Why On-The-Job Eyewear is Important
When you go into a factory, or any other industrial environment, it’s a given that you’ll need to put on safety eye wear. Due to the increased possibility of eye injury, it only makes sense. We want to protect our eyes in dangerous situations, don’t we? Then why don’t we do the same thing when we are staring at a computer screen for hours on end? Is it because it’s easier to visualize the dangers of a stray piece of metal as opposed to the dangers of neck strain, eye fatigue, and blue light?
While working on a computer most of the day, it only makes sense to think of the extra strain that you’re putting on your eyes. They weren’t designed for staring at a computer screen all day. This is why there are numerous lens options now available that are specialized to help the eye in the work environment. Usually referred to as ‘computer lenses’, these lenses are intended to give the wearer the best possible vision when sitting at their desk all day. Much like traditional safety lenses, computer lenses are a dedicated ‘second pair’ lens. This is because these lenses are optimized to give the best vision for the task at hand.
“Much like traditional safety lenses, computer lenses are a dedicated ‘second pair’ lens.”
Indoor computer-type lenses include indoor progressives, desk-only lenses, and lenses that are between the two. An indoor progressive, such as the Eagle™ Precision, still has a very good distance area, but it is narrower when compared to standard progressives. This type of lens is usually best suited for someone that works indoors, but still needs a good distance viewing area, such as hospital or retail workers. There are other lens designs that focus a little less on distance viewing, such as the Eagle™ Workplace. This design is best suited for someone that is at a computer most of the day, but doesn’t want to have to switch glasses to watch a presentation or attend a meeting. Finally, there is your standard ‘computer-type’ lens, such as the Eagle™ PC, which focuses solely on intermediate and near viewing. This lens will give you the best possible view of your desk and computer. The powers of this lens can be customized by using the near and intermediate working distances for a given patient. This means you can specify their near viewing (usually their keyboard) is 18 inches away, and their intermediate viewing (usually their monitor) is 28 inches away.
Computer-type lenses are also ideal candidates for other protective options. This includes lens materials such as BluTech lenses, which are an amber-colored lens specifically developed to enhance contrast and protect against high-energy and blue light. These lenses are also the perfect lenses to take advantage of some of the more cutting-edge blue-light blocking anti-reflective coatings on the market, such as Independence® Tech, which can be applied to any lens.
Bill “Other Bill” Heffner, IV
Director of IT, Marketing and Sales, FEA Industries, Inc.
