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Finally figured out I need a third pair of glasses. My reading prescription is now strong enough (+2.25) that while reading books at 16” or so is comfortable with reading rx, the computer screen of my laptop or monitor (20” to 30” depending on how I’m positioned) is high strain
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Interestingly enough, the iPad Pro with magic keyboard is now more comfortable to use with my reading glasses than my big screen MBP 16” because the smaller overall footprint means it’s positioned closer to 16-17 inches (which is the natural distance for a +2.25)
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I neglected updating my prescription for 18 months and the previous one was a small enough change I didn’t update that either, so I was basically wearing my 30 month old prescription with +1.5 reading. Which as it happened was actually appropriate for laptop.
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So I had sort of aged my reading rx into my computer rx… and working comfortably in a nice armchair with the laptop screen nearly 30” away. But using my iPad had been getting harder, and reading books had been getting more uncomfortable.
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But a too weak rx is easier to cope with for reading books (just hold it further out) than a too strong prescription for a computer (holding a laptop closer in is mechanically awkward, esp for a larger computer), and there’s a tradeoff with typing ergonomics: scrunched up arms.
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This is… annoying, but I now realize my ideal is probably computer+progressive (2 pairs) rather than reading+progressive. I’ll now have 3 pairs: progressive, reading, computer. Progressives are not great for computer because the intermediate focal length band is too narrow.
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At an appropriate distance, only about half my laptop screen is in focus with progressives. So current choices without a third pair are: 1. Use reading, hold computer close 2. Use progressive, accept narrowed for 3. External monitor, positioned ~17-20” but can’t lean back at all
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Given I spend most time on a computer, the intermediate focal length is the most important. My distance rx is mild enough that I could probably sacrifice that entirely. If I had to have just one pair, it should be computer. Hold books further away, accept mild distance blur.
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This new rx has basically been making my life a bit hellish for the past 2 weeks. Neck and upper back strain, bad posture (wife noticed… I usually have good posture) and I thought maybe the rx was wrong. But it’s correct… I just need to break out the computer use case.
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The realization here is that computer use is a range from 20-30” distance, so corrections that just stretch to 20” are fragile because you can’t move without losing focus. You need an rx that’s in the middle of your range of use, with a few inches leeway either side.
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Tldr, I’ll only be using my laptop with the external monitor close in , or my iPad, until I get the new glasses. Memento mori.
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I ordered the single distance computer Warby Parker offers. I have a 3-zone progressive and 1-zone reading already… I guess we’ll see if I need progressives even for the laptop-to-desktop range. That would suck 😕
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Replying to @vgr
Are they progressive lenses? I have two sets of progressive lenses, one covers two zones for laptop and desktop distances/postures, the other one reading/cell phone and distance. it was disorienting at first but life's so much better now!
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