Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: Craig Lamson on August 01, 2011, 10:35:45 am

Title: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 01, 2011, 10:35:45 am
I'm an eyeglass wearer, progressive bifocals, and I'm considering a pair of glasses specifically for use while processing and retouching.  Anyone else do this and what has your experience been?
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: howardm on August 01, 2011, 11:04:39 am
I can't stand my prog. bi's for computer work.  the sweetspot is too small and it forces me to constantly make adjustments.  I look at screens all day long and vastly prefer a fixed set of lenses for screen work.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: michael on August 01, 2011, 11:28:09 am
Bifocals for monitor work will give you a huge kink in the neck.

See your Optomitrist and ask for monitor glasses. Mine tells me that this is what he prescribes for patients who come in complaining of headaches.

Michael
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 01, 2011, 11:55:12 am
Measure the customary distance from your eyes to the computer monitor as closely as you can and bring this measurement to your optometrist. He/she will then be able to write you a single focal length prescription driven off the base prescription of your regular eyeglasses. Get the lenses mounted into a very light-weight frame. You'll find this makes for very comfortable working on the computer over long periods of time.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 01, 2011, 12:00:35 pm
Thanks guys, my glasses have been driving me nuts for long sessions.

I'm going in today for my regular checkup which is why I asked.  I'll see where it takes me.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Abdullin on August 02, 2011, 10:31:26 am
Perhaps, re-calibrating monitor and creating a color profile is an alternative to the glasses?
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: jdemott on August 02, 2011, 11:02:45 am
I've been using progressive "computer" glasses for years.  I'm now on my second pair.  They work great!  My regular progressive glasses have a very small sweet spot for middle distances, but these basically have a large middle distance range with a close up range in the lower part of the lens.  They are ideal for all kinds of desk and computer work.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 02, 2011, 11:27:04 am
Perhaps, re-calibrating monitor and creating a color profile is an alternative to the glasses?

Absolutely not. Has nothing to do with the issue. The problem with regular progressive glasses is the very narrow in-focus band for any one distance, meaning one is always craning one's head in un-natural positions to see the display in focus. Bespoke lenses for the distance from eye to screen solves this problem.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: francois on August 02, 2011, 12:10:25 pm
Perhaps, re-calibrating monitor and creating a color profile is an alternative to the glasses?
If only it was that simple!
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: leuallen on August 02, 2011, 12:15:18 pm
I've used glassed optimized for computer use for years. They are great. While you are at it glasses wise consider a pair of glasses optimized for taking the picture. In hot weather I had great problems with sweat dripping down from my forehead onto my glasses. Five minutes and I could not see anything but a blur. Cleaning in the field was difficult and had to be done frequently. Solution: a pair of 'motorcycle' goggles with my normal progressive prescription. These glasses have foam inserts on the inside of the frame which prevents the sweat from reaching the lenses. With a sweat band and these glasses I no longer have the sweat problem and seldom have to clean them. Drawbacks: expensive, tunnel vision due to the wrap around style and foam, sometimes fog up, and they make me look 'evil'. I think I can solve the fog problem by cutting the foam away at the bottom to allow more circulation. This was one of my best investments last year for camera gear.

Larry
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: louoates on August 02, 2011, 02:47:43 pm
Measure the customary distance from your eyes to the computer monitor as closely as you can and bring this measurement to your optometrist. He/she will then be able to write you a single focal length prescription driven off the base prescription of your regular eyeglasses. Get the lenses mounted into a very light-weight frame. You'll find this makes for very comfortable working on the computer over long periods of time.

That's exactly what I did and it works great. For me it was about 24". It also helps to get a fairly large lens size so you don't have to move your head much to see all areas of a large size monitor. If I'm at a different computer and I don't have my monitor-distance glasses I use my regular reading glasses and sit closer.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 02, 2011, 06:34:59 pm
Absolutely not. Has nothing to do with the issue. The problem with regular progressive glasses is the very narrow in-focus band for any one distance, meaning one is always craning one's head in un-natural positions to see the display in focus. Bespoke lenses for the distance from eye to screen solves this problem.

