[G4] OT: Ergonomic Chairs and vision

[Crandon David]

Ok, I'll jump in here since I'm an optometrist.

For those of you under 40 or so, just make sure you have an accurate  
eyeglass Rx. It will cut down on eyestrain/headaches/tired eyes, etc.  
Most of you won't need a "special"  Rx for computer use. Also, just  
because you feel your vision is "clear", doesn't mean it's  
"comfortable". You may have a minor Rx. Staring at computers is a  
very demanding visual task. If you have a minor deficiency in your  
vision, you may not notice any symptoms under other tasks.

For those over the age of 40 or so, you may need a "near point" Rx.  
If you are over 45-50, the nearpoint Rx you use for reading/paperwork  
may not be the same as needed for computer use. The "power" of the  
nearpoint Rx affects the distance the glasses are focused from your  
eyes. Typical reading/paperwork is usually about 16-18". Typical  
computer monitors are 20-26".

What Al is calling "graduated focus (transition) lenses are properly  
called progressives. At the top of the lens is power for your  
distance vision, and then the power "progressively" gets stronger as  
your eyes travel to the bottom of the lens. These work much better  
than lined bifocals for computer use, but may not be the best for  
everybody because you still have to tilt your head back somewhat to  
look through the lower portion of the lens at the monitor.

For those  over 45-50, the best lens for long-term computer use is a  
progressive or lined bifocal that we call an "intermediate/near" Rx.  
The bottom of the lens is focused for 16-18" and the top for 22-26"  
or so.

A few more tips...getting an antireflection coating on the lens will  
help with eyestrain (the new premium coatings don't have all the  
problems that previous A/R coatings did). But most importantly, give  
your eyes a break every once in a while. Every 20 minutes or so, lean  
back and look at something far away (at least 10-20 feet) for about  
30 seconds.

Lastly, reduce reflections on the surface of the monitor. Turn it  
off, see what's reflecting in it and try to position it to reduce  
reflections. Especially of any light sources. Remove any "anti-glare"  
screens first. Most are useless. These are only a last resort.

David Crandon, O.D.




On Mar 5, 2006, at 8:13 AM, Al Poulin wrote:

> I am 6'2", or rather only 6'1" now.  So I will not comment on the  
> chair hunt.
>
> But I am 70 years old.  I went through bifocals and trifocals, all  
> the while working with computers (at work) and at home.  During  
> that time, I resorted to using "reading glasses" set to focus at  
> arms length for computer and any desk work.  But the best solution  
> (for me, after two cataract lens replacements/implants) has been to  
> use graduated focus (transition) lenses in my glasses.  I love  
> them.  So, for the conservative approach, try the reading glasses.   
> The transition lenses took a few weeks to get used to.
>
> Al Poulin
> Anger, hate, and revenge are for the devil, forgiveness is for God,  
> proactive self-defense is for the rest of us.
> On Feb 28, 2006, at 9:26 PM, g4- 
> request at listserver.themacintoshguy.com wrote:
>
>>
>> Message: 7
>> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 21:26:22 -0500
>> From: Richard Meyeroff <rem at meyeroff-c-c.com>
>>
>> One of the bigest reasons for neck strain in people of your age is
>> their glasses.  They try to use the same bifocal or invisible lenes
>> that they use for walking to work on their computer.  Because the
>> near or intermediate portion of the lens is set for comfort when
>> reading when you use it to look at the computer screen you are
>> bending your neck in an unnatural manner giving you neck pain and
>> perhaps permanent damage
>>
>>> Any of you who are of similar age or condition, please email me for
>>> a date (just kidding!) no please email me with your adventures and
>>> what you finally purchased that was good. And yes, I'm exercising
>>> and doing yoga.
>>>
>>> Anne Keller Smith
>>
>> -- 
>> Have a Happy & Enjoy
>>
>> Richard Meyeroff
>> Meyeroff Computer Consultants tel: 410-258-7503
>> rem at meyeroff-c-c.com
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>
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