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Distortion While in Front of Dual Monitors
Joanna wrote:
I have received my new glasses with Nikon Online 1.5 HCC lenses. My prescription is 2.5. I work on two side by side monitors. When I move my head from side to side the whole text seems to move (distortion?) and i am getting dizzy. Are there any better lenses that could eliminate this problem?
Dr Joan Hansen's response:
Joanna, In your case you may be better with a computer reading lens where the entire lens is focused on the computer screens. All Progressive Addition lenses have some distortion at the sides, and if you need to be able to see across the room as well, you may need to have a pair of trifocals made. Trifocals are the ones with the lined reading and computer segments. Discuss this with your Optometrist and the person who made your glasses.
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Recommended Min. Font Size for Computer Screen
Lena wrote:
Hi there, For my job I currently edit on an operating system that uses a tiny font size and the problem is it can't be enlarged. Is there a recommended min. font size for reading on the computer screen?
Dr Carol Doman's response:
Lena,
There is no standard minimum font size for reading on the computer screen. In general 12 point font would be considered a standard size, but certainly not a minimum for reading. Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable reading smaller than a 9 point font. I would recommend that you get your eyes examined if you haven’t had this done recently as even a small uncorrected problem could cause a large problem when trying to read small print. A pair of glasses even with a mild prescription could make a significant difference to you. It’s unfortunate that you can’t increase the font size as most programs and operating systems do allow for this. A trick to changing font size is to hold down the ctrl button and move the wheel on your mouse (if your mouse has this feature). Even better are tablet devices where you can zoom in an out with ease. The newest thing on the market is designed for people with low vision and is literally a USB stick that you can put into any computer as long as it has windows XP or higher and it will automatically magnify everything on the screen. (iZoom USB Magnifier/Reader) I realize none of these may work in your situation. Even if you do have perfect vision you may want to consider a pair of glasses to magnify the print. I hope this is helpful.
Dr. Doman
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Eye Strain and Non-Prescription Computer Glasses
Violette wrote:
I use the computer a lot, whether it is for gaming, surfing the web or doing homework. Occasionally, my eyes will feel tired and get bloodshot, and I'll even get a headache. Recently, I heard of non-prescriptive computer glasses (the brand is Gunnar Optiks), and I was wondering whether or not I should buy a pair. I would rather not get prescriptive computer glasses because as I don't want to get dizzy each time I focus on something else. Furthermore, I was wondering what would be optimal settings on a computer to prevent eye strain. Thank you!
Dr Henry Smit's response:
Dear Violette
If you are experiencing eye fatigue and headaches when you use the computer, you may have an uncorrected refractive error – that is, you might be somewhat farsighted or nearsighted, or you may have some astigmatism. All of these conditions can contribute to the symptoms you describe, and can all be corrected with a pair of prescription eye glasses. The GUNNAR glasses you are considering would not correct any of these conditions. Your bloodshot eyes may be an indication that your eyes are becoming dry. This occurs frequently because, as a number of studies have shown, our blink rate decreases with periods of intense computer use.
There appears to be a lot of self generated hype and marketing around the GUNNAR eyewear products, but it seems to me that the hype outweighs the science. The lenses have a slight amber tint which will give an appearance of enhanced contrast and that might be somewhat more comfortable for some viewers. They are also touted as creating a moist microclimate between the back surface of the lens and the front of the eye – this is claimed to help keep the eyes more moist. As to this claim, they are not likely to be any more effective than regular prescription glasses.
I think your first step should be to have a thorough eye examination from your optometrist to determine if there are underlying issues such as uncorrected refractive error or dry eye syndrome. Treating these conditions, if they exist, can make you more comfortable at the computer.
As for how to best set up your computer, I recommend that you visit the CAO web-site for additional information. There is an excellent article at http://opto.ca/en/eye-health-info/eye-health-library/vision-computers.html that I am sure you will find informative.
Hope this is helpful,
Dr. Smit
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