Why Can't I See the Computer Clearly With My Bifocals? (2024)

FAQs

Why Can't I See the Computer Clearly With My Bifocals? ›

Most eyeglasses are designed to optimize distance vision — usually defined as 20 feet away and beyond. Most bifocals and reading glasses are designed to give focused vision — about 14 inches from the eye. A computer monitor sits farther away than where your bifocal can focus but is too close for distance correction.

Bifocals

If you wear bifocals, you will need to place the monitor so that the top of the screen is 2-3 inches below eye level. You need to view the monitor without altering your head and neck position. Doing so will cause neck discomfort and possible injury.

You want to position your monitor directly in front of you and adjust the height so that the top line of print is slightly lower than your eye level and set even lower if you wear bifocals trifocals or even progressive lenses.

Progressive lenses provide a transition from near, intermediate, and far vision prescription. As compared to bifocal lenses, progressives provide a wider zone of clear vision to make activities like computer use and reading easier for the wearer.

We know that the best viewing height for most people is slightly below their eye height. This slight downward gaze is natural and is usually defined by the line between the top of the ear and eye. People with progressive lenses prefer the monitor sit slightly lower than people who don't wear these type of eyeglasses.

Progressive lenses don't work well for computer screens because the intermediate part of the lens isn't wide enough to allow you to see the width of your monitor simply by moving your eyes. This forces you to move your head from side to side to see the entire screen.

It's because the PC you are viewing is too close to accommodate the prescription you are wearing (likely for distance). The farther the lens from the eye, the less the correction. So, move the screen further away, keep doing what you are doing, or have a pair of computer glasses made.

You can get a specific prescription for computer glasses. (There are also non-prescription computer glasses too.) These glasses simply have special filters to help reduce eye strain when using computers or other electronics.

What are the disadvantages of bifocals? ›

The bifocal glasses present three main disadvantages: the jump of the image when the visual axis passes from the far vision glass to the reading segment, the prismatic effect on the near vision point that entails an apparent displacement of the fixed object as well as a degradation of the quality of its image, and the ...

Progressives create a smooth, more comfortable transition from distance to near and back. Progressive lenses are far more sophisticated and technologically advanced than their common name (often called “no-line bifocals”).

Progressive lenses allow you to see at all distances with one pair of glasses. They start with your distance prescription (if you have one) at the top of the lens and increase as you move toward the bottom of the lens. You simply move your head position to allow you to focus through different areas of the lens.

Getting into the numbers of it all, your screen should be placed anywhere between eye level and thirty-degrees below your line of sight. This range is determined based on the fact that our eyes naturally trend straight ahead and downward when at rest.

People who do a lot of computer work may benefit from computer glasses, a subset of progressives that devote more space on the lens to intermediate distances. Computer glasses have a correction specifically designed for focusing on computer screens, which are usually positioned about 20 to 26 inches away from the face.

A blurry monitor can occur for several reasons such as bad resolution settings, non-matching cable connections or a dirty screen. This can be frustrating if you are unable to read your display properly.

Nystagmus is a vision condition in which the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements. These movements often result in reduced vision and depth perception and can affect balance and coordination.

Computer glasses are prescription glasses that are designed to wear when doing computer work. They allow you to focus your eyes on a computer screen, which is farther away than reading material is normally held.

Computer lenses are a specific type of progressive lenses. They are designed to help you see clearly from the intermediate range of your vision (where your computer screens are), to the up-close range (where you see your documents, books, or other printed materials).

Do computer glasses really work? ›

Short answer: probably not. Most computer glasses are designed to filter out blue light — high-energy light rays emitted from the display screens on your computer, tablet and phone.

One of the most commonly reported side effects of progressive lenses is blurry or fuzzy peripheral vision. The blurriness is usually most noticeable through the lower portion of the lens and to the left and right of near and immediate zones.

Bifocals vs Progressive

Bifocals do sport a traditional design with lines between the fields of vision, while progressive lenses offer seamless lens transitions and have no visible lines – a selling point to many. From a cost perspective, progressive lenses do tend to be more expensive than simple bifocals.

Computer reading glasses are specially made to help reduce eye strain. They have an anti-reflective coating to help reduce glare and a tint that helps increase contrast for easier viewing. For those of us who already wear glasses, prescription computer glasses are also available.

If your doctor didn't write out a separate computer reading prescription then you'll need to calculate it yourself. You can do this by dividing the ADD value by 2 and then taking this new value and adding it to the SPH number on each eye.

If wearers are not used to multiple changes in lens power, progressive lenses can make them nauseous and dizzy at first. Another disadvantage is that peripheral vision can be slightly altered by the changes that occur at the edge of progressive lenses.

For those with presbyopia or contact lenses, or who work on a computer, or who need sun protection and play sports – a second pair of glasses is often the only thing that will give you perfect and relaxed vision.

Most eyeglasses are designed to optimize distance vision — usually defined as 20 feet away and beyond. Most bifocals and reading glasses are designed to give focused vision — about 14 inches from the eye. A computer monitor sits farther away than where your bifocal can focus but is too close for distance correction.

