How are bifocals/progressive lenses for desktop computer use?

September 22, 2024 1:19 PM

I have strong myopia (near-sightedness), but now that I'm close to 50 it's also harder to read or see close-up, hence considering glasses with bifocal or progressive lenses. But I spend 8+ hours a day at a desktop computer. Are either bifocals or progressives good for me?

My understanding of bifocal or progressive lenses is that in either case the top half of the lens is set up for distance vision and the lower half for near vision. This sounds like it might work well for reading a book or smartphone or even a laptop, where one is looking down.

But my work involves a desktop screen which is straight in front of me, about 2 feet away. In this case it seems like I won't be looking through the bottom half of a lens.

What I've been doing this last year is using my newest prescription for biking and driving, while I use an older weaker prescription for household tasks and work, including reading and computer use. This is sort of an OK temporary solution. But what should I really do long term?

Do you have myopia plus middle/old age near vision loss? Do you use bifocals/progressives with a desktop computer? What is your experience, or suggestions? Any tips appreciated.

posted by splitpeasoup to Health & Fitness (37 answers total)

I’ve tried both, and ended up getting a pair of glasses solely for using at the computer.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:21 PM on September 22

I have astigmatism that ends up being kind of like myopia, and I have progressive lenses and do fine with working on my computers (personal desktop, work laptop hooked up to an external monitor). There's a middle zone in the progressive blend that is "computer distance". Costco, where I got my glasses, actually advertises a "computer" progressive lens where the middle zone is prioritized, so it's bigger compared to a regular progressive lens, while the distance and close regions are smaller.
posted by LionIndex at 1:22 PM on September 22

Re: Progressives...

I had a pair. Tried to wear them. The "whoosh" factor as you look around was too much for my brain. So I went to regular bifocals. Any whoosh was at my control. I still have decent distance vision, but reading was a problem. And eventually those bifocals got lost and/or destroyed, so I just went to the Walgreens for some pairs of readers.

Since it sounds like your distance vision isn't great, I'd go for a "distance vision" set for biking and driving, a set of bifocals for when you think you will need both, and some cheap-ass readers.

Given you can adjust font sizes and zoom when at the computer, not sure how highly I would weigh that. Pain in the butt to get all your sizes increased, but it is working for me. Given how costly prescription lenses are, you don't really want to pay for things you won't use.

And bifocals make you look wise and distinguished.
posted by Windopaene at 1:33 PM on September 22

I got computer-specific glasses. Bifocals or progressive lenses would drive me bonkers. I just adjusted my normal prescription and ordered them from Zenni Optical.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 1:40 PM on September 22

I'm just now dealing with this issue too, though in my case my nearsightedness is only bad enough to be a nuisance, not debilitating. So I recently got "computer distance" progressives, and like Windowpaene, the "whoosh" (or as I put it, "warping") effect with them is really distracting. Granted, I haven't put in enough time to "get used to" the progressives, but I can't image ever getting used to the whoosh effect.

With progressives and bifocals, the near-distance part of the lens is the lower part of it, so you have to do that "looking down your nose" thing to look at things that are nearby. That's true for the computer-distance progressives; when doing computer work with them, I need to tilt up my face while peering down at the screen. Ergonomically, this is supposed to be bad: you should be tilting your head slightly down to look at your computer screen. As someone who has had neck pain from using an incorrect ergonomic position, this is something I worry about. It seems like they should make "computer work" bifocals that actually have the near-distance part of the lens on the top rather than the bottom.

I know this not only doesn't provide any answers for you, but it maybe muddies the water! But hopefully my perspective helps.
posted by Mechitar at 1:59 PM on September 22

I also went with single-vision prescription computer-distance readers when this started happening in my late 40s. I often had to skim large amounts of text to find what I was looking for while working, and this was arduous with progressives or bifocals which required me to literally move my head to read different areas of the screen, while prescription computer-distance readers allowed me to see the whole screen clearly. The downside is switching back and forth between the computer glasses and one's normal glasses.

