Anti-fatigue lenses can reduce eye strain from working at a computer. Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels.
Do you have tired eyes from staring at a computer screen all day? Or perhaps from doomscrolling on your phone? Fear not, my friend. There’s a lens for that – and it’s here to give those sensitive eyes a rest. Enter: anti-fatigue lenses.
What are anti-fatigue lenses?
This type of lens matches your usual prescription but with one small tweak: it has a focus zone at the bottom that supports your eyes with close-up vision. This zone provides a gentle magnification, helping you to see close-up work more clearly. This is useful if you read or use digital devices a lot.
Signs you might need anti-fatigue lenses
Here are some common signs of visual fatigue:
- Headaches
- Tired eyes
- Dry eyes
- Eye strain
Whilst anti-fatigue lenses can help with these symptoms, it’s also important to take care of your eyes by keeping your prescription up-to-date, wearing sunglasses and giving yourself breaks from screen time and close-up work.
Always seek medical advice as eye problems can be signs of other conditions.
What age are anti-fatigue lenses for?
These lenses are designed for younger people aged 18-45, who spend a lot of time reading or using screens. Ours come in three powers:
- 0.50D for serious screen scrollers.
- 0.75D for avid readers.
- 1.00D for early middle-aged folks who don’t quite need reading glasses yet. (AKA “pre-presbyopics” – yes, it sounds like a dinosaur.)
Anti-fatigue lenses vs bifocals and varifocals
In our 40s, we start to develop presbyopia, or long-sightedness. This makes it more difficult for our eyes to focus on close-up objects. At this stage, the boost offered by anti-fatigue lenses might not be enough anymore. Bifocals and varifocals offer a stronger, wider close-up vision zone. They’re good all-purpose alternatives for people who need reading glasses.
Read more about bifocals vs varifocals.
Anti-fatigue lenses vs blue light lenses
Blue light lenses filter out blue light emitted by screens, whereas anti-fatigue lenses include a mini magnification zone for close up work, such as reading. It’s possible to have both features in one lens but may cost more.
Can you wear anti-fatigue lenses all day?
Since the magnification zone of an anti-fatigue lens is small, most people will be able to wear them comfortably all day. But it might take time to get used to the slight prescription change at the bottom of the lens.
Do anti-fatigue lenses really work?
The slight magnification at the bottom of the lens makes close-up objects, such as words in a book, appear slightly larger, reducing eye strain.
Are anti-fatigue lenses worth it?
If eye strain is a problem for you, and you’ve tried other fixes like taking breaks, it might be worth giving your prescription glasses an anti-fatigue power-up. To get the most out of these lenses, you’ll need an accurate prescription.
Ready to invest in your vision?
We replace the lenses in your frames, saving you money and letting you keep your eye-conic style. We sell a wide range of customisable lenses, including anti-fatigue and blue light lenses.