Computer glasses are a relatively new invention that has been around for about ten years. They help people who spend a lot of time in front of the computer, like programmers and designers, to protect their eyes from damage caused by too much exposure to blue light. The computer eyeglasses are designed to work much like a magnifying glass for the eyes. They enlarge what you see on your screen, making it easier to read and reducing any strain that comes from looking at tiny letters or graphics.
Computer glasses use filters to reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. The lenses are made out of either polycarbonate or glass. Those who wear prescription eyeglasses can be a replacement for their usual eyewear in front of the computer screen.
Can I Wear Computer Glasses all the Time?
It is not recommended to wear computer glasses all the time. Computer eyeglasses are designed for people who spend a lot of time in front of computers and need extra protection. Still, when you're not using your computer, they will probably be uncomfortable. The blue light filters that come with them also make it difficult to see colors and make it challenging to do close tasks. However, if you feel comfortable wearing them all the time, even when you're not using a computer, that's entirely up to you! Although there is a medical condition in which you must wear computer eyeglasses all the time, called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).
When Should You Wear Computer Glasses?
If you are someone who spends a lot of time on the computer and has been diagnosed with eye strain, wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses can help reduce symptoms. Computer eyeglasses will be more comfortable to wear when in front of your screen as they filter out blue light emitted by screens that could potentially damage your eyes. They work by filtering the blue light so that it coincides with the natural light spectrum and does not cause any damage to your eyes. But always keep in mind that it's essential to take breaks from the screen and make sure you're looking at something that is far away after an hour of working on your computer.
Wearing computer glasses is required if you have Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS is caused by too much time spent looking at screens without taking breaks. The symptoms of CVS are eyestrain, sore or dry eyes that can't be relieved by regular eye drops, headaches, and fatigue. Although, if you have CVS, wearing computer glasses is not enough. You should also take frequent breaks from the screen and try to avoid long hours of looking at screens. But if your eyes are healthy and just need protection from too much blue light emitted by screens, then it's ok to wear them all day as a precautionary measure against eye damage.
Disadvantages of Wearing Computer Glasses all the Time
Though wearing computer glasses all the time might seem like a good idea, it's not at all. There are many disadvantages to wearing them too much.
- Computer glasses can make you more myopic (nearsighted) and astigmatic (blurry). This means that the eye lenses in your computer glasses will distort the light coming into your eyes from near objects or far objects so that you don't see them as clearly.
- The lenses in computer glasses can dry out your eyes faster than regular contact lenses or wearing no lens at all. This is because the air inside of the nose and sinuses cannot circulate to cool down your eyeballs, which are very close to a hot screen.
- People with dry eye syndrome or allergies might have a more severe reaction to wearing computer glasses because the lenses prevent airflow.
- The shape of your nose and sinuses can also change, which means that you won't be as healthy if your glasses constantly block them.
- Computer eyeglasses are not meant for long periods of time, like 16 hours a day. Computer glasses users should take them off every couple of hours to let their eyes rest and adjust accordingly. If you wear your computer eyeglasses all day long for 16 hours or more, it can cause eye strain and headaches. Additionally, computer glasses can make you more prone to glare and reflections in bright light.
- If you wear them all the time, your eyesight can get worse. Many people who wear computer glasses are experiencing dry eyes and itchy eyes because they're not letting their eye muscles relax.
- They're not perfect for blocking out blue light and can let in UV rays.
- There's also the risk that you'll have an allergic reaction to your lenses if they get some dust or dirt on them, which means you should be washing them often.
- If you wear them all the time, it may increase your chances of having eye muscle problems and other severe conditions like ocular rosacea or cataracts because they're blocking out too much UV rays from the sun.
Keep Your Eyes Healthy While Wearing Computer Glasses
- Wash your lenses often with soap and water or a special lens cleaner.
- When doing any work on your laptop or desktops, keep them at arm's length from your eyes so that they're not too close and can still focus correctly.
- Give them a rest from time to time if you can, as in taking off the computer glasses for an hour every day. This will help keep eye muscles healthy while allowing any dirt on the lenses to be washed away by tears.
- Take some breaks from wearing computer glasses by doing eye exercises or taking your glasses off and rubbing your eyes. They must be taken off every once in a while so the muscles around your eyes can rest and so your eyes will have a chance to take in some oxygen. Take note that wearing computer glasses for long periods of time and not taking breaks can lead to problems with eye muscles, including headaches and blurred vision.
- If you wear contacts while wearing computer eyewear, make sure the lenses are clean because the contacts can trap dirt and bacteria, which could lead to eye infections. Always remove your contact lens while taking a break from wearing computer glasses or before going to bed at night.
- If you have a sore eye or sensitivity to light and want to use your computer eyewear, be careful because it can worsen these conditions because the eyewear may cause eye strain.
- Lastly, if you wear computer glasses for long periods of time and need to sleep with them on (such as while traveling), make sure your eyes are well lubricated, so they don't get dry or irritated.
If you have to wear computer or anti glare glasses all day, it's a good idea to have an eye exam and get professional recommendations from the eye experts at RX-Able.com to avoid damaging your eyes further.