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Original poster

I need help from anyone who wears glasses/contacts and uses a computer a lot......

15 replies

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:35

So...I have glasses I wear for driving and seeing things far away. Both eyes are as bad as each other (so I don't have one good one iyswim).

I don't wear them when I'm walking around because I don't like wearing them all the time and I don't need them to see close up - it hurts my eyes if I use them for that and I've got used to walking around in a fog .

However, since I've been back at work, by the end of the day, my colleague pointed out to me that I am practically sitting with my nose on the computer screen because as I get more tired, my eyesight gets worse and I need to move closer to the screen.

Obviously, this is very bad for my eyes and they are now horribly bloodshot and I look about 50 years older than I really am.

So what do you do - do you wear your glasses for the computer even if you only need them to see things far away? Do you think I should just start wearing them more often and put up with it being annoying and hurting my eyes?

OP posts:

fishie · 13/12/2007 11:38

back to optician. it sounds as though you DO need glasses to see close up to screen. they might give you varifocals, my friend was given these and loathed them, she far prefers having specs for computer /close only.

PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo · 13/12/2007 11:38

If you use a computer for your work, your employer must fund an eyetest for you, specifically designed for computer use. It would be worth your while to have this, as you may find that you need different glasses for close-up work such as computer. I think dh got a voucher from his work and got this test done at Boots Opticians.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:40

omg what are varifocals?

they aren't those glasses that look like half glasses that you have to peer over?

OP posts:

LaCerbiatta · 13/12/2007 11:41

If you are shortsighted you should ALWAYS wear your glasses for reading and looking at things close, otherwise you're putting too much strain on your eyes. If you're not confortable wearing your glasses all the time, maybe your prescription needs adjusting? You should be really. I'm short sighted and I get a headache if I'm not wearing my glasses or contact lenses (not that I could anyway, I'm too blind !)

What's your prescription?

walkinginawinterBundleland · 13/12/2007 11:42

foxinsocks how old are you?

Original poster

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:43

ah, well I'm in charge of Health and Safety at work so should probably know that (!) - grrr guess I will have to go to the opticians then.

OP posts:

Brangelina · 13/12/2007 11:43

I'm blind as a bat so have to wear either glasses or contacts all the time, but all the same I do notice a deterioration in my sight by the end of the day if I've been on a computer, even with glasses. I usually wear glasses if I'm going to be on all day because the contacts steam over completely after a feew hours.

My advice is to use your glasses, it will put less strain on your eyes. Also, remember to take regular breaks from the screen. I always forget and pay for it at the end of the day.

Also, use a Mac instead of a PC if possible, they're kinder on your eyes (or so it seems to me).

LaCerbiatta · 13/12/2007 11:44

If you see well close (and if you didn't you would be trying to read at a distance, not getting closer) you don't need varifocals. Those are just normal looking glasses that are for people who are both short sighted and need glasses for reading. They're like a 2 in 1.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:44

I'm 34.

Optician told me (last time I saw him which was err too long ago really) that I only needed to wear them for driving and seeing things far away.

I don't know what the prescription was. Not horrendous I don't think. I have a minor squint too though which complicates matters somewhat.

OP posts:

LaCerbiatta · 13/12/2007 11:46

I'm 34 too . You should not need reading glasses! But your prescription might need adjuting and they might recommend you wear your glasses for reading and working at the computer.

CarmenerryChristmas · 13/12/2007 11:47

Fox I have astigmatism in both eyes and need glasses for driving and seeing things far away but was told to wear them for computer work and tv too.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:48

Thanks everyone!

Will have to go to opticians I guess!

OP posts:

TrinityTheRedNosedRhino · 13/12/2007 11:50

I would say your prescritoon needs changing
you must go and see an optician
if its been more than 1 year then its waaaay too long

Original poster

foxinsocks · 13/12/2007 11:50

yes, I imagine what has happened is that they've got worse since I was last at the opticians and I need to wear them more often!

My dad's eyesight was just like mine and deteriorated quite suddenly in his 30s so I have a nasty feeling I am heading the same way.

Carm, Is astigmatism the squint? Are you getting anything done about it?

I had an op on both eyes when I was a child but it feels like it's undoing iyswim.

OP posts:

CarmenerryChristmas · 13/12/2007 11:55

No astigmatisim is when the eyes have become slightly egg shaped which causes your vision to be affected. It often happens with pregnancy actually as the hormone that allows your body to stretch(relaxin??) can affect your eyeballs too I have saggy eyes. Oddly enough there is nothing wrong with my eyesight, as a youngster I had 20/20 in both eyes but the astigmatism means I need glasses iyswim.
Not much you can do about it afaik.

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