A couple of months ago when I got my eye exam, I opted to get a second pair of glasses for computer work, as well as for other “digital media” as they call it (e.g., tablets, smartphones). Since I spend practically my whole day on a computer and iPad, I thought it might be a good idea to give these glasses a try. But what are computer vision glasses?
That’s the cool part; they’re designed for optimal vision about an arm’s length in front of you. That’s farther away than reading glasses but quite a bit closer than regular distance glasses.
If you’re like me, and I know a lot of you are, you sit at your computer, or look at your smartphone, and have to squint to see the words on the screen. You probably even hunch forward to get a closer look. I’ll admit I used to catch myself just a few inches away from the screen. That’s just not good for your eyes—or your posture.
I used to try and wear my regular glasses when working, but I could tell they were too strong. At the same time, with no glasses at all, I would hunch forward. Computer vision glasses allow me to sit with proper posture and see the screen clearly—they’re even helpful with my phone. They’re great!
So are computer vision glasses right for you? If what I wrote above sounds frighteningly familiar, I’d highly recommend talking with your eye doctor. My new glasses have really made a difference in comfort throughout the day.
If you do get computer vision glasses, here are a few tips to help you maximize your VSP benefits:
Check to see if you have a Computer Vision Care plan with your benefits. If you don’t, read Fashion Maven’s post about using your base plan for more than just regular glasses.
If you like your current glasses but are a candidate for computer vision glasses, you may want to get computer vision glasses at your next visit.
If you’re like me and can never seem to have enough glasses, get your computer vision glasses at the same time as a new pair of regular glasses. Most members get 30% off unlimited additional pairs of prescription glasses purchased on the same day with the same provider who performed the exam.
If you have already used your benefit but want to invest in a pair of prescription computer vision glasses, you can still get 20% off your complete pair.
Check your benefits by logging into VSP.com. You can also call customer service at 1-800-877-7195.
With funding for public schools continuing to fall, some families are taking to virtual education in hopes of a better learning experience for their children. But with this home-based computer learning comes several questions: are parents able to help their children as much as a licensed teacher? Will leaving a social environment harm a child’s development? And with children spending hours a day on digital devices, is more screen time a good thing?
If your company offers VSP Vision Care, you should be aware of the creative options available when using the materials (lens and frame) portion of your benefit. I’m here to tell you it goes beyond your everyday glasses. There are a variety of prescription needs that can be addressed by changing your mindset about what your benefits can do for you. For example, let’s say your prescription hasn’t changed, your everyday pair of glasses are in great shape and you still love the style…yet you wish you could get:
Sunwear – cut down on squinting and harmful UVA/UVB rays by opting for prescription sunglasses.
Computer glasses – help reduce eyestrain while using computers and other digital devices with a mild prescription which can help combat symptoms of computer vision syndrome.
Sports glasses – stay on top of your game and keep your eyes safe with prescription sports goggles or wrap around styles rated for sports play.
Safety glasses – maybe you do a little wood work, welding or serious gardening in your spare time and need to protect those peepers with a pair safety glasses.
And the list goes on. Talk with your VSP doctor and get creative with your lens and frame benefits through your VSP plan. Wishes do come true! And don’t forget–you can use your flexible spending account (FSA) dollars for prescription eyewear.
Working at VSP, and also wearing glasses for more than ten years, I understand the importance of healthy vision. (I’m not going to lie, either; I love getting new glasses and can never seem to have enough.) Last week when I got my yearly eye check-up, I had the option to get a digital image of my eye in lieu of a dilated exam. I have to admit, I was curious to see what the inside of my eye looked like…just what was my eye doctor (Dr. Nakamura of Natomas Optometry) looking at in there?
At first glance, I was a little concerned with the red dot in the middle and white blob off to the side, but Dr. Nakamura explained to me that the red dot was actually the macula and the white spot was the optic nerve—both were supposed to be there. The macula is responsible for seeing things in detail and our “central vision” (as in not peripheral vision) while the optic nerve is what carries the visual information to the brain. (Quick clip: the eye is like a camera.)
