Like their name suggests, close work lenses are best suited for those who perform their daily work tasks at approximately an arms length away from their head or closer, with the most common clients seeking close work lenses being office workers who want to feel less fatigued and strained at the end of their workday.

Our specialised close work lenses are also known as occupational lenses, being worn at the workplace to help reduce the incidence of problems like headaches, eye strain, dry eyes, light sensitivity, and even blurred vision over time. We like to think of occupational lenses as a great tool for your future eye health too, with reduced eye strain now best supporting your future eye health as well as your quality of life.

Occupational lenses are also a favourite among university and school students, who spend their time switching between their laptops, looking at textbooks, and communicating with peers nearby.

What Is The Difference Between Reading Glasses And Occupational Glasses?

Think of occupational (close work) lenses and glasses as a step up from reading glasses - they allow you to read at both close distances, and extend the range to intermediate distance too - up to an arm’s length away through the lower part of the lens, and a slightly further distance in the upper portion of the lens, depending on your specific lenses and glasses. Simply put, occupational lenses give you a bigger reading and working range, helping to reduce your eye strain notably throughout the day.

How Do I Know If I’m Straining My Eyes Throughout The Day?

Research shows that as little as 20 minutes of focusing on nearby objects like a screen can start to weaken our visual ability, placing a greater strain and demand on our eyes. While taking regular breaks is recommended to help combat this, this is not always possible, especially when working to deadlines or strict conditions.

Occupational Lenses Are For Hobbies, Too

Despite talking about ‘occupational’ and ‘close work’ lenses, the benefits of these lenses extend far beyond the work environment. If your hobbies or regular activities require significant time spent looking at screens, or paying attention to objects within a close distance (arms length) - even for activities like completing puzzles, then occupational lenses may help reduce your eye strain and improve your quality of life.

To learn more about whether close work occupational lenses could be right for you, contact our Queensland and New South Wales clinics by selecting your preferred location here.