Occupational lenses, why are they used?

Occupational lenses, why are they used?

Occupational lenses are special reading lenses perfect for those who have difficulty seeing up close but also need to see further, at a distance of about 2.5 meters, but what is the functioning of occupational lenses and what benefits can they bring?

These lenses have been designed with the modern lifestyle in mind. They offer a flexible focal distance, ranging from a normal reading distance up to a distance of about 2.5 meters, replacing the old fixed-focus reading lenses.

The latter have only a limited focal range, were not designed for the digital world in which we live and, therefore, are rarely prescribed today.

What are occupational lenses?

As the name suggests, occupational lenses were designed to be used while working, particularly in front of the computer when it is required the eyes to focus closely, but also to see objects a little further away.

How many times have you worked on the computer in the office wearing a pair of glasses up close and then had to take them off to talk to a colleague who is a couple of meters away, otherwise you would not be able to focus on it correctly?

Glasses with occupational lenses are more suitable if you are over 40 years old and are starting to struggle to read or do other jobs up close and if you also need to see something a little further away. In fact, it is quite common for people in this age group to start having problems, as the lens inside the eye struggles to focus on nearby objects. This is the so-called presbyopia.

What is the difference between professional lenses, reading glasses and varifocal lenses?

If you already wear glasses and have difficulty reading clearly, you may want to consider varifocal lenses, which offer the ability to see up close, far and from a medium distance using a single lens.

Unfortunately, traditional varifocal lenses do not always offer large enough viewing zones to work on the computer for an extended period of time, due to the limitations imposed by the lens structure. For example, when the screen is at eye level, you have to tilt your head back to focus clearly and this in the long run causes back pain and stiff neck.

Occupational lenses, on the other hand, are designed to have intermediate vision as their main focal area, rather than distance vision. This means that the lens structure “puffs up” in the mid-zone to offer the widest possible field of view in this zone, while also incorporating the reading area.

If you are not a spectacle wearer, you may want to use simple reading glasses. However, you’ll probably spend all your time taking them off or looking from above if you need to look further away.

Single vision reading glasses only offer clear vision at a fixed focal length, usually only 40 cm, which means that anything beyond that is blurry.

Occupational lenses bridge the gap between reading glasses and varifocal lenses. These lenses are particularly suitable for presbyopes, who struggle to see clearly up close, for example at the distance that separates the eyes from a PC monitor. But also to those in professions where it is necessary to look at a certain distance or from across the room.

How do occupational lenses work?

Occupational lenses are extremely useful. These lenses are designed so that you can clearly see nearby objects through the bottom of the lens, such as when reading or working on a computer. But they also need to provide optimal vision at the top of the lens for slightly farther away tasks, such as focusing on objects up to a couple of meters away.

Occupational lenses are therefore suitable for intermediate and near vision. This comes with a trade-off when it comes to distance vision, making them versatile and perfect in an office environment.

Limited distance vision means that occupational lenses are not suitable for everyday use. For example , you cannot drive with this type of lens.

What benefits do occupational lenses offer?

Occupational lenses offer the following Benefits:

• Improved vision over a wide range. Occupational glasses bridge the gap between reading glasses and varifocal lenses. They are designed for near and intermediate vision, so you don’t have to put them on and take them off all the time, or look over them to see further clearly.

• Better posture. These lenses are much more versatile and allow the user to sit and see objects optimally both near and far, without having to change their head or body posture. This avoids stiff necks and back pain in the long term.

• No fitting problems, unlike varifocal lenses. They are not varifocal lenses and new users usually do not have the adaptation problems that are found with classic varifocal lenses.

• Suitable for any type of use. These reading glasses are very useful for use in the office as well as at home, for working on the computer, for reading or simply for sewing. They are a valuable solution for most people, whether they just need a reading aid, or those who wear varifocal lenses full-time.

• Blue light filter. By now we all use digital devices for extended periods during the day. This increases our exposure to harmful blue light. The latter causes eye strain, fatigue and headaches.

• Occupational lenses can be equipped with an advanced filter coating to shield blue light, so they are anti-reflective and anti-fatigue lenses. In addition, the coating strengthens the lenses and helps protect them from scratches.