Those who are used to bifocals typically experience more extended adjustment periods. Either way, most patients need a few days to a week to get used to the way progressives work, after which they don't think about it anymore.

Traditional bifocal glasses and trifocal glasses offer some benefits over progressive lenses. Put simply, bifocal and trifocal lenses offer a larger lens area for computer work and reading than progressive lenses.

What is the alternative to wearing bifocals? ›

Besides progressives and bifocals, there are also trifocal lenses or bifocal contacts. Like progressives, trifocals offer three fields of vision, but have two visible segment lines that mean a double image jump.

In order to adjust quickly to wearing bifocals, it really helps to wear them all the time. Wearing your bifocals continually can shorten your adjustment period to just a week or two. But if you feel like you'd rather take it slowly, that's fine, too.

Bifocals or varifocals may be advisable if you need to switch from distance and near visual tasks frequently. If you do a lot of reading or driving, separate pairs may be better for you as they offer clear all-round vision.

The cost of no-line bifocals can range from as little as $100 to as much as $500 or more.

If your bifocal line is too high, you might lack adequate distance vision. To lower your bifocal line, talk to the eye specialist who set you up with your glasses. They might recommend new lenses that would better suit your visual requirements. And if you prefer not to have a visible line, consider progressive lenses.

', the answer is yes. Here's why: Bigger lenses ensure you have ample coverage for each prescription. Most types of progressive lenses fit better in large frames, so you'll need bigger lenses to go with them.

Bifocals

If you wear bifocals, you will need to place the monitor so that the top of the screen is 2-3 inches below eye level. You need to view the monitor without altering your head and neck position. Doing so will cause neck discomfort and possible injury.

Who Is Not A Good Fit For Progressive Lenses? The most common reasons for not switching to progressive lenses is that the wearer has been using bifocals and may be perfectly comfortable with that decision or has had trouble making the transition. Progressive lenses also typically cost more than traditional bifocals.

You can absolutely wear bifocals while driving.

Bifocals are glasses that have a corrective prescription for seeing things at a distance at the top of the lens, and a corrective prescription for reading things up close at the bottom.

Tilt your monitor slightly upward.

This enables you to view the entire screen and the display more clearly. Tilting the monitor downward isn't recommended unless necessary to reduce the glare of overhead lights or if your monitor is too high and can't be adjusted.

Should light be in front or behind computer? ›

To prevent glare, the task light should not be placed behind you, as it will shine directly on the screen. The best location is either resting on or mounted just above the desk. It ought to be positioned on the same side as your paperwork.

Zero power lenses with blue block features are the computer lenses to block blue light. These computer glasses are coated with blue ray protection to protect your eyes and can be used by everyone. If you use prescription wear with high powers, you should go for blue-ray protection coating with your power lenses.

Progressive lenses don't work well for computer screens because the intermediate part of the lens isn't wide enough to allow you to see the width of your monitor simply by moving your eyes. This forces you to move your head from side to side to see the entire screen.

Using bifocals would've been oh-so-amazing to read paper documents while being able to see people and other things in your surroundings. But, for the most part, bifocals and progressive usage just doesn't work for a typical modern computer setup.

If you wear glasses or contacts and need to tilt your head or lean toward the screen to see it clearly, your lens prescription may need to be adjusted. Get an eye checkup to make sure your prescription is right.

Computer reading glasses are specially made to help reduce eye strain. They have an anti-reflective coating to help reduce glare and a tint that helps increase contrast for easier viewing. For those of us who already wear glasses, prescription computer glasses are also available.

#1: It can take a couple of weeks to adapt to bifocal glasses. You may not get used to wearing your bifocals overnight. When you first get them, you may struggle to look through the right section of the lens. For instance, while reading, you'll need to use the lower portion, while the upper portion is for driving.

Experiencing blurriness or some distortion with new prescription glasses, whether they're your first eyeglasses ever or are an updated power of lens, is a common occurrence. Relax. Your eyes are simply adjusting to a new way of seeing after previously compensating for less-than-perfect vision.

If you would like to order bifocal lenses for computer and reading use, just simply split the Add number in half and combine half of the Add with the Sph. The balance of the Add will stay in that data entry field. Note: Most companies do not do bifocal lenses with an Add of less than +1.00.

What is the difference between bifocals and progressive lenses? ›

Bifocals vs Progressive

Bifocals do sport a traditional design with lines between the fields of vision, while progressive lenses offer seamless lens transitions and have no visible lines – a selling point to many. From a cost perspective, progressive lenses do tend to be more expensive than simple bifocals.

Adjust the monitor height so that the top of the screen is at—or slightly below—eye level. Your eyes should look slightly downward when viewing the middle of the screen. Position the monitor at least 20 inches (51 cm) from your eyes—about an arm's length distance.

Monofocal or single-vision glasses designed for computer work will provide the appropriate optical correction for the working distance between the screen and the computer user's eyes. This option allows users to view the whole screen with a minimum up-and-down head movement.