I no longer wear them - I had cataract surgery a couple of years later, got a multifocal lens, and I no longer need correction for most tasks - but I never found a better solution. With certain types of computer work where seeing large amounts of the screen was beneficial, progressives and bifocals really fell flat.
posted by eschatfische at 2:09 PM on September 22

Consider getting a pair of readers in addition to your glasses for distance vision. In my case, I do not need to use glasses when I use my big external monitors, just for normal reading and when using my laptop screen itself.
posted by koahiatamadl at 2:13 PM on September 22

The biggest problem with bifocals/progressives for me was walking on uneven ground, which I do a lot. Glancing at the ground right in front of me was impossible with the bottom of the lenses so I spent most of my time with my head tilted down so I could see the path.

The lesson for me was that I actually do use the lower half of my distance vision.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 2:13 PM on September 22

So my contact lenses are both in the -8 range. Very nearsighted, 49, finally needed reading glasses about a year and a half ago. I made a horrible mistake trying to go with regular glasses with a "middle distance" screen correction for normal wear and separate readers for close reading. I had constant headaches all year and it took me approximately 45 mins to be able to focus on the middle distance for computer use every morning. As a stopgap I tried getting a pair of "middle distance" glasses and contacts and it just continued my agony, except swapping through three different corrective measures rather than two.

This year I caved and got progressives. No more headaches, no problems reading, no problems with the laptop, no issues driving, nothing. It took me less than 24 hours to adjust and I don't even really find myself moving my head for different levels of adjustment. My glasses provider let me try for 30 days and swap out if it didn't work out at no cost to me, so I felt comfortable giving this a shot.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 2:21 PM on September 22

I got progressives and my optometrist took into consideration the fact that I spend most of my time in front of a computer and adjusted the prescription for me. I found that it took about three weeks of weirdness for them to really settle - you'll wander around feeling vaguely drunk for a while and it was mildly disconcerting. However I was warned in advance and persisted and one day everything just seemed to work. Brains are weird!

I love my progressives! I can read signposts while driving and still see my dashboard. I can watch movies and read at the same time. Maybe, like me, you'll do the head bobbing thing to find your focus and probably this will be a literal pain in the neck for a week, but it does become seamless. I find that because I can change my focus so easily, I do it all the time, and I can't remember the last time I got a headache from eyestrain.
posted by ninazer0 at 2:25 PM on September 22

My eye doctor wrote me a prescription one full power weaker than my usual Rx (so 3.25 instead of 4.25) and I bought cheap Internet glasses. Works perfectly!
posted by wenestvedt at 2:25 PM on September 22

I have a separate pair of progressives for computer use. The upper 2/3 is for the computer screen, the lower third keeps my keyboard and what's on the desk in focus. Works perfectly for me.
posted by SNACKeR at 2:31 PM on September 22

I have progressives, and then a separate pair of fixed focus distance computer glasses.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 2:38 PM on September 22

I have a very high prescription for nearsightedness (think close to -10). On my eye doctor’s advice, I got a separate pair of glasses for reading and computer use (think -8). I like having the whole field of vision devoted to either distance or reading rather than having to look through the top half for one and the bottom half for the other. I don’t find it that big a deal to switch glasses, but I do have to remember to bring them everywhere I go.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:42 PM on September 22

I have what SNACKeR has. They have no distance vision in them, and it makes the world just fuzzy enough that it takes a while to notice if I forget to swap for my normal glasses when I get up.

My reading prescription is strong enough that distance vision in my usual glasses doesn't really work for computer screens, and I get a stiff neck from holding my head at the right angle to use the right part of my normal glasses. Having a huge and tall screen doesn't help, but even a normal screen is annoying. That said, I can use a laptop with my normal glasses reasonably well because I'm looking downwards at it, and the same with my phone.

