Traditional bifocal glasses and even older generation progressive (no line bifocal) lenses can fall woefully short when it comes to helping us see small screens on our smartphones or GPS devices, and to see our large computer monitors clearly from side to side.

The challenges of the computer screen have increased as screens have gotten wider and with the variety of positions that computer monitors can be located.

“The information age has taken a toll on our eyesight,” says Jeffrey Anshel, an optometrist in Carlsbad, Calif., and president of Corporate Vision Consulting, which advises employers on vision issues.

More people are showing up at eye appointments complaining of headaches, fatigue, blurred vision and neck pain—all symptoms of computer-vision syndrome (CVS), which affects some 90% of the people who spent three hours or more at day at a computer, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Advanced Eye Examination

“The good news is that with a little detective work and a careful eye examination we can create customized solution to solve these problems”, says Dr. Henahan.

“By taking a moment to measure the distance from the bridge of your nose to your computer screen, keyboard and the papers on your desk you can really help your doctor deliver the vision that meets your needs.  At Spectrum Eyecare, we have a philosophy that allows us to take more time with the patient, so we can truly understand their vision needs and recommend customized eyeglass and/or contact lenses that best balance the demands of near, intermediate and distance vision”, continues Dr. Henahan.

Advanced Eyeglasses Lenses

Furthermore, the new generation of customized HD progressive lenses provides a much wider intermediate and near vision focal area that greatly enhances the value of these lenses in the digital age.

When evaluating your vision options, choosing the cheapest progressive is usually a mistake.  Older progressive lenses were shown to be much less satisfactory to patients in a recent study published by UC Berkeley.  In that study, patients preferred the newer HD progressive lenses on every measure of satisfaction, including visual clarity, reading vision performance, computer vision performance and how easy the lenses were to get used to.

Next generation Bifocal Contact Lenses

The big advances in HD eyeglasses lenses have recently been matched by two next generation contact lenses that improve greatly upon older technology bifocal contact lenses.  These lenses greatly reduce dependence on reading glasses when you wear contacts by providing crisp distance and intermediate vision.  Reading vision is quite good too, but low power reading glasses are likely to be needed on occasion, especially if the lighting is poor or the print is very small.

If you are suffering from problems with the performance of your eyeglasses or contact lenses in the digital age, look for the advanced technology of new generation lenses to get you seeing all your devices more clearly with less eyestrain.

Dr. John Henahan is a fellowships trained doctor of optometry practicing and living in Peachtree City, GA with his wife and two sons.  Click here to contact his office at 770 487-0667 or visit him on the web at www.speceye.com.

As the former director of Low Vision Services at LSU Medical school, Dr. John Henahan has always been passionate about helping the blind and those with visual impairments.  Fifteen years ago, that meant assisting patients to read printed material and move about without harming themselves.  An increasingly connected world risks leaving these patients further and further behind.

“It’s a visual digital divide”, says Dr. Henahan who still works with the visually impaired at Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree city. “Although these patients have the means, they are being shut out of the opportunities presented by technologies like the Blackberry.  That is why I am so excited by the steps that Apple is taking with their ‘Accessibility‘ campaign.”

Apple computer, Inc. has long been an innovator in the personal computer, MP3 and more recently mobile phone space.  With the growing popularity of iPhones, touch screen iPods and the new iPad, Apple has quietly worked to enable their devices for those with visual impairments, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt’s macular dystrophy among others.

At it’s heart, Apple has worked to create a series of simple to remember gestures that allow information on the screen of their Mac computer or Apple branded mobile device to be read aloud (This technology only works with Apple devices).  Apple has also ingeniously developed ways for the visually impaired to navigate the maze of applications, emails and other information on these devices.

If you know of someone who is visually impaired, take the time to learn more about Apple’s VoiceOver technology.  You can also click here to directly to a video demonstrating the VoiceOver on an iPhone. For those looking for a solution for their desktop Mac or Mac laptop, this video demonstrates how it works on a computer

For those in the Atlanta area looking for someone to evaluate and provide low vision services, feel free to contact us, or call 770-487-0667.