Computer glasses coatings and tints

Did you know that, even if you wear contact lenses, you may benefit from glasses specifically designed for computer work? Or that your ordinary glasses may not be suitable for extended work at a VDT?

A computer users' glasses must provide a wide field of view so that the worker can clearly see the VDT screen and printed text at varying distances while still being aware of his or her surroundings.

Bifocal lenses which provide clarity at far and near, have come a long way since the days of the "Ben Franklin" bifocal. Modern bifocal and trifocal lenses blend one focusing zone seamlessly into another, without the annoying "jump" that was a feature of earlier, cemented or bonded lenses.

Very recently, special lenses have been developed with the computer user specifically in mind. It was found that ordinary multi-focal lenses, while fine for close and distant viewing, were less than adequate in the mid-range field of vision used most often during sustained periods of work at a VDT. The new lens designs minimize this problem.

If you wear bifocal, trifocal or multifocal contact lenses, you are unlikely to need glasses over your contacts for VDT work. A contact lens wearer whose ophthalmic prescription corrects only for distance viewing may require glasses for extended mid-range VDT use.

Lens coatings can significantly reduce glare from VDT screens and surrounding light sources, and can also harden the lens against scratching.

Lens tints, usually gray or pink may also provide added comfort for some VDT users. Tints used by VDT operators affect either the brightness perceived, the color perceived, or both. They may also filter the unwanted effects of certain colors (blues in fluorescent lighting) which have been known to cause discomfort for some individuals.

The most commonly used tints are gray and pink. Both are considered neutral absorbers, and do not markedly distort the colors perceived. Gray dims all colors equally. Pink dims most colors equally, except the blue end of the spectrum, which is filtered more.

The graphical illustrations demonstrate how pink and gray tints reduce ultraviolet, visible and infrared light.

Samples of gray and pink tints are provided in the Solutions In Sight system, along with instructions for evaluating them. In addition, each Solutions In Sight system contains a Reference Manual with a guide to the various lens options available for VDT use.

Contact Eye2Eye by fax or phone at 1-888-Eye2Eye (1-888-393-2393) or 416-410-6557 
e-mail: info@eye2eye.com