What Are Anti-Fatigue Lenses Used For?
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In today’s tech-driven world, our eyes work harder each day than ever before. With the average American spending more than seven hours a day looking at a screen, eyestrain is becoming more and more common, especially for people who wear glasses. Fortunately, there is a solution: Anti-fatigue lenses. At inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham, our team of doctors offers anti-fatigue lenses to our patients in Birmingham, AL to combat eye strain and eye fatigue.
What are anti-fatigue lenses?
With so much of our work, leisure time, and communication tied to the screen of a computer, phone, or laptop, our eyes are constantly switching between distance-vision and near-vision work. This contributes to higher rates of eye fatigue and other symptoms, including:
- Eyestrain
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Eye irritation
- Eye pain
- Watering eyes
Anti-fatigue lenses give your eyes a helping hand by providing support for near-vision work, which means anything at about arm’s length or nearer. Whether working on your computer, sending a text, or reading a book, anti-fatigue lenses can prevent extra strain on your eyes, allowing you to read and work for longer periods of time.
So, in short, anti-fatigue glasses fitted with anti-fatigue lenses give you two powers of correction: the upper part to aid distance or intermediate vision and the lower part to help with close vision tasks, like computer work, reading, and phone use. This technology is similar to progressive lenses, but not as strong as the prescription for people who are presbyopic (need reading glasses). Anti-fatigue lenses are great for people who:
- Experience regular eyestrain or fatigue while reading, working on a computer, or with other near tasks
- Are non-presbyopic (need reading glasses, usually 15 – 40 years old)
- Have problems focusing or eye teaming (accommodation or convergence issues)
- Are pre-presbyopic and will need progressive lenses in the coming years
What about a blue light filter for my anti-fatigue lenses?
For extra comfort, you can add a blue light filter which can block some of the blue light emitted from computers, phones, and other screens. A blue light filter is a type of coating on your anti-fatigue lenses. While some research says the blue wavelengths of light don’t harm the health of your eyes, a blue light filter may help with eye strain and your sleep cycles when used together with limited screen time in the evening before bed. Anti-fatigue glasses with a blue light filter are a great pairing to help keep your eyes comfortable throughout the day.
Are anti-fatigue glasses the same thing as bifocals?
Anti-fatigue glasses use lenses that are a type of progressive lens, but they aren’t the same thing as bifocals or progressives, like the ones offered at inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham in Birmingham, AL. Ant fatigue glasses give a more moderate magnification to help support and relax the focusing muscles in your eyes to prevent eyestrain while working on close tasks. Bifocals and progressives are for people who are presbyopic and need vision correction to see up close (reading, computer work).
Can you wear anti-fatigue lenses all the time?
Yes, you can absolutely wear anti-fatigue glasses all day, just like any corrective eyewear. The top portion of the anti-fatigue lenses are for distance vision, so you’ll only be using the stronger lower portion of the lens during close work. You don’t need to take them off while doing other things, like walking around, driving, etc.
How long does it take to get used to wearing anti-fatigue glasses?
Most people will get used to wearing their anti-fatigue glasses after about a week or two when their eyes adjust, and they learn where the focus points are in the anti-fatigue lenses.
Kick eye strain with anti-fatigue lenses
The future will most likely involve more and more screen time for work, play, and communicating with friends and family. This, unfortunately, will probably mean more eyestrain. But with a pair of anti-fatigue glasses from inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham, you can help keep your eyes more comfortable even with all that close work. If you’re in Birmingham, AL, or nearby, contact our optical department to learn more about anti-fatigue lenses. Let us help keep your eyes healthy, happy, and free from eyestrain with a pair of anti-fatigue glasses.