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Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

nytimes.com

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Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#11

Post by CalChris »

eej71 wrote: post #4
CalChris wrote: post #2

I got a little pushback (not a lot) from my optometrist when I first requested an FD set at laptop distance. However it has made a huge quality of life difference for me. I also gave up on progressives and now have two pairs: readers and drivers. My current correction is insanely good for reading and for driving. In fact, my opto said it was quite a bit better than 20/20 with no eye strain. Well, there was some eye s…

What sources would you recommend reading through?

First thing is that you need to know your prescription. Seiko Trivex has a range from

  Sphere Power: +1.00 to -4.00
  Cylinder Power: +2.00 to -2.00
  Extended Range Available
If you're ADDing for a laptop distance that needs to be added in.

Look at the online sites and look at the lens choices:

http://www.eyeglasslensdirect.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=282

So I really like Trivex over standard polycarbonate or plastic.

http://www.eyeglasslensdirect.com/Trivex-Single-Vision-Lense...

You can easily drill Trivex so you can have rimless if you want. Polycarbonate cracks more easily.

So know your prescription and frame type. Learn about lens materials, lens types (single vision, progressives, free form, ...), tints, coatings, .... This seems like a lot to know but imagine your optometrist trying to figure out everything in 20 minutes. It's better if you do some homework.

All that said, I went to Berkeley and I use their School of Optometry. They don't mind at all if I ask questions and if I'm pretty direct.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#12

Post by [deleted] »

CalChris wrote: post #2

I got a little pushback (not a lot) from my optometrist when I first requested an FD set at laptop distance. However it has made a huge quality of life difference for me. I also gave up on progressives and now have two pairs: readers and drivers. My current correction is insanely good for reading and for driving. In fact, my opto said it was quite a bit better than 20/20 with no eye strain. Well, there was some eye s…

[deleted]

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#13

Post by csomar »

pm90 wrote: post #6
csomar wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd advise strongly against using contacts. Not only for work but like ever. Eye drying seems a simple problem until the unfortunate event of corneal erosion. The risk is higher since you are putting some plastic on top of your eye. If it is dry, it is as bad as any plastic. With time, you'll damage the surface of your eye to no repair. Read the Internet for some real experiences.

Is this just FUD? I've been using contacts and doing coding for over a decade now. I get my annual checkup from the eye doctor. They would know if my eyes were getting damaged, wouldn't they?

Nope. It is not FUD. Different people react differently. But having gone through dry-eyes hell, I'd not take any risks.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#14

Post by pragone »

pm90 wrote: post #6
csomar wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd advise strongly against using contacts. Not only for work but like ever. Eye drying seems a simple problem until the unfortunate event of corneal erosion. The risk is higher since you are putting some plastic on top of your eye. If it is dry, it is as bad as any plastic. With time, you'll damage the surface of your eye to no repair. Read the Internet for some real experiences.

Is this just FUD? I've been using contacts and doing coding for over a decade now. I get my annual checkup from the eye doctor. They would know if my eyes were getting damaged, wouldn't they?

Like any intervention to the human body, there are risks. Properly maintained and adjusted, contacts carry very few risks.

Anecdotally, I've yet to find a pair of glasses that lets me function in the world as well as contacts. (My eyesight is poor enough that I cannot see the screen on my phone with both eyes open, as it has to be so close to one eye that it is too far from the other.) Wearing contacts lets me see the entirety of my world, not just the portion within the frame of my glasses.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#15

Post by csomar »

freditup wrote: post #9
csomar wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd advise strongly against using contacts. Not only for work but like ever. Eye drying seems a simple problem until the unfortunate event of corneal erosion. The risk is higher since you are putting some plastic on top of your eye. If it is dry, it is as bad as any plastic. With time, you'll damage the surface of your eye to no repair. Read the Internet for some real experiences.

Being able to wear contacts is extremely convenient for athletic activity and times when you want to wear standard sunglasses. I personally like a hybrid approach - glasses most of the time but contacts once in awhile. I would guess that wearing contacts occasionally is fine, but feel free to disagree if you do!

I don't think it is risky business to wear them from time to time. I think the dry-eye trauma has made super cautious, though.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#16

Post by walterbell »

pm90 wrote: post #6
csomar wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd advise strongly against using contacts. Not only for work but like ever. Eye drying seems a simple problem until the unfortunate event of corneal erosion. The risk is higher since you are putting some plastic on top of your eye. If it is dry, it is as bad as any plastic. With time, you'll damage the surface of your eye to no repair. Read the Internet for some real experiences.

Is this just FUD? I've been using contacts and doing coding for over a decade now. I get my annual checkup from the eye doctor. They would know if my eyes were getting damaged, wouldn't they?

Do you blink regularly when staring at a screen for long hours? This helps in all situations (no glasses, glasses and especially with contacts where moisture is critical).

The natural blink reflex can be supplemented with an external reminder, similar to alarms that remind you to stand for a few minutes, or focus your eyes at infinity to balance out the close monitor.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#17

Post by walterbell »

CalChris wrote: post #11
eej71 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What sources would you recommend reading through?

First thing is that you need to know your prescription. Seiko Trivex has a range from Sphere Power: +1.00 to -4.00 Cylinder Power: +2.00 to -2.00 Extended Range Available If you're ADDing for a laptop distance that needs to be added in. Look at the online sites and look at the lens choices: http://www.eyeglasslensdirect.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=282 So I really like Trivex over standard polycarbonate or plastic. http…

Have you purchased from eyeglasslensdirect? Seems to be a one-person operation, which could be good or bad. They are the only online retailer of well known lens brands.

On their single vision lens order page, there is no input field for fitting height. Do they calculate a fixed percentage of frame height, or can you email them with your fitting height?

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#18

Post by derefr »

jdavis703 wrote: post #3

I have tried programming with contacts in (usually when my glasses were damaged beyond repair or lost). I can barely work for 6 hours before the contacts dry out, even when using contact lens drops. Does anyone know of tips for finding contacts that are good for computer use?

I'd be curious whether a humidifier would help.

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#19

Post by ScottBurson »

There's a more subtle issue with high-index plastic lenses and the new RGB LED monitors: the high dispersion of the plastic interacts badly with the red and green wavelengths of the RGB LED backlight, to produce a much more severe color separation effect when you're looking through a part of the lens not near the optical center. I wrote a blog post about this [0]. For the last couple of years I have been using lenses made of CR-39, the older, lower-index plastic (with a correction appropriate for computer work; that's about -5.75 diopters for my eyes), and they work much better.

If your absolute correction is larger than maybe 3 or 4 diopters, and you use an RGB LED monitor, I recommend looking into this.

[0] http://scottlburson2.blogspot.com/2016/01/lcd-backlights-and...

Re: Easing Eye Strain with the Right Lenses (2012)

#20

Post by phumbe »

Scramblejams wrote: post #7
jdavis703 wrote: post #3

I have tried programming with contacts in (usually when my glasses were damaged beyond repair or lost). I can barely work for 6 hours before the contacts dry out, even when using contact lens drops. Does anyone know of tips for finding contacts that are good for computer use?

I switched from Acuvue 2 to Oasys and it was a huge improvement. I only get dryness when I’ve got a consistent breeze on my face. (NB: I never wear them during sleep. That just seems to me like a fantastic way to get an eye infection.)

This is key. Switching brands can make a huge difference.

In one, my eyes feel dry and itchy after just a few hours. In another (more expensive, of course), I can go 12 hours without discomfort.

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