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I have been wearing varifocals since I turned 40 I am now 53. During that time the prescription has changed very little (don't ask what it is now I can't the details) as I've only needed to change my glasses once during that time.
I have been WFH since last March, my desk isn't set up as it would be at work because I don't have it here at home. It simply wouldn't fit in the space I have. What I have noticed is my monitors are closer to me (can't move them further away)than at work. So I have to lift my head to focus properly.
Over that time my neck has become tight and the tightness has slowly moved down to my shoulders and as of Saturday I woke with a frozen shoulder. Saw the doctor today he has referred me to see a physio.
So the physio will treat the symptoms I need to fix the problem.
I probably need to have my eyes tested again it's been nearly two years since the last test and get some new glasses. But due to a stupid squashed nose acquired playing rugby as a youngster I struggle to find frames to fit my nose. They always sit too high (even the current frames) limiting the amount of close up lens compared to the distance bit.
Obviously I need to look at the desk layout. And probably need to sort out my glasses.
I'm not sure at my best option.
1. A single pair of close up glasses for computer work?
2. New varifocals (the current ones are still fine for the majority time, way from work that is) I will still have the fitting issue?
3. I have seen that now there are multi focal contacts available, are they any good? Would I benefit with these for on bike use?
It seems that every time I visit the opticians they are always trying to sell me something regardless of the no change in my prescription, I ask about the contacts and It's oh yes sir they are very good etc.. I ask about better fitting fames and they talk about custom jobbies.
Of course I will pay what I need to and I don't take my eyesight for granted it's not about doing it on the cheap. I want to get it right. I just need an honest opinion without the hard sell.
Your employer's obligations regarding the safety of a home workstation are exactly the same as for an office one. It might be worth talking to HR to ask for an assessment?
3. I have seen that now there are multi focal contacts available, are they any good? Would I benefit with these for on bike use?
This what I've been using for a few years now. There's a bit of compromise, in that the long distance focus isn't perfect and reading small text can be difficult in low light, but for normal use, monitors, watching telly, driving, riding.. I like them.
You can always get a demo from your opticians, see if you get on with them.
I had this when I got my first pair of varifocals. Spoke to my optician who got me to measure the distance from my eyes to my monitor and he made up a pair of glasses specifically for PC work. Made such a difference and they just live on my desk when I'm not using them
I used to wear varifocals. It took a while before I could get a pair that allowed me to look at a monitor without tipping my head up. I also had a pair of "VDU specs" which were like varifocals but just did close to medium vision, no distance element.
But then I got mono contact lenses. Close up in the left eye, distance in the right. They work a treat for me but I understand some people can't get used to them. Bifocal contacts would surely lead to the same head tilt.
What I have noticed is my monitors are closer to me (can’t move them further away)
Can you remove the stands and wall mount them?
I've done that and it means that a fairly narrow (60cm) desk works for me. YMMV
Your employer’s obligations regarding the safety of a home workstation are exactly the same as for an office one. It might be worth talking to HR to ask for an assessment?
Interestingly we got some advice that a short term temporary situation imposed by the government probably meant that the obligation was probably not the same. Of course that was in April and short term is now no longer that short, temporary may no longer be so for many. We have DSE assessed all our home workers, but the formulaic action plan we use in the office doesn't work for everyone.
What we have observed anecdotally is that even people who are used to spending "all day" at screens and who have good set ups at home are probably struggling more with eye strain than in the office. In the office you inevitable have more to look at 5m+ from your eyes, in your home office most people are looking 2-3m away at most. Meetings are on teams/zoom/skype whereas they might have involved a walk to the meeting room, and its been suggested are more tiring (on the brain or the eyes?) than being in the same room as you get 2D not 3D information.
It seems that every time I visit the opticians they are always trying to sell me something regardless of the no change in my prescription, I ask about the contacts and It’s oh yes sir they are very good etc.. I ask about better fitting fames and they talk about custom jobbies.
I think your questions would be best answered by a good optician. I have experienced some of what you say, but I've generally found small local firms to be far less upsell and in fact quite willing to say "contacts are not for you" and "I wouldn't bother replacing your sunglasses" etc. I don't think you can complain if you have a weird face size, ask for better fitting frames and they suggest a custom solution...
I had a pair of varifocals (my first) and a large monitor. Never got on with them (ended up titling my head to get the right vari-portion of the lens). Recently got 2 pairs of glasses (which I originally tried to dodge doing). So one pair is fixed focal length for my monitor - SOOO much better. Just a small pain to look at anything else in the room (still have varifocals for everything else).
Bifocal contacts would surely lead to the same head tilt.
Not varifocal ones though - they work by having the close range focal area in the centre.
The outer part works for longer range focus. They work perfectly for monitor use up to about a metre away. Guess it depends on your prescription how well they'd work.
Am very long-sighted (+3.75/5.5) and have varifocals too (+1). I mounted the monitor slightly further back and pivoted off the small desk I use. Tp be honest, my eyesight is so poor, and I only use the one "good" eye, that I'd never thought to tilt my head back for sharper vision.
A deeper desk and a 27" monitor would be nice, currently in Son1's room.
I think you need to find a better opticians IMO - a squished nose shouldn't stop you from finding a frame and lens set-up that better suits your needs. And two years since your last test means you are clearly due a test anyway.
As others have mentioned, a dedicated pair of monitor glasses (with a tint if your work isn't colour critical which helps reduce eye strain) could be an option and your employer could/should pay for them too.
Thanks for all of the suggestions.
When we first went into lockdown I did perform the risk assessment. My desk setup has now changed due to the kids and Mrs asbrooks are now work form home. I've been kicked out from my ideal setup.
Monitors wise I'm working with a large 27" monitor and the 21" laptop monitor. At work the monitors sit around a metre away, at home that distance is halved. At that distance if I look at the screens with a normal head position I can't read the screen but at a metre I can. Unfortunately moving the screens back is not an option the desk simply doesn't have the space. So I think a pair of single focal glasses would be the best option in this case.
I have contacted my manager asking for a stand to place the laptop to lift it to the same or similar level on and a sperate keyboard.
To be honest I hadn't expected to continue to be working from home for this length of time. But now I don't want to return to the office.
Anyone using the multifocal contact lens for riding in? I usually don't ride wearing glasses. Which is fine is I don't get any mechanicals. Trying to bodge up a broken chain when everything is blurred is not easy. It's got to the point where the only reason I carry a rucksack is for my glasses. I do have a small frame bag for the other stuff that I carry. Order the EDC tool to try to free up space for them.
I was recommended varifocals by an optician as they sell them, but get my eyes tested by an eye surgeon who doesn't sell glasses. Surgeon recommends I wear deducted reading glasses when needed, and normal glasses when I don't.
His impression of my posture with varifocals seems to be spot on, lots of people have no choice of swapping between glasses so have no choice.
It is a faff with reading glasses and normal glasses but I treated myself to nice pairs of both so q happy to live with it.
Actually thinking about it I got some really good advice about eye care from the eye surgeon, like uv protection, I was referred to him originally but now pay to see him directly.