[mod]

My retired optometrist friend recommended that I wear reading glasses with a very low power at all times while using the computer, and I do that now. They're .75x or 1x, I can't remember. I don't need them--nothing is blurry without them--but they help your lenses to relax by doing some of their work at close distances.

The condition he wants me to avoid is called nearpoint stress, but sounds very similar to me (a layperson). It culminates in your eyes lenses becoming "stuck," unable to fully relax to focus properly on things at a distance. I guess the reason is that your cilliary muscles (that alter the shape of the lens) become overworked to the point of a spasm.

One symptom of that is looking up from your computer and objects being blurry for a few seconds, but then coming into focus.

[JustSomeNobody]

You have to be careful with OTC reading glasses. If your reading PD is much more narrow or wider than about 57mm, then you're introducing prism. At the powers you've mentioned, it _shouldn't_ be a problem, but higher powers can cause headaches and eye strain.

[stronglikedan]

I just wish local drugstores sold sub +1.00 reading glasses. I've only been able to find them online, so it becomes a game of buy +0.25, +0.50, and +0.75, and then go through the hassle of returning two of them (likely at a loss). Optometrists may carry them, but they're so much more expensive than anywhere else. Anyone know of a better solution to find the strength that's right for me?

[mod]

I found a pair at the dollar store once (+1).

My +0.75 pair I found walmart.

That said, I often find the same thing as you, that nobody sells them. It's very hit-and-miss, so I just check the racks frequently and see what turns up.

[crbelaus]

It's incredible how small is the Internet. Just today I went to my optometrist because I have problems focusing objets at a certain distance. Turns out that I had exactly the same diagnosis, and I was recommended to buy a 0.5 glasses and use them when I'm staring at the computer or tablet.

[mod]

You will notice a difference! If I am using the glasses for a while, then take them off and forget to put them back on, I can actually feel the difference.

Wearing them is really nice and when I do it all the time it prevents me from having any trouble focusing on objects at a distance, except for some specific things.

Looking through a scope on a rifle still causes the blurriness, perhaps because of its extreme closeness.

[bradstewart]

Exact same case here. I could barely drive after a long day on the computer because my eyes were "stuck" and everything far away was blurry.

I was prescribed .75x glasses with an anti-reflective coating (which I think is fairly standard), and the above problem is no longer.

[Lxr]

My optometrist prescribed exactly the same thing for the same reason. I sometimes have trouble seeing in the distance because of too much computer/phone use, and your explanation is spot on what he told me.