That's what I ended up with ..."occupational lenses"... progressives with a big sweetspot in the center optimized for 26 " focus distance, as measured.  If I don;t like the progressives I can return them for up to 30 days.

Be here in a week...can't wait to try them.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Paul Sumi on August 02, 2011, 07:02:46 pm
I've been using progressive "computer" glasses for years.  I'm now on my second pair.  They work great!  My regular progressive glasses have a very small sweet spot for middle distances, but these basically have a large middle distance range with a close up range in the lower part of the lens.  They are ideal for all kinds of desk and computer work.

+1.  I have a pair of progrssive reading glasses set up for reading and working on the computer.  I gave my optometrist measurements for these activities and the glasses work very well.

Paul
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: JohnHeerema on August 04, 2011, 05:32:16 pm
I just came across an old article on computer glasses. The author, Jim Seymour (PC Magazine, Oct 24, 1995) claims that what he called the "lag of accommodation" means that the eye focuses a bit further back than the physical distance to the screen, at the "resting point of accommodation". This differs for individual people, and is the correct focus plane distance for computer glasses.  The article says that this applies to either CRT or LCD screens.

Hope this is of some interest and/or help.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Murphy on August 06, 2011, 11:21:57 am
Ditto with what everyone else has said.  My optometrist new exactly what I was talking about when I said computer glasses.  They are set for about 18" away from screen. 
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: milt on August 06, 2011, 07:29:33 pm
I suspect Mr. Abdullin has been unfairly taken to task because of a certain lack of a sense of humor here.

--Milt--
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 06, 2011, 08:16:44 pm
I suspect Mr. Abdullin has been unfairly taken to task because of a certain lack of a sense of humor here.

--Milt--

I hope you are correct - it's just that some of us may not take the time to think about whether to laugh or cry, so we just state the obvious.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: stamper on August 07, 2011, 04:37:51 am
I suspect Mr. Abdullin has been unfairly taken to task because of a certain lack of a sense of humor here.

--Milt--

An attempt at humour should have  - imo - a smiley after it otherwise it can be taken both ways. Personally I didn't see any humour in it because there wasn't a connection to the subject. Of course the poster could explain his intention?  :-\
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Ellis Vener on August 07, 2011, 07:41:06 am
I'm an eyeglass wearer, progressive bifocals, and I'm considering a pair of glasses specifically for use while processing and retouching.  Anyone else do this and what has your experience been?

I do. Jeff Schewe introduced me to this idea a few years back.  i was skeptical before trying it but it has been a real help, especially with  big displays.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Schewe on August 07, 2011, 04:27:05 pm
Yeah, as you get older, close focus changes (regardless of whether you are near or far sighted). An occupational prescription comes in VERY handy and cuts down on eye strain. I still have progressive lenses but my distance prescription is set to the computer display distance and my close prescription is reduced further. Actually, my vision has improved over the years to the point where I'm less nearsighted than I used to be. I still have some issue working the back of a camera. In the studio I usually take my glasses off and adjust the diopter in the camera. In the field I usually shoot with glasses so I have to readjust the diopter. Kinda a pain...
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: K.C. on August 09, 2011, 12:54:25 am
I'm amazed that anyone can wear progressives. I got a pair by recommendation, but without an explanation of how limited your peripheral vision would be. I put them on and felt like I was in a tunnel. I handed them back to the optician and ordered reading, computer and long distance glasses. It may be a hassle but it beats loosing my peripheral view.

Another important point is finding the right height for your monitor once you get the right glasses.

My understanding is that ergonomically our heads are meant to be tilted/looking slightly downward, not straight at the monitor.


Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Schewe on August 09, 2011, 01:14:38 am
My understanding is that ergonomically our heads are meant to be tilted/looking slightly downward, not straight at the monitor.

