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.

WRITER Alycia Coupe

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 workrelated 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 bluelight 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 prepresbyope 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 in the following pages 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
1. Howarth J. Alarming average screen time statistics (2024). Available at: explodingtopics.com/blog/screentime-stats [accessed Dec 2024].