As ever, Costco is the winner for price, at least for me. I do have vision insurance, which helps a bit - they don't serve Costco as well as the smaller shops, but Costco's pricing more than makes up for it.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 3:00 PM on September 22

I have a separate pair of progressives for computer use. The upper 2/3 is for the computer screen, the lower third keeps my keyboard and what's on the desk in focus. Works perfectly for me.

Yes, you can get progressives that are middle and near vision only. Zenni discusses them here.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:15 PM on September 22

I use progressives in this scenario. I explained to my optometrist that I don't drive and could use optimizing for "computer distance." I don't know if I'd call them "perfect" but they're quite functional.
posted by praemunire at 3:35 PM on September 22

I also got a pair of 'office glasses' made, with focal lengths for computer and reading. It seems to be a common thing now. They could have done a pair with a third focal point for distance on top of the computer and reading, but instead I opted get a separate set of glasses with just a single prescription that's good enough for out of office use (sometimes have to take off my glasses and peer at the occasional menu, but it's fine). Given how much time I spend on the computer it seemed more useful to do it that way over narrowing the 'Computer' focal band .

It only took me a couple of days to get used to looking through the right part of the glasses, but still does throw me a little bit when I swap glasses if my eyes are particularly tired.
posted by platypus of the universe at 3:39 PM on September 22

Seconding oneirodynia's experience. I have regular progressives for every day use and second pair where the top part is a mid-distance correction from my computer screen and the lower part is adjusted for closer work like looking at my keyboard or reading from paper. Works well although as soon as I stand up and start to walk I realize I have my computer glasses on since the floor is out of focus.

By the way, the gradual zone changes in the progressive work for me as I can tip my head slightly if something is out of focus.
posted by metahawk at 3:40 PM on September 22

3 sets here- progressives. Computer distance and readers.

Now my doctor has suggested a pair with computer/reader distance. I haven't decided yet.

The computer and readers are fantastic. I really can't see the computer well with my progressives so 8 hour days were hard.

Prescription is something like -5 for distance, -3.5 for computer and -2 for readers
posted by Ftsqg at 4:59 PM on September 22

In my progressives, the sweet spot for computer distance is about the size of a quarter, and requires me to tilt my head up and scan the screen. No bueno. So I got single-vision glasses for computer use. They’re also great in the kitchen, since the work surface is about the same distance.

The progressives, though, are great for using my phone and watch without having to peer over or under my glasses, which I had been doing a lot before I got progressives.
posted by jimfl at 5:48 PM on September 22

I got progressive two years ago as well as readers and the middle vision single rx computer glasses. My problem with those is that my two big display setup is a little too wide to be comfortable with the computer lenses, so I wear my progressives unless I'm reading books for more than an hour
posted by advicepig at 6:12 PM on September 22

Just one more voice chiming in on the "one for computer/one for everything else" end of things. I have progressives for everything except working at the computer (I love my progressives -- I got used to the "whoosh" thing very quickly and they're great), and computer-specific glasses for work - I've also got a monitor about 2 feet away, like you.

I'm nearsighted, mid-50s, and have had progressives for a while, but kept running into the "have to tip your head back on your neck to see the computer" problem. Went to my optometrist, got a computer prescription that's like 90% computer perfect, and then the bottom 10% is for reading (see the keyboard, any note-taking, etc.) just like several others here have mentioned. You just have to remember to switch glasses and keep both with you (and in very visually different cases). Get the computer-only prescription in your hand and buy those online or cheap at Costco or whatever (I like Pair Eyewear because I can switch the frames up cheaply, and since I tutor online, it's fun to have a "different" pair of glasses every day, plus fun holiday ones).

