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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Replying to
Bingo!! I got a regular pair and sunglasses from them 2 years ago and they felt really off, and gave me headaches. Turns out they were both the wrong prescriptions and apparently happens very often with WP!
I went back to Zeiss that has never failed me in 20+ years!
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Replying to
My previous glasses aren’t from warby parker… some online place. I don’t think the prescription or glasses are wrong. I just need computer distance as well.
The 3-zone WPs do work at computer distance, except the band is way too narrow to be usable.

