What to Know BEFORE You Buy Computer or Gaming Glasses

From work to pleasure and hobbies, digital screens dominate in these areas of our lives.

With time spent at work (and, for many individuals, that means in front of a computer screen) claiming the majority of our hours, our eyes arrive home tired, irritated and dry.

Depending on the severity of your digital eye strain symptoms, you may even experience headaches, shoulder and neck stiffness, and a number of other uncomfortable side effects.

For individuals who are into gaming, perhaps all you want to do after work or on the weekends is unwind by playing your favorite game. Unfortunately, your eight plus hours a day in front of a computer screen are about to be compounded by additional hours in front of a TV, computer, or other digital gaming screen.

When digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome) is causing you discomfort and hurting your vision, it’s time to do something about it.

What Are Computer and Gaming Glasses, Exactly?

Differing from corrective eyeglasses – like bifocals, progressive lenses or trifocals – glasses to reduce computer eye strain and blue light gaming glasses are specifically made to reduce eye strain symptoms that can develop when viewing a computer or digital screen for too long.

Computer and gaming glasses typically have anti-reflective lenses to reduce the glare that bounces off digital screens and block the harmful blue light that emits from the device.

Glass color tinting is also a feature unique to computer and gaming glasses, as this tint helps increase the screen’s contrast without making it too harsh for your eyes.

The Impact Blue Light Has on Your Health and Body

Blue light is what gives screens their brightness, and most digital displays need a lot of it.

• Blue light can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and get a restful night’s sleep
• Blue light can affect your memory and ability to learn due to a lack of quality, restful sleep
• Blue light has been shown in studies to affect hormone levels that control hunger; in turn, certain individuals may be at an increased risk of obesity

In addition to the wide array of digital eye strain symptoms one can experience because of a high amount of blue light exposure, blue light may increase the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration because it penetrates all the way to the retina and can damage its light-sensitive cells.

Eye Strain Treatment: Where to Start

When your eyes and mind and mood are suffering because of digital eye strain, it’s understandable to search for fast relief.

Eyeglasses that say they filter out blue light from computers, smartphones, tablets and even TVs are becoming increasingly popular.

But before you jump online and quickly buy over-the-counter glasses that claim to be for computer and/or gaming use, start here:

Before you buy glasses to reduce computer eye strain…

Get in to see an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.

It’s so important to see an optometrist annually, even if you don’t need an eyeglass or contact prescription.

Regardless of when you last saw an optometrist, if you’re seriously considering computer and gaming glasses, an eye exam is where you need to start.

During an eye exam:

• You can discuss the exact eye issues you’re experiencing and the kind of relief you’re hoping for.
• Your eyes and vision will be thoroughly assessed, and any unknown vision issues will be identified.
• Your prescription can be updated if you wear glasses or contacts. Since your vision can change every year, even small inaccuracies in your prescription lenses can contribute to computer vision problems.
• You can obtain an accurate and customized computer eyeglass prescription.

Know that most over-the-counter computer and gaming glasses lack in complete effectiveness.

To reap the full benefits of computer and gaming glasses, they really should be customized to your individual needs.

Non-prescription glasses to reduce computer eye strain are weaker and won’t provide the accurate vision correction you need for sustained clarity and comfort.

Computer ergonomics play a large role in digital eye strain and the effectiveness of your computer and gaming glasses.

How your computer or gaming station is arranged is important when it comes achieving optimum eye comfort. Your posture and the distance you sit from your digital screen must be ideal, among other things.

By discussing your desk ergonomics with your optometrist, an optimal and custom lens power for your computer glasses can be determined.

It’s best to purchase your computer and gaming glasses from an eye care professional.

In many ways, over-the-counter computer and gaming glasses cannot compare to custom ones.

