Working in architecture, design, or another artistic field requires the ability to see clearly. Unfortunately, many artists struggle to find glasses that improve vision without getting in the way. If this sounds like you, buying new glasses can be a challenge. So how do you know which ones will work best for you?
In this article, I’ll explain how to find the best types of glasses for you.
Eyeglass Considerations for the Digital Age
Today, many artists work in a digital medium at least some of the time. Staring at AutoCAD, designing in Photoshop, and similar activities require lenses with good color accuracy. Avoid colored tints like amber or blue, which can affect how colors look. Most artists prefer clear, high-clarity lenses.
This precision in vision directly translates to the accuracy needed in architectural renderings, product mock-ups, and material selections, where even subtle color shifts can misrepresent a design’s intent or impact the final aesthetic of a built space.
However, anti-reflective coatings to reduce glare can also be helpful for anyone who spends a lot of time working on screens. You can easily add this to many prescription glasses, whether you’re buying in-store or online. For example, online eyewear retailer EZContacts offers anti-reflective coatings as an option for most prescription lenses.
Are Progressives Right for You?
This is a question to ask your vision healthcare provider. Some artists may benefit from computer-focused progressives, also called “office” glasses. These lenses are designed for people who frequently switch between intermediate-distance tasks, such as working with one or more computer monitors, and near work, such as using a tablet or sketchbook.
Be sure to tell your eye doctor if you’re experiencing any new vision problems, such as difficulty seeing your sketchbook or computer screen clearly, or if you frequently find yourself looking over the top of your glasses to see things.
Make Sure Your Prescription Is Current
Although it’s possible to go years without needing a new prescription, your eyes can change at any time, especially as you get older. This is why most ophthalmologists recommend an exam every one to two years, or more frequently, depending on your medical history.
You May Need More Than One Pair
Trying to make one pair of glasses handle every situation isn’t always the best way to do it.
For example, an artist might use:
Everyday progressives: For general activities, including distance, intermediate, and near vision.
Computer or office glasses: For long creative sessions at a monitor.
Reading glasses: For tasks that require very close vision. Get tips for choosing the right reading glasses strength in this guide.
Having a dedicated pair for your primary workspace can make sense if your everyday glasses aren’t optimized for the distances you use most often. Occupational lenses are specifically designed around close and intermediate tasks.
Optimizing vision tools for specific tasks is an extension of good ergonomic design, ensuring that a studio or home office setup supports sustained focus and comfort, much like selecting the right desk, chair, or lighting for a productive design environment.
Slipping or Uncomfortable Glasses
Even the right pair of prescription glasses may not work well if they don’t fit properly. I’ve seen a lot of people get new glasses, find them a little loose, and just decide they have to deal with it. Then they were constantly adjusting their glasses or pushing them back up on the nose while trying to work.
Some people also found their new glasses to be a little tight. They may take their glasses off to rub their noses or their temples, but that only helped temporarily.
Fortunately, you may be able to fix these fit problems by making adjustments with an eyeglass toolkit. An optician can make a professional adjustment if the do-it-yourself options don’t work.
In some situations, you may need a different size or style of eyeglasses. For example, some find that eyeglass designs with a high, curved bridge are more comfortable than narrow nose bridges. Others may find that low bridges work better. Discover if low bridge fit glasses are right for you in this article.
Some people also say that their glasses never fit right until they tried a different eyeglass size. Learning what the size numbers mean can really help you find the best fit.
FAQs
Will blue light glasses reduce my eye strain from staring at designs all day?
There are claims that blue light glasses help with eye strain, so I did some research. Unfortunately, I found out there is no evidence that blue light glasses help prevent or relieve eye strain. But there are a few things you can do:
- Take frequent breaks. Have you heard of the 20-20-20 rule? Every 20 minutes, you stop looking at your screen, focus on something 20 feet away, and stare at that for a full 20 seconds.
- Use moisturizing drops if you have frequent dry eyes, as dryness can make the feeling of eye strain worse for some people.
I’ve heard that I can loosen the temples of my glasses by heating them up with a blow dryer and bending them outward. Is that true?
It can work, but proceed with caution. Gently warming plastic temples can make them more flexible, allowing you to carefully bend them outward. However, too much heat can damage the frame. Bending the temples too far can leave your glasses feeling loose or fitting unevenly.
Warming them also only works on plastic frames. Metal frames can be bent outward, but again, you have to be careful not to bend them too far.
Because it’s easy to over-adjust a frame or damage it, consider having an optician make the adjustment for you instead.
