I’ve heard a lot about computer progressive lenses and some of my patients have asked for them. How do computer progressive lenses work?

Computer progressive lenses are sometimes called office progressives. They are designed to reduce digital eye strain symptoms for workers, increases their visual comfort and tolerance, and improve their body posture at the computer. They are progressive lenses in which there is no distance power. Lowering the power range effectively decreases the magnitude of unwanted astigmatism, leading to a subjectively perceived larger field of view with computer progressives than normal progressives.

A recent study has shown that symptoms of computer vision syndrome were seven times more frequent with normal progressives than computer ones.

One lens company with a global reach offers four types of computer progressive lenses:

1. Near office lens. With this design, the maximum distance the spectacle wearer can see sharply and clearly is set at two metres. This version is ideal for people who work mainly at the computer or read a lot.
2. Room office lens. With this spectacle lens, the maximum distance is set to four metres, allowing the wearer to see at a reading distance up to the intermediate field of vision. The Room office lens is designed for people that interact with colleagues a lot and simultaneously work in front of a screen.
3. Book office lens. The Book computer lens has a strengthened focus for the reading area with a maximum distance of one metre. The Book computer lens offers a larger field of vision for a more relaxed reading experience.
4. The Individual office lens. This version is tailored to the specific needs of the spectacle wearer. The optimum maximum viewing distance in the room is defined with extreme precision for the spectacle wearer. In addition, the wearer’s centring data, close-up working distance and spectacle frame dimensions are used in manufacturing these lenses.

Interestingly, while many workers use computer screens computer lenses are not recommended by eye specialists to presbyopic office workers. Opticians and optometrists could increase their marketing and sales efforts for progressive addition lenses for computer work. This could be another way to build a prosperous practice.