Three-fourths of all adults in the United States require eyeglasses, or some other form of vision correction. Unfortunately, as we age, the chances of needing some form of vision correction increases. Aging individuals in particular are more likely to experience reduced visual acuity via presbyopia, which is the loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye. When the lens becomes less flexible, reading a book, or computer screen, will start to become difficult. For individuals who spend a great deal of time in front of a computer screen, finding the right reading glasses can be especially challenging. Here are three things to take into consideration when choosing reading glasses for computer use.

How much time do you spend in front of the computer?

Frequent computer use can result in eye fatigue, officially termed computer vision syndrome when other undesirable symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes occur. If your primary job duties involve the use of a computer, the good news is that there is designer eye wear that can help mitigate the side effects of your frequent computer use. Gunnar computer glasses have special lens coatings and designs to cut down on computer glare and harsh light. If you simply need a light prescription for reading, you can choose to have those reading glasses created with Gunnar lenses.

Do you need bifocals?

When considering reading glasses for computer use, you might find yourself in a predicament if you already have a prescription for seeing distance. You could have bifocals added to your lenses, but in some frames the viewing area for the bifocal lens is not very large, making seeing the entirety of a computer screen difficult.

Have you considered progressive lenses?

Bifocals were in some ways the best choice for people who needed two prescriptions in the years before the computer was invented. The natural reading position for most people is to hold the item close to their lap. Today, a great deal of reading is done on the computer, making it necessary to tilt the head back uncomfortably in order to see a computer screen through bifocals. The solution to this problem lies in using progressive lenses when choosing reading glasses for computer use. Gunnar glasses can incorporate progressive prescriptions, making it easy to choose style and comfort without losing the benefits of their specialized lenses.

There is no need to squint or strain to see all of the tiny print on your computer screen. New lens coatings, technologies, and designs have made it easier than ever to accommodate your prescription into glasses that are ideal for reading at a computer. When you need more than one prescription, progressive lenses may be a better choice than bifocals. You should speak to an optician about your options, and consider that with heavy computer use, you may want tinted and coated lenses that fight harsh light and glare.