Contact Lenses for Computer Professionals?

LxDengar writes "For anyone who uses a computer around 10-plus hours a day, eye strain can become a serious issue. According to the American Optometric Association, 70-75% of computer workers experience eye and vision problems. Although I've tried contacts in the past, I found that my eyes dried out very quickly, and so switched back to glasses. Recently, my eye doctor mentioned a series of new contacts with better hydration for the eyes, and targeted to computer professionals (Acuvue, Ocular Sciences, etc). Do you wear contacts when staring at your screen for long periods? What contacts does community recommend for long periods at the computer?"

Comments

Best solution?

[br4dh4x0r]

If at all possible, get LASIK.

I'd worn contacts for almost 20 years when I finally decided to pony up the cash for LASIK. Best $2000 I've ever spent. My eyes would dry out extremely quickly while wearing contacts. Since the inital recuperation from the surgery, my eyes haven't become dry unless I stay up 24+ hours in a row.

An added bonus is that my eyesight in each eye (20/650 and 20/850 before) is now 20/15. I could never come close to that with contacts.

I know you were asking about contact lenses... but you should at least consider LASIK.

What's Wrong With Glasses?

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

What exactly is wrong with glasses?

Bear with me for a minute. We're not in the fifties anymore. Glasses aren't 5cm bottlecaps anymore. Glasses are now light, flexible, sturdy, efficient and a danm sight cheaper than any contact lens on the market.

Is there really still such a problem with wearing glasses in this day and age? Grown geeks will walk around in public with thinkgeek apparell, pdas, glowsticks, sweatpants and gameboys. But not glasses because.... why?

Is it really the contacts you need?

Re:What's Wrong With Glasses?

[coyotecult]

Allergies force me to use glasses instead of contacts, and I really miss them.

Some of the advantages contact lenses have over glasses include:

1. When I'm out biking in the rain, I can still see. Raindrops quickly collect on my glasses and make it kind of difficult, if not downright dangerous, to see where I'm going.
2. I gain better peripheral vision. I have almost nil with glasses.
3. I'm not worried about breaking them; they don't snag on things.
4. I can see while I'm kissing without taking them off. Wire frames do tend to get in the way.

Don't cut corners with contacts

[keshet]

After 10 years of using contacts I contracted a severe corneal ulcer (see the gruesome pics on google) 1.5 months ago in my left eye. 8 days in hospital, I still cannot really see out of that eye and the doctor says that there is no way to know how much it will recover.

My mistakes?
- Using disposable contacts for longer than their design (GreatDrok you have been warned)
- Falling asleep in them
- Putting up with contacts which irritated my eyes because I'd already paid for them
- Not getting straight to an eye doctor when a mild infection suddenly got worse (it was on a weekend - I saw an incompetent GP who didn't think it was serious)

My best experience with contacts was when:
- I found a really good optometrist who took the time to find a type that really suited me
- I used straightforward saline IV solution for storing and rinsing
- I started the day with a physical workout (gets the juices flowing)
I could spend 10+ hours day in front of the computer and not be aware of the lenses in my eyes.

So, yes, I have gotten stupider over time. I actually had an appointment for LASIK 2 months before this happened but chickened out. Stoopid.

I'm in the opposite situation

[Samurai Cat!]

After staring at computer screens for about 25 years now (since I was 15 and had a TRS-80! har), I went from perfect vision to being somewhat nearsighted - my point-of-focus moved from wherever it was to where my computer screen sat.

I recently got contacts for the first time, for other reasons - but the only times I wear them is when I'm *not* working. My eyes are pretty much perfectly adjusted for staring at computer screens now, and nothing else. :P

Anyhow, I've got the Acuvue lenses from Johnson & Johnson, and so far, so good.

Don't be so goddam vain

[ynohoo]

One major advantage glasses have over contacts is that you can take the damn things off and give your eyes a rest!