IcareLabs Blog

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Occupational/Office Lenses

In this video, James Stephany reviews the various occupational/office lenses. These lenses are a great option for both patients working in a busy, fast-paced work environment as well as those who use a lot of digital devices (e.g. cell phones, tablets, laptops) in their normal daily routines.

Keeping up with the latest trends in optical sales can be tricky. Should you continue to focus on baby boomers, who as recently as 2015 were responsible for as much as half the revenue of retailers? What about the nation’s 77 million millennials? Should you focus your attention on their optical needs?

Well, if the trade magazines and advertisers are correct, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Everywhere you look, there are warnings about digital eye strain, articles on the dangers of high-energy visible (HEV) light, and new product launches for lenses that protect us from such new threats.

And, it makes sense when you think about it. Today’s generation spends more time than ever exposing their eyes to all kinds of digital screens, in addition to sunlight exposure.

What is Digital Eye Strain?

Digital eye strain is the temporary discomfort that follows two or more hours of digital device use. Electronic devices like televisions, computers, smart phones and tablets can cause digital eye strain, especially when they are used simultaneously or when switching repeatedly from one device to another. Symptoms of digital eye strain include:

You probably get a lot of questions in your practice. Many questions come up about the different types of lenses. Many people are asking questions about the difference between bifocal and progressive lenses. If your patients are asking the same questions, here are some suggestions on how to answer that will help eliminate their confusion, and hopefully, provide you with some additional revenue. That’s a win-win!

First, let’s set the stage. Multifocal lenses typically address the needs of your middle-aged to older patients who are starting to feel the effects of aging. Many start to experience presbyopia, which is the gradual loss elasticity of the eyes and the resulting difficulty to focus on objects close up. This condition is very natural, but often annoying, and usually becomes noticeable in people in their early to mid-40s. It may continue to worsen until around age 65.

It’s at this point people need something more than a single vision lens in their prescription eyeglasses. They’re going to need additional magnification in part of the lens to help the eye focus on up-close objects.