The relentless march of technology has transformed our world, and our eyes are paying the price. The average person now spends nearly seven hours a day staring at screens,1 leading to a surge in digital eye strain (DES).
This condition, characterised by symptoms like eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes, has become a significant concern for eye care professionals. But as Alycia Coupe explains, you can offer your patients relief from eye strain by prescribing purpose-designed occupational digital spectacle and contact lenses.
As our reliance on screens increases, so too does the need for clear intermediate vision without the need for compensatory head positioning that can cause work-related neck strain. To address this, a new generation of customisable occupational lenses has emerged.
Hyperopes and early presbyopes who don’t need glasses full time, as well as regular computer users – particularly those using multiple screens – are ideal candidates for occupational lenses. Additionally, presbyopes, who find the traditional design of progressive lenses is not fully optimised for their digital lifestyles, will find these lenses a major advantage in the workplace.
A New Era of Occupational Lenses
We are fortunate today to be able to draw on a diverse range of occupational lens designs, each catering to specific working distances and digital needs, and often outperforming traditional progressives in this regard. These lenses, which should be tailored to individual patient’s requirements by the optometrist in collaboration with the optical dispenser, offer enhanced comfort and reduced eye strain for those who spend significant time in front of screens.
In the ZEISS Office Lens, for instance, “the upper section of the progressive lens is converted to an intermediate functional area”, Jessica Kingsley from ZEISS explained. “Since the distribution of the viewing zones over the lens surface only involves the intermediate and near zones, it delivers much larger and clearer viewing zones, making this design perfect for the everyday office worker.”
Opticare’s Optilux Office Flex eyeglass lenses are also specifically designed for office tasks, including extended computer use.
These lenses are available in nine power shifts, with the lens power strongest in the reading area and weakening as the wearer’s gaze shifts upward towards the mid distance. Additionally, Optilux Office Flex eyeglass lenses are available in a variety of indexes, with a wider intermediate zone for improved viewing comfort at computer screens and documents. Featuring the latest in technology, Optilux Office Flex lenses are manufactured using proprietary Digital Intelligence, Intelligent Individualisation, Digital Adaptation, and Power Gradient technologies. According to Opticare, together these technologies ensure the lenses offer “exceptional optical clarity, minimal unwanted astigmatism, and a wide field of view”. They are also fully customisable to meet individual needs and can help reduce digital eye strain, making them ideal for prolonged screen use.
Personalising the Dispense
To ensure optimal visual outcomes, optical dispensers must go beyond product knowledge and delve into the wearer’s lifestyle and specific visual requirements. By asking detailed questions about screen distance, device type, and daily activities, dispensers can gain valuable insights to recommend the most suitable lens design. Many manufacturers, including HOYA and Shamir, have a range of occupational lens designs, each manufactured with a specific purpose.
HOYA’s premium occupational lens, Hoyalux iD WorkStyle 3 for instance, is offered in three individual designs: Close, Screen, and Space, which the dispenser needs to appropriately select based on the wearer’s visual preferences. To assist with this Ulli Hentschel, National Training and Development Manager at HOYA, said the company has “a large range of resources available for anyone wanting to update their existing product knowledge”. This includes the HOYA Hub, an online platform where eye care professionals can access product information and marketing materials, and gain access to the HOYA Learning Centre.
Similarly, each of Shamir’s occupational lens designs is manufactured for a specific purpose. Within this series, are customisable Shamir Vocational Digital lenses with blue-light filtering technology and a range of zone options to suit various working distances. Said to enhance visual performance and reduce eye strain, the adaptability of these lenses is ideal for individuals with demanding visual tasks, such as graphic designers or programmers.
For those who are not yet presbyopic but experience digital eye strain, various solutions are available. Anti-fatigue lenses incorporate a slight power addition in the lower portion, which facilitates accommodation when switching from far to near vision. The outcome is less contraction required by the ciliary muscle, resulting in reduced digital eyestrain symptoms. Accommodative lens designs stimulate the eye’s natural focussing ability, promoting clearer vision and reduced eye strain.
In an interview with Justin Chiang from Tokai Optical, conducted by April Petrusma, CEO of Optical Dispensers Association, Mr Chiang explained that Tokai’s Rest Series was designed for this exact purpose. “Rest lenses are accommodative lenses offering a choice of four assist powers; +0.50D, +0.75D, +1.00D, and +1.25D. They are designed for the pre-presbyope who spends a lot of time using digital devices at a desk or completing close work.”
