Spending hours staring at a computer can cause eye fatigue, which can come along with blurred vision and headaches. For this reason, computer glasses are a much-needed tool for people who spend a lot of time in front of a screen. But, some wonder if computer glasses include any magnification. 

Computer glasses include magnification to help combat headaches and eyestrain by letting your eyes focus on a shorter distance. You should choose computer glasses with approximately half your usual reading power magnification.

Below, we’ll discuss magnification in computer glasses. Keep reading to find the best option for your eyes! 

Do Computer Glasses Have Magnification? 

Computer glasses generally have 60% of the magnification that reading glasses do. 

However, this can be adjusted according to your needs. 

You may need more or less power depending on how long you use your device and how far or close you sit to it. 

There are also computer glasses available with trifocal and progressive lenses.  

What Are Computer Glasses?

Digital Eye Strain, or Computer Vision Syndrome, can be an annoying and painful side effect of working on a computer for long periods of time. 

CVS is a temporary vision condition caused by staring at a digital screen for long periods. 

Luckily, most people have luck alleviating this condition by wearing computer glasses

Computer glasses have an anti-reflective coating and magnification to help reduce eye strain when looking at things on a computer. The glasses allow your eyes to focus at a different distance, relieving the strain on the muscles surrounding the eye. 

Your eyes are not made to focus on a set distance for an extended time.

The magnification in computer glasses allows your eyes to adjust to a closer distance, relieving eye strain. 

Eye strain can cause headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision, so reducing it is a must if you spend a lot of time looking at screens. 

What is the Difference Between Computer Glasses and Readers?

Computer glasses and reading glasses both have magnification to help you see things at a distance more easily. 

Most department stores and drug stores carry both computer glasses and reading glasses. In a department store, they are usually sold in or near the jewelry section

So, how do you know if you need computer glasses or readers

Computer Glasses

You need computer glasses if you spend a lot of time using any digital screen. This could be your computer, tablet, or even your phone

Most computer glasses have blue-light filtering and magnification that helps alleviate muscle strain from light from your devices. 

There are several symptoms that would let you know you need computer glasses. 

Some of the most common include:

  • Headaches
  • Blurry vision
  • Red or dry eyes
  • Tired or burning eyes
  • Double vision

While computer glasses are best for people who work on a computer all day, reading glasses are best for people who read a lot of physical documents or books.

Reading Glasses

Some people use reading glasses when reading a physical book or printed pages. These are usually held closer to your face than a digital device.


Several symptoms let you know that you may need reading glasses

Some of the most common include: 

  • Squinting
  • Blurry vision
  • Headaches
  • Holding books or print further away while reading 
  • Needing more light when you try to read

If you suffer from any of these things, reading glasses may help relieve them. 

Should We Be Concerned About Blue Light?

Blue light is on the lower end of the light spectrum. 

Since the lower end of this spectrum has the shortest wavelength, blue light puts out more energy than other types of light. 

This extra energy from blue light can cause unnatural overexposure. This may cause dizziness, eye strain, and headaches, which can be concerning. However, natural exposure to blue light does not have these side effects. 

Natural exposure to blue light comes from the sun, where normal sunglasses work fine. 

In Conclusion

Most of us spend an exorbitant amount of time on our computers or other devices in this digital age. 

All of this screen exposure can lead to eye strain. Eye strain can cause headaches, blurry or double vision, and dry eyes.

Computer glasses can help alleviate all of these symptoms with magnification. 

In addition to blue light filtering, these glasses include magnification to allow your eyes to focus on a shorter distance, relieving eye muscle strain.