Optometrist Raphaël Paquette and optician Rachel Jutras of the Doyle Verdun-Wellington boutique explain what these extremely practical glasses can be used for and who can benefit from them!
What are computer lenses?
“Computer lenses allow you to see both near and at arm’s length with the same pair of glasses,” explains optician Rachel Jutras. These practical glasses do not only allow you to see better at the computer, they are also extremely useful for DIY, cooking, reading, and doing all sorts of small tasks that require meticulous detail such as knitting, sewing, operating machinery and much more.
The idea is simple: the top of the lens is for intermediate vision (anything you can hold at arm’s length), and the bottom of the lens for near vision (anything you can see very, very close up, by holding an object with your elbows pressed against the side of your body).
Who can wear them?
“Computer lenses are prescribed for presbyopic patients, so we’re usually talking about people over the age of 40,” says Dr. Paquette. For younger people whose eyes are tired because of prolonged time spent in front of screens, we turn more to solutions like anti-fatigue lenses.
How do you choose your computer glasses?
Seeing well close up may seem simple, but there are a variety of nuances that make a pair of glasses best suited to your reality. Computer glasses are almost always customized to provide the best possible vision for each patient! You won’t have the same needs if you spend a lot of time reading, than if you’re alone in front of a screen, if you often meet with clients or if you’re pitching ideas in a conference room.
“And if a screen comes into play in the vision we are trying to correct, it’s wise to add a blue light filter to limit eye fatigue,” suggests Dr. Paquette.
Progressive lenses, computer lenses or reading lenses?
Unlike progressive lenses which can be worn all the time, computer lenses can only be used for certain activities. However, they offer a much wider field of vision in intermediate vision! “In a progressive lens, there is more distortion on the side and therefore more blurred areas,” explains Rachel Jutras.
As for reading glasses, they only offer simple vision, meaning that you can see well close up when you wear them, but as soon as you want to concentrate on something else, you have to remove them. “And since most of the time, we alternate between several visions, the majority of people swear by computer glasses!” the optician adds.
Choosing the right frames for your computer lenses
Most frames on the market can be used with computer lenses. However, Dr. Paquette advises choosing a frame that is not too small, since the lenses will include two distinct fields of vision.
And, “for glasses to be perfectly adapted to each person’s needs, it’s really important to see an eye care professional to get the measurements taken in person and centre the lenses properly,” says Rachel Jutras. “If the lens is not centred in the right place, the vision will not be as precise,” she explains.
Doyle’s current promotions
If you’re considering computer glasses as a second pair of glasses, Doyle offers a multi-pair package that gives you 25% off a second pair of glasses.
