People regularly use computers for work, leisure, and research, but most of us don’t realize the damage that prolonged use can cause. While you may take your vision care seriously and use eyeglasses to read, it may still be necessary to invest in a pair of computer reading glasses. This overview explores the differences between the two, which is an important distinction to make if you spend a significant amount of your day at a computer.

Why Do You Need Reading Glasses?

For a small group of people, vision care comes easy to them, and they may not need to wear glasses for most of their lives. However, as people reach their 40s, their vision becomes strained, and they have trouble seeing print on a page.

It’s usually at this point that their eye doctor recommends reading glasses. As we age, the muscles in our eyes grow weaker, and it becomes more difficult to see small objects without the help of prescription glasses. In some cases, bifocals, or bifocal contact lenses, can resolve this problem easily.

How Do Computer Reading Glasses Affect Vision Care? 

The eye strain people experience from looking at a computer screen is different, and it is not age-related. If you spend a significant amount of your day looking at a screen, you might experience vision problems.

This is because the blue light that these screens give off causes a scattering effect, or glare, as it passes by the retina. This forces the eyes to work harder to make sense of images on the screen, causing the muscles in the eyes to become strained. This is why you feel fatigued after spending time in front of a screen without a break.

Computer reading glasses are also known as blue blockers because they help counteract the glare. The lenses are covered with a special coating that filters out the blue light that negatively affects the retina. As a result, it’s easier for the eyes to see the images on the screen, so you won’t feel as fatigued after working at a computer for hours at a time.

A routine eye exam is essential to proper vision care, and it can help your eye doctor determine whether you need regular or computer reading glasses. Abel Klecker & Robbins has been serving the Lexington, KY, area for over 60 years, and their optometrists use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. This ensures that they can provide each patient with the highest quality of eye care. To schedule an eye exam, visit them online or call (859) 269-6921.