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

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

#71

Post by jasode »

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://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15375221

Reading glasses work fine when the screen is very close to your face such as a laptop screen. However if it's a separate monitor that's ~30 inches away, reading glasses are slightly blurry which can lead to eyestrain and headaches.

https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2023/04...

Look into it if you suspect it's a contributor to headaches: https://www.google.com/search?q=computer+glasses+%22intermed...

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

#72

Post by tarentel »

rahimnathwani wrote: post #3

If you're over 40 and have been wearing glasses for years, you might now need a pair with a weaker prescription just for computer use.

What's the reasoning behind being over 40? I recently complained to my optometrist that I was having a harder time seeing things up close and he prescribed me weaker lenses for work/reading. My regular prescription is right around -7 in both eyes. I'm not over 40.

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

#73

Post by devilbunny »

tlb wrote: post #68

I'm in my 50s and about 3 diopters farsighted. I had trouble getting a good prescription for screen glasses. My optometrist insisted that +1.25 was the right correction for desktop screens, but it gave me eye strain. I like my screen a little closer, or else my corneas are extra-stiff. Anyway, I tried a few versions and found that +1.75 was better for my desk setup. Tip: Zenni.com lets you order pairs with custom cor…

Up to +3 can easily be tried on and bought at a drugstore.

I’m severely myopic (-11), though that is corrected completely by contacts. Presbyopia, alas, hits us all.

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

#74

Post by Night_Thastus »

dlandis wrote: post #70
Night_Thastus wrote: post #5

I'm nearsighted with no astigmatism, so I have a simple -2/-2 prescription (if I remember correctly). I sit at a screen 8-16 hours a day. I get strong headaches every single day, for which I keep a supply of ibuprofen at work and home. 400mg a day is generally plenty. I do not wear my glasses while at the screen, as it's close enough that I don't have any issues. I suspect my headaches are neck muscle related, not ey…

"I do not wear my glasses while at the screen, as it's close enough that I don't have any issues." This could be the problem, especially if you are close to 40 years old. You may be starting to develop presbyopia, which is typical. In the early stages you can still read and focus on closeup things fine, so you may not realize it is starting, but in the background your eyes are, in fact, straining a lot and causing he…

I'm not in my 40's, but I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

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

#75

Post by mauvehaus »

I'm not sure I'm entirely on board with the idea that we've got optometry down to the point where anyone can claim to have arrived at the correct prescription without the wearer having tried a bunch and finding what works in reality. Having worn glasses for over 75% of my 40-ish year life, I've come to the conclusion that optometry is as much art as it is science. I think every time I've gone to a new optometrist, I've been told something along the lines of "wow, your old prescription is way off" and ended up with a half diopter or more change.

I don't sit at a screen much these days, but for a while when I did, I had a computer prescription pair that I swapped on every day when I sat down at my desk, and swapped off when I went to leave. The distance vision with it was good enough to walk around the office or down the road to lunch, but not good enough to drive to and from the office.

After moving and getting a new optometrist, I got a different main prescription, and was told to try wearing them at the computer instead of swapping. Lo and behold, they worked without causing headaches, which is why I ended up with a computer pair previously.

For all of the time I've been in glasses, I've read books without them.

I'm probably not interesting to talk to, because I'm no longer in front of a computer when I can avoid it and I'm in my 40's so I'm staring down (pun intended) some vision changes in the near future anyway.

Minus 2 or 3 in both eyes with a cylindrical correction as well.

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

#76

Post by jbornhorst »

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…

Would love to speak with you for 20 mins to learn from your experience. If interested, ping me at jbornhorst [at] gmail [dot] com and I'll coordinate times.

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

#77

Post by jbornhorst »

walterbell wrote: post #59
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…

> now have to juggle two pairs of glasses instead of one This can be mitigated with custom magnetic clip lenses, e.g. Chemistrie. Tiny magnets are implanted into your current frame. Clip lens changes the focal length of your existing glasses by a fixed offset. Computer or reading clip can be changed in seconds. They also have polarized clips for instant sunglasses on your existing frame, which are better than Transit…

oh these are super interesting - i've never seen magnets in the len's before. thanks for sharing.

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

#78

Post by jbornhorst »

tlb wrote: post #68

I'm in my 50s and about 3 diopters farsighted. I had trouble getting a good prescription for screen glasses. My optometrist insisted that +1.25 was the right correction for desktop screens, but it gave me eye strain. I like my screen a little closer, or else my corneas are extra-stiff. Anyway, I tried a few versions and found that +1.75 was better for my desk setup. Tip: Zenni.com lets you order pairs with custom cor…

I'd love to speak with you, especially given that you've already tried multiple test Rx's. Email me at jbornhorst [at] gmail.com if interested?

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

#79

Post by jbornhorst »

m3047 wrote: post #65

My eyes have always bugged me, but I've also had allergies. It's also become clear over time that I have pretty bad astigmatism. I've always been farsighted. I first got "dimestore readers" specifically for computer use, to reduce eyestrain. When I put them on at the beginning of the day I'd notice some weirdness (phantom artifacts and double vision) but my brain would cancel it out and all was good. After about a de…

Would love to chat. Drop me a line at jbornhorst [at] gmail [dot] com and I'll coordinate times.

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

#80

Post by o_nate »

I had a problem with my previous pair of glasses. I think they were defective. I won't say where I got them, but it's a popular chain. My new pair is from a different optometrist. On paper, the exact same prescription, but my vision feels clearer. The new optometrist looked at my old pair and said it looked like the lens were somehow bent. So it can happen.
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