Distance glasses for computer

[speccyquestion]

I've recently got some new glasses. I am longsighted and need glasses for the computer (which I am on all day for work) and reading.

I have been given from Specsavers 'distance glasses'. This term was used by the woman who was helping me choose/buy new frames. I questioned her and told her I was long-sighted but she said that distance glasses were used for being on the computer and I took her word for it.

Now I have them and I'm really not sure. My old glasses (which are prescription ones but not from Specsavers) seem to make things 'bigger' if you see what I mean. These don't, although wearing them is better than not wearing them.

I've had a google and can't find much on distance glasses, all it says is that they're to help with people who are nearsighted, which I am not.

Can anyone help? Is distance glasses for someone who is longsighted a thing?

Just to be clear, the optician never mentioned the term 'distance glasses'. Only the person who was helping me with frames and ordering them etc.

Anyone??

Not sure if I'm absolutely correct in this but I would assume distance glasses would be to magnify/clarify things in the distance not close proximity like reading or computer.
I'm short/near sighted and wear contact lenses/glasses to make out anything in the distance but don't need them to read. I cannot see what's going on at the other side of the room without glasses and I have to either take my glasses off or hold things out at arms length to read properly with my contacts in as they over magnify stuff too close.
Is the prescription + or - ? As I understand it a + is a reading glasses prescription and a - is a distance prescription. (I'm -3.75 in both eyes).

If you are only using them for computer work then you need a lens called an Occupational or Office lens. What is your actual prescription and IMay be able to advise you as I work in an independent optician. With an office lens you see, basically, mid distance.

To use a computer on a desk in the most common position you would be using an intermediate prescription - which is basically in-between distance and reading. How much you can accommodate between one distance and another depends on a few factors but primarily your prescription and your age. What is your prescription?

If you are long sighted but not presbyopic ( this usually kicks in middle forties) then we would refer to your prescription as a ‘distance’ correction. This can be confusing for the patient but reality is they are predominantly for near but can also improve distance.

Thank you everyone. This is my prescription. I am young (under 30) if this makes any difference?

Hello again. You are long sighted with a small amount of astigmatism. This a is a small prescription that we would refer to as a distance prescription, altho worn mostly for near but will help with distance. It’s so slight that the difference at dist will be less noticeable than the difference it makes at near. You can be long or short sighted at any age and both are classed as a distance prescription. An additional power is needed in our forties and this is classed as a near prescription. I have over simplified this but I hope it helps

Hello @Longdriveahead that's so helpful thank you. I'm going to give them a chance for a while, I think the difference from my old glasses is taking a bit of getting used to.

With that prescription you are not actually ‘long sighted’. The glasses will mainly help your right eye, as the left prescription is pretty much zero. The glasses will just make things a little bit sharper at all distances, not just the computer, so just wear them as much or as little as you like.
@Longdriveahead explains it better than me, but you won’t need different ‘computer glasses’ until you are mid-forties plus.

I think you need a re-test, I suspect your previous prescription had some extra +ve power in them to make the computer easier to see/larger/put less strain on the accommodative/vergence system.

Sometimes people younger than 40 need this extra power if they have lower than usual accommodation or have a small esophoria (which is a common problem with the eye muscles that's not noticeable unless you have certain tests at the opticians.)

I'd book in for a re-test, it's too small a prescription to need any extra time to get used to it.
Make sure you take your old glasses with you.

I second underneaththeash. She’s using the language I do...

Thank you @underneaththeash I will definitely consider that!