Health Tips - Eye Test Followup

Health Tips

Computer Glasses Followup

by Linda Dove

The Jury's Split

An article in the May/June Newsletter (New Eye Test for Computer Users) explored computer-related eye-strain and a new eye test specially designed for prescribing computer glasses. Several Guild members tried out the new PRIO™ glasses. Here's what they found.

Editor Ellen Rennell used to have "a great deal of dizziness and nausea when looking at a computer" but has found her PRIO glasses "quite good." She says, "They relax my eyes so I can spend more time working and I don't get the nausea. I recommend them." Ellen even lent them to her sister when she didn't need them and they helped her so much she's getting her own pair. Ellen explained, "I wasn't wearing glasses before so there was an extreme difference for me."

On the other hand, assistant Liza McDonald says, "I'm afraid my experience with the PRIO glasses was not a good one. They gave me migraines. I really tried. People kept saying 'Your eyes'll get used to them after about a week' and I never made it to a week because I just couldn't stand the pain. I'm not sure if I got the wrong prescription or what, but they were not a happy experience for me." She will be revisiting her optometrist when she gets back from location.

Editor Pam Wise splurged on some Armani frames and an anti-reflection coating that weren't covered by her insurance, making her PRIO glasses rather expensive. And she can't tell the difference whether she's wearing them or not!

Sound editor Dave Whittaker says it took a while to get use to the new glasses but now his eyes "holler out for them first thing every day". He does point out one important consideration with glasses specially designed for helping you focus on a screen two feet or so from your face - "If someone comes in the room I do what old guys do - push the glasses down my nose to look over them."

Whether glasses dedicated to computer monitor viewing would be a good idea for you depends on several questions: have you got the right prescription, how are you going to pay for them, and how much time do you spend intensively looking at the screen and how much do you look at the keyboard/notes on the wall/people in the room. Can you arrange to have the main elements of your workspace, telephone, script or whatever, the same distance from you as the screen? Will you mind peering over your glasses when people enter your room, and taking them off whenever you leave the computer? Those problems may be a small price to pay for seeing a crisp, clear image on your monitor and saying goodbye to eyestrain.

Reprinted from
The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter
Vol. 17, No. 5 - Nov/Dec 1996

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Copyright © 1996, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776


	*Health Tips* Computer Glasses Followup by Linda Dove
	The Jury's Split	An article in the May/June Newsletter (New Eye Test for Computer Users) explored computer-related eye-strain and a new eye test specially designed for prescribing computer glasses. Several Guild members tried out the new PRIO™ glasses. Here's what they found. Editor Ellen Rennell used to have "a great deal of dizziness and nausea when looking at a computer" but has found her PRIO glasses "quite good." She says, "They relax my eyes so I can spend more time working and I don't get the nausea. I recommend them." Ellen even lent them to her sister when she didn't need them and they helped her so much she's getting her own pair. Ellen explained, "I wasn't wearing glasses before so there was an extreme difference for me." On the other hand, assistant Liza McDonald says, "I'm afraid my experience with the PRIO glasses was not a good one. They gave me migraines. I really tried. People kept saying 'Your eyes'll get used to them after about a week' and I never made it to a week because I just couldn't stand the pain. I'm not sure if I got the wrong prescription or what, but they were not a happy experience for me." She will be revisiting her optometrist when she gets back from location. Editor Pam Wise splurged on some Armani frames and an anti-reflection coating that weren't covered by her insurance, making her PRIO glasses rather expensive. And she can't tell the difference whether she's wearing them or not! Sound editor Dave Whittaker says it took a while to get use to the new glasses but now his eyes "holler out for them first thing every day". He does point out one important consideration with glasses specially designed for helping you focus on a screen two feet or so from your face - "If someone comes in the room I do what old guys do - push the glasses down my nose to look over them." Whether glasses dedicated to computer monitor viewing would be a good idea for you depends on several questions: have you got the right prescription, how are you going to pay for them, and how much time do you spend intensively looking at the screen and how much do you look at the keyboard/notes on the wall/people in the room. Can you arrange to have the main elements of your workspace, telephone, script or whatever, the same distance from you as the screen? Will you mind peering over your glasses when people enter your room, and taking them off whenever you leave the computer? Those problems may be a small price to pay for seeing a crisp, clear image on your monitor and saying goodbye to eyestrain.
	Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter Vol. 17, No. 5 - Nov/Dec 1996 Guild Home \| Newsletter Home \| Top of Page Copyright © 1996, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776