I thought it was rather interesting to see my own eyes on the screen in front of me. What I liked most was how Dr. Nakamura could show me that my eyes were healthy by comparing my images to sample pictures with various eye or eye-related health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts, and macular degeneration. I was happy to see my eyes didn’t have any of those problems.
P.S. I just got computer vision glasses for the first time, and I am really excited about them. I will write about what I think of them after I have used them a week or so.
Children today have more digital tools at their disposal than ever before—tablets, smartphones, e-readers, hand-held videogames and computers. What ever happened to playing outside? Somehow Angry Birds usurped hide-and-seek because, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children and teenagers (ages 8-18) are spending more than 7.5 hours a day consuming electronic media. This overuse can cause digital eye strain, a medical issue with serious symptoms that can affect learning and work productivity. Symptoms of digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome, include blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry and irritated eyes, headaches, neck pain and back pain. Digital eye strain is now the number one computer-related complaint in the United States—ahead of carpal-tunnel syndrome.
VSP EyeFiles Season 2 continues with Dr. Liddicoat’s recommendations for avoiding digital eye strain, which include:
Getting annual comprehensive eye exams: make sure your eyes are healthy and can see properly without squinting.
Following the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Ensuring proper lighting: reduce bright light and position devices to reduce reflections and glare.
Limiting device use: watch for squinting and eye rubbing as this indicates overuse
Establishing proper working distance: use the distance from your elbow to your knuckle—about 18”.
Going outside: daily outdoor play can reduce the risk of nearsightedness.
For more information on these tips, be sure to watch VSP Eyefiles episode below, and don’t forget to enter the contest on our Facebook page. You could win a Samsung Galaxy Tab!
The Blink Now(TM) device encourages blinking subconsciously.
When I’m really concentrating on a project, I’m not thinking about blinking. Hours can pass before I even look away from the screen. Of course, this is really how computer vision syndrome becomes a problem, and I know I’m not alone. So how can I remind myself to take breaks—even blink? I took to the Web to see what I could find.
Some sites suggested that I use a timer, but I’m fairly certain my co-workers would not enjoy that. I found a few timers that featured a flashing-only option, but I wasn’t that impressed with them for the cost. I also think that continually resetting a time would be invasive to my workflow. Here’s what I found:
Protectyourvision.org stays open in the background and sounds an alert every 20 minutes. Then, once you click a button to start your “break,” the screen goes black to encourage eye rest. After 20 seconds, another 20-minute session starts. There’s even an “eyes gymnastics” section you can visit. I found the site to be pretty handy, simple and customizable, but it does require at least some engagement.
Dryeyezone.com offers a pop-up window with an eyeball that blinks every 10 seconds. I put it up in the corner of my monitor to see if I would blink more often, and I often noticed that I blinked right after the on-screen eye did. One drawback is that if you open another window over it, the eyeball will not be visible and is therefore useless.
Blink Now, similar to the eye above, this it’s a small, external screen that can attach to your monitor. The screen is a frequently blinking eye. I think it’s pretty innovative to present a schematic of an eyeball to subconsciously encourage more blinking. I will admit it’s a bit creepy to have an eye staring back at me, but it’s definitely worth it if I can avoid dry eyes and headaches.
Let me know what you think about the options presented above or any ideas you may have of your own.
Do your kids love video games? My grown-up kid (okay, husband) certainly does. He spends hours blasting orcs, voyaging through fabricated universes, and otherwise finding virtual ways to avoid chores.
But a recent study conducted at the University of Sydney has found that kids who spend more than an hour and half of screentime daily show signs of narrowed arteries in their eyes. These signs in adults can correlate with risk of high-blood pressure and heart disease.
The remedy? It’s a no-brainer: replace that hour and half of screentime with physical activity. I’ll try it with my husband. I hope you have better luck with your kids.
