# Anyone else have vision issues while on the computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583 "2018-08-31T17:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583/43 "2018-09-03T04:24:02Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It’s a bigger issue going forward because I like closed captions when I watch movies, and I do this on the computer too. I’m doing a number of disparate thing on it actually, involving many distances. So those are text too. Going forward I probably will need to use reading glasses to play iphone pool. It seems like a million considerations. On the plus side, glasses are almost “disposable” cheap, these days. I only get the expensive ones for my daily wear and my work computer glasses. Everything else is from the Internet. Need eight pairs to cover all your activities? That’s probably overkill, but it’s affordable if you want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583/44 "2018-09-03T15:48:07Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > On the plus side, glasses are almost “disposable” cheap, these days. I only get the expensive ones for my daily wear and my work computer glasses. Everything else is from the Internet. Need eight pairs to cover all your activities? That’s probably overkill, but it’s affordable if you want to do it. How does this fit in with my Rx? ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583/45 "2018-09-06T18:00:47Z")
> [@Tierce](#): > > Progressive means as opposed to bifocals or trifocals, which would have a sharp line dividing the different sections of the lens. A typical progressive lens would go from reading distance at the bottom to mid distance at the top. > > My mid/long distance prescription is very slight. When I started needing reading glasses, I found that a computer screen was too far away for OTC reading glasses but too close for my mid distance prescription. So I use progressive computer glasses which go from close reading distance (say 12"-15") at the bottom to computer-screen-reading distance (arm’s length plus a few inches) at the top. Took the optometrist a couple of tries to get them right, but worth it. I do the same but with contacts. When I drive to work, I wear a -4.25 in the left eye and a -4.00 in the right eye. at work, I switch the one in the left eye to a -2.25. the right eye stays at normal distance vision. when I’m reading the screen my left eye takes over. When I look up at the clock, the right eye does the work. Amazingly easy to get used to. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583/46 "2018-09-06T18:58:07Z")
I have a computer-related vision problem [which I’ve mentioned before](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14246109&postcount=11) that no one in the thread has mentioned. It is “map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy” (causing monocular diplopia). The ophthalmologist said the likely cause was spending too much time staring at a computer screen … _and forgetting to blink_! GENTEAL® eye drops (which I call “artificial tears”) may be a good remedy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-vision-issues-while-on-the-computer/820583.md?page=2)