(I don't need *any* glasses to read a book or Kindle or Ipad/iPhone.)
posted by tzikeh at 8:01 PM on September 22

I was reluctant to get progressives for this purpose, but adjusted quickly, within a few days. They’re laser something? My ophthalmologist doesn’t like that the optometrist ordered them slightly monovision but they’re pretty functional for me, good enough for computers, stuff around the house, writing and reading on paper, and seeing street signs.
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:18 PM on September 22

I think you're missing that progressive lenses are not just bifocal. In my experience, they are more "trifocals," and the middle of the lenses act as the midrange "computer glasses." At least they do for me.

Not all progressives are created equal. Some have a relatively narrow mid-focus area...that is, ground portions of the lenses are shaped like an hourglass, with nearly side to side coverage at close and distance, but narrow for the middle distance range. Not knowing this, I got lenses from Zenni that were narrow in the mid-range and could not get comfortable with them. The glasses I got from Sears Optical (how I miss them!) and America's Best have much better coverage in the center.

I've had true bifocals, and computer glasses. Both worked fine where for their intended purpose. But well-crafted progressives are much better...I have all three focal ranges on my head all the time, and I have no problem with dizziness or headaches.
posted by lhauser at 8:57 PM on September 22

I have one progressive Rx for general use, and a computer one for computer work. The "distance" correction on the computer one is optimized for typical computer monitor distance, so my setup is all in focus, and the progressive part lets me look at things that are nearer.

It was an excellent investment. I was getting a lot of eye fatigue trying to code all day with normal progressives.
posted by zippy at 9:52 PM on September 22

My optometrist called them “work space” lenses and they have been a lifesaver. I ordered mine from Zenni. They have a handy guide to enter your prescription correctly. Just don’t forget to switch them out before you try to run to Publix.
posted by pearlybob at 3:02 AM on September 23

I couldn’t do progressives - never could figure out how to look through them consistently and would get “dizzy” when trying to use them.

The optometrist would always try to get me to buy progressives, and they would always offer to switch to lined bifocal if they didn’t work out. Always went back and got the lined ones. I now just tell them I’m not doing progressives, as I would have to take the glasses back and wait another 10 days or so, and it’s a waste of everybody’s time. I kinda wonder what the kickback is for the progressives?

At one point, things changed enough where I needed a middle focal distance for the computer.

I now have lined trifocals and I am good. One pair of glasses for all. Also helpful for driving - top lenses for the road, middle lens for dashboard, and lower lens for when parked in a lot and waiting on someone so I can read a book.

Good luck!
posted by kabong the wiser at 5:49 AM on September 23

I just switch glasses whenever I start working on a computer or such (laptop, reading a book, etc).

However, I have used my progressive lenses solely for a whole day here or there, and it works OK. It's just that you tend to get kind of a crook in your neck due to always having to sort of tilt your head back and look down your nose.

Still, it's POSSIBLE - and more so if you make the fonts etc on your computer a bit bigger.
posted by flug at 5:49 AM on September 23

I wear progressives and they suck for working at a computer and for reading music. I asked my optometrist to write me an Rx specifically for computer work. Zenni fills those cheaply.
posted by plinth at 9:16 AM on September 23

Agreeing that not all progressives are alike. I've had progressives that gave me a migraine when working at the computer, due to requiring that I hold my head at an unnatural angle to look through the right part of the lens, and I've had progressives that weren't as bad and didn't give me a headache but were not as good as having single-strength glasses of just the right strength for the distance to the computer monitor.

(When a family member got progressives from Zenni, for over a hundred dollars, they turned out to be useless as anything but an emergency backup, even after getting them adjusted by a local optician. The vastly more expensive glasses sold in optical shops are NOT a ripoff compared to Zenni, if you have a complicated prescription.)
posted by metonym at 9:27 AM on September 23

And yeah, my normal (local independent optician's) progressives are OK for working at the computer and reading books and watching TV most of the time, but I found myself craning my neck to peer through the sweet spot when my eyes got tired or I had to really proofread a document. The computer prescription I got is +1.25 from my base prescription so it's lousy for anything on the other side of the room, but it's pin sharp at desktop distance.
posted by Kyol at 9:37 AM on September 23