Here’s what’s been going on with my eyes for the last few months and why I want to “tear” them out of my head! They’ve been beyond irritated almost as if someone blew 1,300 lashes into my eyes then forced me to blink, they’re excessively watery (puzzling as you find out the cause), burn, with blurred vision.
Off to my trusted VSP optometrist, I went, and here’s what he was able to assess through an eye exam. Mine are classic symptoms of…drum roll please…dry eye syndrome, or not producing enough tears or having poor tear quality. My particular malfunction is with tear quality. Really? Seriously?
You’re probably wondering, like I was, how does this happen? Well, dry eye syndrome can be brought on by a variety of factors such as environment, computer and/or digital device use, age (typically over 65), some medical conditions, certain medications, gender (yes ladies, its more prevalent in women) and other factors which may include long term contact lens use or after refractive eye surgeries like LASIK.
All that said, my optometrist put me on a treatment plan to help manage the symptoms yet informed me that it can be a chronic condition. Yikes! There are a few different approaches but here’s my plan for improving my tear quality:
* Hot compresses twice a day while gently massaging eyelids
* Use artificial tears specifically designed for dry eye
* Take nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids
* Drink plenty of water
* Blink regularly while at the computer or using digital devices (a.k.a. the 20/20/20 rule)
* Wear computer vision glasses
* Wear sunglasses outdoors, to protect from the wind and sun
Why am I telling you all my dry eye woes? I sincerely hope that if one of you reads this and thinks that you may have dry eye syndrome know that there is hope for more comfortable vision. Please see your optometrist for an eye exam and treatment options tailored to your specific needs.
Wishing you all adequate tear production and fabulous tear quality!
Tonight marks the kick-off of the most highly anticipated tournament in all of basketball—NCAA March Madness, a tournament of 68 college teams battling for the national title. That’s a lot of teams and a lot of games.
In fact, this is the first time in NCAA March Madness history that every game will be nationally televised. The NCAA signed a deal with CBS Sports and Turner Sports (TBS, TNT and truTV) for the rights to broadcast all the NCAA tournament games from 2011 to 2024. This year, each of the games have staggered start times (many up to 30 minutes apart), which basically allows you to watch the beginning and end of every tournament game.
Sounds great, right? Well, it gets better. Even if you can’t park yourself in front of the TV for hours on end, you can still get your basketball fix. March Madness games will also be available online and through mobile apps for the iPhone®, iPod touch®, and, for the first time ever, the iPad®.
While all this is certainly a dream come true for us sports fans, it’s not so great for our eyes. Hours of viewing, especially across multiple platforms, can lead to dry eyes, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Don’t let this happen to you—make sure you follow these tips so you can enjoy every minute of basketball action!
Philip K. is a member of VSP's Enterprise Information Services and avid video gamer
I’ve been playing a good amount of online multi-player video games over the past year – specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops – two of the most popular games in the past couple years. If you’ve played the games, you know that it’s not uncommon to play for three to four hours without a break.
After an extended period of play, my eyes become dry and sore and I wind up with a headache. All the things that make the games great like the high level of detail, fast pace action, pinpoint accuracy, and stiff competition is what also makes it tough on the eyes. Your eyes need to constantly adjust and focus on the ever changing game environment details, finding targets that are small and large. It’s no wonder my eyes get so tired.
Whether you play yourself or you have kids that play, it’s important to understand the strain that your eyes go through and pay attention to what your eyes are telling you. Here’s an opportunity to use the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Give your eyes a rest and enjoy your gaming experience! Here are five more tips to help ease eye strain while on a digital device.
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For other questions, contact Member Services at 800.877.7195 Monday – Friday.
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A couple of months ago when I got my eye exam, I opted to get a second pair of glasses for computer work, as well as for other “digital media” as they call it (e.g., tablets, smartphones). Since I spend practically my whole day on a computer and iPad, I thought it might be a good idea to give these glasses a try. But what are computer vision glasses?