I don't disagree with the above...(although I have no problem with progressives). My displays are raised a bit so that my eye line is slightly above the center line. That makes looking through my distance prescription just about perfect for viewing the display.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Farmer on August 09, 2011, 07:00:28 am
http://www.healthycomputing.com/office/setup/monitor/

That's some good general advice regarding positioning of your monitor/you.  FWIW, I'm certified in work place health and safety by my state government, and the above matches with all current recommendations that I've seen.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 09, 2011, 09:29:35 am
My experience is similar to KCs. I tried progressives for a while several years ago and then went back to a combination of trifocals (for "outdoors") and bifocals (for "indoors": the upper, mid-range part is perfect for the computer and for reading music, while the lower part is just right for close reading.

Using the trifocals on the computer means I strain my neck moving my head up and down for each linbe, since the mid-range section is too small.

If you don't need multi-focal lenses, as I do, a dedicated single-focus pair measured for your computer screen to eye distance is the way to go.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: MrIconoclast on August 09, 2011, 10:54:51 am
Like many people I find the variabe lenses to be a compromise that works most of the time but not very well for long periods in front of a computer screen or book.  I had my optician measure the working distance when I use a computer and when I read.  For me it is about the same, so I am hoping one set of glasses will work for both.   But he mentioned that for some people they like a monitor about two feet away, but often read with the book 6 inches a way.   They may need two sets of special glasses or bifocal reading/computer glasses. It gets complicated.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 09, 2011, 03:44:52 pm
Like many people I find the variabe lenses to be a compromise that works most of the time but not very well for long periods in front of a computer screen or book.  I had my optician measure the working distance when I use a computer and when I read.  For me it is about the same, so I am hoping one set of glasses will work for both.   But he mentioned that for some people they like a monitor about two feet away, but often read with the book 6 inches a way.   They may need two sets of special glasses or bifocal reading/computer glasses. It gets complicated.
Yes indeed. I'm one of those for whom it gets complicated. Ideally I'd have one pair of glasses set to 20" for computer and another at about 10" for reading. I'd still need bifocals for driving a car or I wouldn't be able to read the trip meter or speedometer with only dintance glasses.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 09, 2011, 06:45:03 pm
I'm amazed that anyone can wear progressives. I got a pair by recommendation, but without an explanation of how limited your peripheral vision would be. I put them on and felt like I was in a tunnel. I handed them back to the optician and ordered reading, computer and long distance glasses. It may be a hassle but it beats loosing my peripheral view.

Another important point is finding the right height for your monitor once you get the right glasses.

My understanding is that ergonomically our heads are meant to be tilted/looking slightly downward, not straight at the monitor.




My Progs are pretty decent, once I found the correct placement of the lenses. I do tend to hold my head down and my monitor is quite low .  The problem was they wanted to fit my lenses with my head held totally erect and the resulting glasses just did not work well.  It took a couple of tries to get it right and I must keep them aware when fitting new frames and lenses. 
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: K.C. on August 10, 2011, 03:16:05 am
http://www.healthycomputing.com/office/setup/monitor/

That's some good general advice regarding positioning of your monitor/you.  FWIW, I'm certified in work place health and safety by my state government, and the above matches with all current recommendations that I've seen.

This is consistent with everything I've read, having done pretty extensive research.

"The ideal viewing height is to have your eyes level with an imaginary line across the screen, about 2"-3" below the top of the monitor."

Thanks for the link.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: PeterAit on August 10, 2011, 12:02:43 pm
Oh lord, yes! I have "computer glasses" that are bifocals, with the lower section for close reading and the upper section for monitor-distance (I normally wear trifocals). Well worth the cost.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Wayne Fox on August 12, 2011, 06:16:49 pm
I do. Jeff Schewe introduced me to this idea a few years back.  i was skeptical before trying it but it has been a real help, especially with  big displays.
I have a pair of bifocals specifically for working at my computer, top is calibrated for distance to the screen, bottom for distance to the keyboard or reading area in front of me.  Optometrist had me measure the exact distances when I was comfortable to the screen and keyboard when working. Works very well when looking at a small test print in front of me while trying to finalize something on the file.
Title: Re: "Computer" glasses
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 12, 2011, 09:01:35 pm
I got mine today.  I'm quite happy based on the limited time using them.  I think they will turn out to be a great investment.