I cannot emphasize enough how much Zenni has changed my life. The glasses are very well made, giving me better vision with a comfier fit than glasses from my local optician costing 10x or 20x more. Because they're so affordable, I feel free to experiment! I have computer distance glasses, I have single-vision distance, I have bifocals, I have dedicated readers. I have prescription bifocal sunglasses! Different glasses for different purposes. And they're cheap enough that, thrifty as I usually am, I don't feel guilty about "Well, it's not exactly what I wanted, but I paid a lot for these glasses so I guess I'll make do..." (FWIW, I never spring for any of the antireflective coatings or whatnot; it seems like that's always the first thing to get scratched, and now that my last several pairs of glasses have not had these features, I don't feel like I'm missing anything)

I can't do progressives for the same reasons others have mentioned, both the disorienting "whoosh" feeling when moving through the different lens areas, but also because I've never found progressives that weren't an extreme compromise, or where the "sweet spot" for a given distance or situation wasn't so tiny that I was constantly moving my head or eyes to stay on target. I just can't do it.
posted by xedrik at 9:53 AM on September 23

If you do get Zenni progressives (or Payne or other online places), they have a few tiers of progressives, and I have the premium ones.

https://www.zennioptical.com/progressive-lenses

It gives you a wider are for the middle and close distances and that was really nice for a dual monitor setup. They also have those office progressives that plenty of people mentioned as well.
posted by advicepig at 10:22 AM on September 23

It sounds like you're leaning towards office/computer progressives, but you should be VERY clear with your optician about your needs. I told one optician that I needed to be able to see the computer, so I got office progressives from them that were good enough for the computer and good enough for walking around, but not optimally sharp for either. My most recent pair was what the (different) optician called "computer progressives", and these are super sharp for the computer, but muddy for walking around.

What each optician did (quite correctly, based on what they heard from me) was to under-correct my full myopia prescription to give me best results at 3 feet (computer progressives), or 6 feet / maybe 12 feet (office progressives).

(I found this explanation (YouTube) to be a great summary of how the different office/computer progressives actually work if you have 11 minutes to nerd out on the subject.)

I recommend two sets of glasses for anyone who works on a computer but who also goes out in the world from time to time:

Pair 1: Computer progressives optimized for 3 feet maximum. These lenses will have some space towards the bottom for sharp vision at close distances (18 inches or so), but most of the each lens will be devoted to intermediate vision. You get excellent monitor sharpness for the full width of your screen. (That YT video explains why.)

Pair 2: Bifocals (distance/near) or pure distance correction for walking around the world, depending on your need for close reading and/or your inability to handle the loss of distance correction when you look down.
posted by maudlin at 3:49 PM on September 23

I have a pair of progressives for working at a computer screen, and a pair of distance glasses for driving and activities. Getting towards 50 sucks, you have my sympathies!
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:53 PM on September 23

I use varifocals with my computer. (Bifocals with no visible line, there is no "third zone" really).

When I got them the optician recommended I get a pair with an intermediate prescription for use at a computer, so I got some cheap lenses put in an old frame. But I ended up never using them, my varifocals work fine. (I did push my monitors a bit further away).

There is an adjustment period in getting used to varifocals. For a week or so I was getting dizzy whenever I turned my head too fast. I was warned not to look down when using stairs. I was cursing them and swearing to hand them in for my refund when the adjustment period was up. But suddenly something clicked and everything was fine, I could just see anything at any distance. So bear in mind the adjustment period isn't necessarily a gradual process, for me it was just a sudden click.

So if you're trying them out I suggest you set yourself a time limit for the adaptation process, but wear the new pair consistently all day every day until you've either adjusted or hit your time limit. There's no point really trying it unless you're willing to commit to a bit of temporary discomfort. Wearing them for a couple of hours a day, or giving up after a day or two, doesn't really work.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 5:35 AM on September 25