Computer Vision Syndrome
Presbyopia and Dry Eye

Other Lens Options

Tints and Coatings
Most colored tints are primarily of cosmetic value and have little or no effect upon performance and comfort at the computer. Some manufacturers promote the use of colored tints, sometimes recommending different color tints for different color screens. However, there has been no clinical or research evidence to support benefit of such tints. There is some evidence to support the use of a pink tint to improve comfort in fluorescent-lit environments.

UV Protection
There is almost no ultraviolet emission from the computer, patients will receive much more ultraviolet exposure by crossing a street on a sunlit afternoon than sitting all day in front of a computer. If UV were an office hazard, we would expect office workers to become sunburned!

Unfortunately, UV protection for computer workers might seem logical since radiation problems at computers and ultraviolet protection from sunlight have both been public issues. Ultraviolet protection is certainly warranted for anyone who exposed to UV, especially those who work in outdoor environments. However, there is no particular need for UV protection at a computer and the types of problems that people are experiencing at computers are in no way related to ultraviolet emissions.

Anti-reflection coatings
Anti-reflection coatings can provide some benefit at a computer workstation. The anti-reflection coatings are on the surfaces of the spectacle lenses and significantly reduce reflections from the lenses. Anti-reflection coatings are to be generally recommended for better vision and for better cosmetically pleasing lenses. However, the visual advantage of the anti-reflection coating is relatively small with respect to the visual and environmental factors that contribute to visual difficulties and that are discussed in these courses.

It is a common misperception that anti-reflection coatings on lenses provide greater benefit than they actually do. This is because the reflections that occur on the computer screen are well known and it is easy to therefore assume that an anti-reflection coating on the spectacles improves the reflections in the screen. However, an anti- reflection coating on the spectacle lenses does not, in any way, mitigate the reflections from the computer screen.

 

What are Computer Glasses?

Determining whether glasses are work-specific can be important if the patient�s employer has a program to provide computer glasses � or if the patient wants to seek reimbursement from the employer.

Glasses are considered �computer glasses� if they are required for use at the computer and if they are different from the glasses used for the patient�s other common visual needs. Computer glasses either have a different prescription or a different lens design than everyday glasses. In other cases, the computer user may have a vision disorder that would not otherwise require correction if they weren�t performing a demanding visual job such as at the computer. In these cases, the person needs a pair of glasses that they would not need if they weren�t working at a computer. These are also considered �computer glasses�.

The statement on the following pages from the American Optometric Association is a technical description of the conditions under which glasses may be considered �computer glasses�. This is a good default document to define computer glasses in the absence of specific reimbursement guidelines from the patient�s employer or managed care program.