When you consult with an optometrist and receive a prescription, your glasses are likely to have essential components for maximum viewing comfort, such as:

• Anti-reflective (anti-glare treatment) coating, as discussed above, to eliminate reflections of light from the front and back surfaces of your lenses.
• Photochromic lenses to shield your eyes from harmful high-energy visible blue light.
• Lightly tinted lenses to reduce glare caused by harsh overhead lighting and to enhance contrast.

Additionally, your optometrist can advise on additional eye strain treatment that you may benefit from.

FAQs About Computer and Gaming Glasses

1. How do I calculate a prescription for computer glasses?

While there are an abundance of sources that will tell you a few different variations of ways to arrive at an accurate prescription for computer glasses, the hard truth is almost every source is incorrect and it’s not in your best interest to self-calculate an eyeglass prescription of any kind.

Here’s why:

• Without the oversight and clinical guidance from a licensed optometrist, a self-calculated computer eyeglass prescription may not take into account your exact vision needs and any eye diseases or conditions that you may have or may be forming since your last eye exam.

• Purchasing and wearing the wrong prescription can lead to very uncomfortable vision, headaches, blurred vision and much more – worse than you’re already experiencing.

• Computer and gaming glasses almost always need special lens coatings to be highly effective, so if you’re not well-versed on the different types of lens material and lens coatings, you could be buying glasses that won’t protect your eyes in the ways you need them to.

• Much more

There is no substitute for a comprehensive, in-person eye exam, and the only truly effective and accurate way to calculate a prescription for computer glasses is to have your optometrist assess your eyes to arrive at the exact prescription you need.

2. Do I need a separate prescription for computer/gaming glasses?

The short answer is: it depends. After a comprehensive, in-person eye exam, your optometrist will be able to understand:

• When, where and how you work/game (especially pertaining to the lighting situation in your office or home when you’re viewing a digital screen)
• Your workplace or gaming ergonomics to ensure the glasses will be powerful enough
• Your current vision needs (especially if you already have a standard eyeglass/contact prescription)

Before settling on one-size-fits all computer/gaming glasses, be sure to consult with your optometrist and be sure to disclose of your work and gaming environment, as your eyes may need more support in one situation versus the other.

3. What is the difference between computer glasses and reading glasses?

There are several differences, but the main takeaways are that computer glasses are specifically designed to deal with the glare of the screen and its harmful blue light.

Reading glasses magnify print so eyes don’t have to work so hard when reading small print on paper. Furthermore, lenses in reading glasses typically don’t have a coating, so they don’t protect your eyes from the glare or harmful blue light of a computer screen.

4. Can computer glasses be worn all the time?

It’s common for people to want to wear their computer/blue light blocking glasses for protection and style. If your eyes don’t need other prescription eyeglasses or contacts to see clearly, there is no harm in wearing your computer glasses all the time. When you buy your glasses from the right source, the lenses usually provide 100% UV light protection, so they can work as a sun defense, too.

5. How do I know if I need computer or gaming glasses?

Digital eye strain symptoms can vary from person-to-person, and largely depend on an individual’s digital screen use and habits. If you are experiencing any of these common symptoms, you may need computer or gaming glasses and should consult with an optometrist to get your eyes checked:

• Dry eyes
• Irritated eyes
• Squinting
• Blurred vision
• Shoulder and neck stiffness
• Headaches
• Reduced attention span
• Poor behavior
• Irritability
• Frustration
• Much more

Effective Eye Strain Treatment Isn’t Found Over-the-Counter. For Real Relief, Consult with an Optometrist

Your eyes are vital to your everyday life – including work and gaming. Don’t give your eyes ineffective, standard glasses; come see the eye experts at iCare Vision for a quick and thorough assessment and an accurate prescription to computer or gaming glasses.

Schedule a Computer Vision Treatment appointment, or check out our additional resources on computer and digital screen eye strain:

Read: How Looking at Screens All Day is Affecting Your Eyesight
Read: How to Create the Optimal Work Environment to Reduce Digital Eye Strain