ABOUT 49 PERCENT of U.S. adults don’t know what digital eye strain is and 35 percent aren’t concerned about the impact of digital device use on their eyes. Some 59 percent report experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain, yet many say their eyecare provider didn’t recommend a solution. Computer specific eyewear is available with lenses that feature magnification, anti-reflective and blue light-filtering capabilities — as well as some contact lenses — and they can be effective in reducing symptoms of digital eye strain.
Essilor
Eyezen enhanced single vision lenses for prescription or plano computer glasses.
(800) 377-4567, essilorusa.com
Shamir
Shamir Computer lens for closeup tasks and Shamir WorkSpace for close and mid-distance viewing.
(877) 514-8330, shamirlens.com
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Gunnar Optiks
Emery computer glasses have wide format lenses that create a panoramic viewing field for high-resolution viewing.
(888) 486-6270, gunnar.com
Signet Armorlite
KODAK Total Blue lens
(800) 759-4630, signetarmorlite.com
BluTech Lenses
Demo tool for BluTech indoor lens.
(800) 258- 5902, blutechlenses.com
Maui Jim
Maui Blue Light Protect lenses
(888) 666-5905, mauijim.com
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Marcolin Eyewear
The Tom Ford eyewear collection features standard blue light blocking lenses.
(800) 537-9265, marcolin.com
Zeiss
DuraVision BlueProtect UV coating
(866) 596-5467, zeiss.com/lenses
Smart Ways to Sell Computer Protection Lenses
Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, Vision Optique, Houston, TX
We ask patients if they experience Digital Eye Strain (DES) symptoms and inquire about their digital habits. Then we discuss separate computer glasses or anti-fatigue lenses. For patients who spend more than 6-8 hours a day on multiple devices and report DES symptoms, we usually write a separate computer glasses prescription with a medical grade blue light protection lens treatment in addition to their prescriptions for everyday glasses and suns. For everyday glasses, we prescribe an anti-fatigue lens design to patients younger than age 45, and a premium progressive lens design to older patients. We routinely discuss Transitions light management.
Linda Letourneau, OD, Eyes Over Copley, Boston, MA
Since our practice is in downtown Boston most of our patients come in from their workplace and spend 10-15 hours a day in front of a computer. We show them how blue light AR coating works with a demo lens and that they can order it in their normal glasses or in a second pair for the computer. We offer our patients a few options and want them to get the best option for their lifestyle. Walman, our lab, manufactures their own lens with a coating called Red Bliss. Shamir has a great progressive blue blocking lens, Autograph Intelligence, that we like. We also can make a single vision lens in-house and add an anti-reflective coating. We sell plano blue light blocking glasses, especially if they wear contacts, and the new Tom Ford collection from Marcolin which comes with a lens that has blue block features is popular.