The Right Glasses At the Computer Workstation: Which is the Right One?

The decision is made, a pair of glasses for VDU work is to get. But which ones to choose? Before going to the optician help some tips on what to consider when buying VDU workplace glasses so. The Kuratorium Gutes Sehen (KGS) has compiled some suggestions – the final word should have the optician of confidence.

What to pay attention to?

The first look when buying VDU workplace glasses goes to the frame. “Here there are almost no restrictions – except for that of the frame size,” reports Kerstin Kruschinski of the Kuratorium Gutes Sehen. VDU workplace glasses have special lenses that are cut in a similar way to progressive lenses.

Therefore, just like progressive lenses, VDT glasses require a certain lens height to accommodate the different visual zones – a guideline is at least 30 millimeters. “In short, the tiny John Lennon frame is not suitable. Mini glasses are simply too small for the different visual zones for different viewing distances. Apart from that, what pleases is allowed,” Kruschinski sums it up.

The fact that the eyeglass frame should be as light as possible, comfortable to wear and optimally adapted to the personal face shape applies not only to VDU workstation glasses, but in general. “Spring hinges and flexible temple materials contribute significantly to wearing comfort and thus to relaxed vision and work,” says Kruschinski.

VDU glasses: glass or plastic lenses?

When it comes to lenses, the options for variation are also lush. Each lens manufacturer has its own process for optimally fitting VDT lenses. Michael Oswald of glass specialist Essilor reports, “Which lens you personally get along best with varies from person to person. As with progressive lenses, it can take a few days in individual cases for the visual sense to adjust to the new glasses. As a rule, however, VDU glasses are even better tolerated than varifocals”.

Lenses made of plastic are particularly recommended. They weigh considerably less than lenses made of mineral glass. The problems sometimes attributed to plastic lenses in terms of scratch sensitivity are now a thing of the past. Today, mineral glass is really only a tolerable alternative in exceptional cases in extremely dusty or dirty working environments, such as in an office container on a construction site or at the control station of a production plant.

When it comes to additional equipment and coatings, experts recommend anti-reflective lenses, which can really show their strengths in office environments with numerous different light sources. Whether you want to add a 12- to 15-percent tint to increase contrast is a matter of taste: some like it, others don’t. The optician usually has sample lenses with different tints, so the choice is easier.

Tips for VDU glasses

  • VDU workplace glasses, like varifocals, require a certain lens height to accommodate the different visual zones – a guideline is at least 30 millimeters.
  • Spring hinges and lightweight, flexible temple materials contribute significantly to wearing comfort and thus to relaxed vision and work.
  • As a rule, computer workstation glasses are even better tolerated than progressive glasses.
  • Experts advise anti-reflective lenses, which can play their strengths especially in office environments with numerous different light sources.