Contact Lens Options
For patients who prefer to wear contact lenses, practitioners have plenty of options to offer. Contact lens monovision/blended vision presents an effective solution for managing both reading and computer vision distances.
For professionals with specific visual demands, single vision contact lenses can be game-changing. Scientists and laboratory technicians, for instance, often report superior results with contact lenses during microscopy work, citing the enhanced peripheral vision compared to traditional spectacles.
Typical multifocal contact lenses are concentric in design. This means the wearer does not have to move their head to find the sweet spot for near vision. Some are designed to relieve asthenopia by easing the accommodative burden via ‘digital zone optics’. Additionally, modern contact lenses offer features like blue light filtering and moisture retention to combat the negative effects of prolonged screen time.
Johnson and Johnson’s Acuvue Oasys Max, for example, are daily disposable contact lenses that offer comfortable all-day wear with enhanced moisture retention. They provide UV protection and are available in multifocal options for presbyopes. While not specifically designed to address the unique visual demands of prolonged computer work, they are a suitable option for general wear, including for those who travel on-the-job, using hand-held digital devices.
A Deep Dive into Lens Technologies
As an optical dispenser, it is necessary to remain up to date on the latest lens technologies and designs offered by various manufacturers, and to have a complete understanding of the dispensing and fitting requirements for each lens design.
As Ms Petrusma has said, “Some require a lot more data than just mono pupil distances and pupil centre heights to function at full capacity, with many suppliers even offering their own digital measuring devices”.
Rodenstock for instance, makes its Ergo range from an exact biometric eye model, based on individual measurements taken using the DNEye Scanner. The company’s ‘Impression’ category is 100% individual and considers the individually measured real position of wear of the glasses in front of the wearer’s eyes. This level of precise personalisation is calculated using frame parameters of corneal vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt, and face form angle.
Likewise, CR Labs describes the technology used to fit and design its Australis VR Office as “revolutionary”. The Australian-owned lens lab uses virtual reality to capture precise patient measurements and data, including eye movements, head position, and preferred working distances. By using virtual reality to personalise lens design, wearers can experience the prescribed lens in a simulated work environment before the order is placed. This enables greater certainty in the accuracy of the personalised design for both the dispenser and patient, and results in optimal visual performance and comfort.
Conclusion
As technology continues to evolve, so too must our approach to eye care. By staying informed about the latest advancements in lens design and dispensing techniques, optical professionals can help individuals navigate the challenges of the digital age and maintain optimal visual health.
By understanding the unique visual demands of our digitally driven world and offering tailored solutions, we can empower individuals to optimise their vision and enhance their overall wellbeing.
Consider the lens options presented below and contact your preferred spectacle and contact lens providers for resources and training.
Alycia Coupe is a qualified optical dispenser who joined the industry in 2018. Ms Coupe is an Optical Trainer with ACOD (Australasian College of Optical Dispensing) and the Member Services Supervisor of ODA (Optical Dispensers Australia).
Reference
- Howarth J. Alarming average screen time statistics (2024). Available at: explodingtopics.com/blog/screen-time-stats [accessed Dec 2024].
Lenses for the Workplace
ZEISS Office Lenses
The ZEISS Office lens portfolio provides solutions for almost all near and intermediate tasks. The design is optimised for a dynamic, multitasking digital lifestyle, ensuring a more natural body posture and relief from digital eye strain.
The ZEISS Office lens Superb design is available with three maximum intermediate distances. The Book design provides clear vision from reading distance to 100 cm, the Near design increases to 200 cm and the Room to 400 cm. The ZEISS Office lens Individual can be customised to the wearer’s needs at any distance between 100–400 cm.
Contact: ZEISS Account Manager (AUS) 1800 882 041 or (NZ) 0508 765 271
Shamir Occupational Progressives
Shamir’s occupational lenses offer flexible viewing and reading zones, and are easy to dispense.
The range consists of Computer, a lens that offers excellent vision for close tasks; Workspace, which is ideal for sharp focus for near or intermediate tasks; Smart Office, an all-round occupational lens; and Vocational Digital, which is an ideal alternative to traditional reading glasses and mid distance work.
Shamir’s extensive range of purpose built vocational and occupational lenses will ensure that your patients see clearer.
Visit: shamir.com/au
Rodenstock Ergo
Rodenstock’s Ergo near vision lenses provide an effective solution to ease eyestrain in the workplace.
