean forward in certain directi…

I do, but I find something surprisingly simple practically alleviates it for me: Take a break from the monitor every ~30 minutes, get up and go over to a window, and stare at something far away for at least ~30 seconds -- I count in my head because sometimes I get so into things at work I'll get distracted if I don't. I use a pomodoro timer to remind me, and I rarely have issues anymore.

As I get older and nearing 40 now, I'm realizing the wisdom in all these things I've been told throughout the years but never had to heed before: Take _frequent_ breaks from monitors. Strive to take daily brisk walks (keeps my bp in check). Drink enough plain water (keeps some of my frequent headaches at bay). And so forth.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#212

Post by mdnahas » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:02 AM UTC

theogravity wrote: post #26

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #8

Yes, I'm very nearsighted. I've worn progressive lenses for years but they continue to drive me crazy. I can see fine with them, but my eyes easily get fatigued and I have to take long breaks to get them to calm down. Over the summer I added a pair of progressive occupational lenses (not reading glasses). They are focused arms length in front of me. This has been a complete game changer. I can now see my monitor cris…

Same, I have occupational lenses that are also focused to arms length, and it has made a huge difference for me as well when using it for reading things on my computer screens. It makes reading small text easier and feels crisp. Using it outside of its intended distance will cause eye strain since your eyes won't be able to focus properly. My provider calls them "computer glasses". It does not have blue light filteri…

Me too. My progressive lenses give me eye strain and it is much worse at the computer. I have non-progressive lens for work and they’re much more comfortable. (Especially with my large monitor.)

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#213

Post by thisislife2 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:23 AM UTC

alfor wrote: post #120

Add incandescent light to your setup. The lack of near infrared is destroying our health and it's most evident with eyes. Go outside, have incandescent lights.

I was thinking about this too - my eyes find the white LED light quite harsh. I've found warm / yellow LED lighting to be more soothing to the eyes.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#214

Post by jen729w » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:25 AM UTC

jasode wrote: post #71

The solution for me to eliminate headaches when working at computer screens was getting an extra set of intermediate distance glasses specifically for computer work. The "computer screen distance" of 3 ft is in between book-reading distance of 1 feet and driving distance 20'+ feet. I also avoid progressive lenses or high-index lenses for computer work. I commented about how arrived at this solution previously: https:…

I only need a basic 1.0 reading prescription but I have about 5 pairs of glasses. I'm hyper-sensitive to even the slightest deviation in prescription.

Currently wearing, to look at arms-length monitor screen, add +1.0. Will move out to the porch to read and switch to add +1.5. Will come back to cook and switch to my basic prescription.

I must put on and take off 300 pairs of glasses a day. But I don't care. I can't do anything else.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#215

Post by KennyBlanken » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:27 AM UTC

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #58

dinfinity wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unsure if this will work for your case, but I am _very_ happy with my implanted contact lenses. They sit behind my iris and optically function as normal contact lenses. No hassle, just a straight up body upgrade. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraocular_lens I was very surprised that this is not a more common thing to hear about amongst people with bad eyesight. Laser correction sucks in comparison, with more ri…

Honestly, I'm absolutely terrified of doing anything that might damage my eyesight. I know the common procedures (i.e. Lasik) have come a long way in the last two decades and are very low risk, but they are not zero risk. I won't even wear contact lenses, I long ago fully committed to glasses. That type of procedure doesn't fit my risk tolerance.

Lasik et al are elective surgery on a critical organ.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#216

Post by interloxia » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:54 AM UTC

notfed wrote: post #188

imroot wrote: post #171

My optometrist told me that I have a tendency to 'overcompensate' the last time I had my rx checked; I now tell the optometrists that I have a tendency to overcompensate and ask that they dilate my eyes before anything starts and it's really helped me reduce eye strain.

Same here: it's called "accommodative excess". And in particular, it won't show up on a vision test. I always got 20/20 on my vision tests, but kept complaining to different optometrists, and finally found one smart enough to recognize my situation, and now I wear -0.5 lenses. It brought my life out of a very dark place.

That hits a nerve for me. Sure I get 20/20 but if the astigmatism doesn't line up I'm going to have a bad time.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#217

Post by awruko » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 7:57 AM UTC

here is what works for me - dedicated non progressive glasses, antiglare coating - no high contrast colors, solarized light, wheat background - avoid dark background - redshift for the late work - constant monitor light, no pwm - flicker free environment (some leds are horrible)

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#218

Post by t-3 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 8:06 AM UTC

I just don't wear my glasses when using backlit screens, and use eink whenever possible. It's waaay better than wearing glasses, and doesn't really reduce my ability to read as the screen isn't on the other side of the room, it's right in front of me.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#219

Post by 01100011 » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 8:10 AM UTC

About 15 years ago or so I was part of a study for Zeiss wavefront lenses. They used some sort of interferometer to map my vision and generated a set of aspherical lenses based on that. They were absolutely the best pair of glasses I ever owned hands down. No chromatic aberration. Absolutely crystal clear vision. Granted, this was before presbyopia set in. As far as I could tell, they never really rolled out the system for anything but progressive lenses. It's a shame.

Anyway, I've been fighting progressives for about 5 years now. I have 2 pairs that I got a couple years apart but could never bring myself to wear them. Like some others have said, I much prefer having a pair of medium distance computer lenses. They end up being the glasses I wear when I'm at home even when I'm not in front of the computer. I now have to lift them up to see up close, but that's a reasonable compromise to wearing progressives.

I really want to find an optometrist who uses some alternative to the old phoropter system. My prescription is currently a bit "off" and I swear it's because the phoropter system is fundamentally flawed. My eyes adjust and adapt during the test, causing me to misreport the optimal setting. There just isn't enough time in a typical appointment to detect eyestrain or other issues with a particular prescription.

Re: Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

#220

Post by damnever » Sat, Mar 08, 2025, 8:23 AM UTC

The long screen time is the main cause. The perfect glasses, light, or monitors might make you feel better in the short term, but the same environment and low activity might still lead to eye strain. I have been struggling with eye strain for a long time. The best practice I’ve found is to leave the desk and go out for a walk. I have even built an app[1] to help with that.

[1]: https://blog.damnever.com/en/2024/reminding-myself-to-take-a...