Workplaces today place great demand on your patients’ eyes. The constant need for them to focus on monitors, desks, and colleagues at different distances requires lenses that are ergonomically designed. Rodenstock Ergo computer lenses provide your patients with relief from stressed eyes, which will also help ease tense neck and shoulder muscles.
Ergo Near Vision lenses are available in Book, Ergo PC, and Ergo Room 1.5, 1.6, 1.67, and 1.74 with:
- B.I.G. Exact, designed with a biometric eye scan of the individual patient, and
- B.I.G. Norm designed based on patients’ approximate eye model powered by AI.
Ergo Near Vision lenses will also be available with B.I.G. Exact Sensitive next month.
Contact: Rodenstock Account Manager
CR Labs Australis VR Office
The Australis VR Office lens sets itself apart through its groundbreaking focus on gaze dynamics, a technology exclusive to Australis VR.
Gaze dynamics analyses the natural relationship between eye and head movements in the user’s workspace, providing a detailed understanding of how individuals interact with their environment.
This data is then combined with advanced lens design to create a personalised solution that adapts to the patient’s unique visual needs. By tailoring the lens to specific workspace setups and movement patterns, the Australis VR Office lens ensures unparalleled comfort, reduces digital eye strain, and offers a superior, bespoke visual experience.
Contact: CR Labs (AUS) 03 8795 9111
HOYA Occupational Lenses
Offer your patients a comprehensive visual solution with lenses tailored to any activity throughout their day.
HOYA’s occupational lens range offers enhanced visual clarity and comfort for spectacle wearers. Designed to meet the demands of modern lifestyles, where people spend more time indoors and on digital devices at home and work, the range includes the Hoyalux iD WorkStyle 3, Hoyalux WorkStyle Business, Hoyalux WorkSmart Room, and Supereader.
Access a variety of options to cater to the individual needs of your patients. Each lens will be uniquely crafted to support their near and intermediate vision, making tasks easier and more comfortable. HOYA ensures there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, delivering personalised vision solutions for every wearer.
Contact: HOYA Account Manager
Contact Lenses for the Workplace
J&J Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day
The Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day family of contact lenses is Johnson and Johnson’s latest contact lens innovation with a combination of new technologies that provide ‘Max comfort, Max clarity’. The lenses are built with TearStable technology to maximise tear-film stability and lock in moisture for exceptional all-day comfort,1 while an OptiBlue light filter with the highest level blue-violet light filter in the industry at 60%, helps reduce light scatter and increase visual clarity, day and night.2
Additionally, Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day lenses block 99.9% of UVA rays and 100% of UVB rays.3,4
Contact: Johnson and Johnson (AUS) 1800 736 912 or (NZ) 0800 466 173
References
- JJV Data on File, 2022. CSM subjective responses Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day contact lenses, retrospective meta-analysis.
- JJV Data on file 2022. TearStable technology definition.
- JJV Data on file 2022. Material properties: 1-Day Acuvue Moist, 1-Day Acuvue Trueye, Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with Hydraluxe technology and Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day with TearStable technology brand contact lenses.
- JJV Data on file 2022: Master brand claims on clinical performance and overall material properties for Acuvue brand soft contact lenses.
B+L Ultra One Day Si-Hy
Whether patients are working from their home, office or outside, Bausch and Lomb’s Ultra One Day Si-Hy daily disposable contact lenses provide maximum comfort with 96% moisture retention for up to 16 hours of wear time.
Boasting a water content of 55% and oxygen transmissibility of 134 Dk/t, optometrists can take comfort in the knowledge these premium lenses will last the working day and beyond.
Bausch and Lomb Ultra One Day SVS lenses also feature high-definition optics, delivering clearer vision and eliminating spherical aberrations. Go beyond, with Bausch and Lomb’s Ultra One Day daily disposable Sphere, the most complete lens. Also available is Bausch and Lomb’s Ultra One Day daily disposable multifocal, the most progressive lens with three technologies.
Contact: Bausch and Lomb (AUS) 1800 251 150
CooperVision Biofinity Energys
Contact lens wearers’ lives and eyes are constantly moving between on-screen and off-screen activities. They need innovative lenses that help their eyes feel less tired, while seamlessly shifting focus from their digital devices to their everyday activities and back.
CooperVision’s Biofinity Energys is the world’s only contact lens with Digital Zone Optics lens design. It is ideal for:
- All existing and potential wearers of spherical monthly and two-weekly lenses,
- Patients who are highly connected to their smartphone, and
- Patients who spend a large part of their day looking at a computer screen.
Contact: CooperVision Account Manager (AUS) 1800 655 480 or (NZ) 0800 606 060
