Strength
Computer reading glasses strength
A screen sits farther away than a book, so it needs less magnification.
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The short answer
For a single-distance pair, a computer screen needs less magnification than a book. If you read at about 20 inches, a monitor 25 to 30 inches away needs about three quarters of your reading power, so someone who reads at +2.00 would use about +1.50 for the monitor. For EV lenses, order your full reading power. The lens holds it at the bottom and eases it down to screen distance as you look up.
By distance
Strength by screen distance
The rule of thumb: double the distance, roughly half the power. These figures assume your reading power is set for about 20 inches and round to the nearest quarter.
| What you’re looking at | Distance | If you read at +1.50 | If you read at +2.00 | If you read at +2.50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone or book | About 20 in | +1.50 | +2.00 | +2.50 |
| Laptop | 22 to 24 in | +1.25 | +1.75 | +2.00 to +2.25 |
| Desktop monitor | 25 to 30 in | +1.00 to +1.25 | +1.25 to +1.50 | +1.75 to +2.00 |
| Across the desk | About 6 ft | +0.50 | +0.50 | +0.75 |
EV lenses
Order your reading power
With EV6™ you don’t choose a computer power. Order the number you’d use to read a book or your phone. That full power sits at the bottom of the lens, where your eyes go for the phone. As you look up toward a monitor two to three feet away, the power eases off, to about half by three feet and about a quarter by six feet.
So one lens holds the phone, the screen and the person across the desk. Which power to order draws the same lens out.
Three ranges
Where each lens is sharp
EV6
18 inches to 6 feet
It covers your phone, keyboard, monitor and the person across the desk. It stops at six feet, so it has the widest corridor we make.
About EV6EV20
20 inches to 20 feet
It reaches from a book in your lap to the far side of the room, for moving around the house or the office.
About EV20EVinfinity
Near vision and all the way out
It has reading power at the bottom and clear distance through the top, for driving and time outdoors. Its corridor is narrower than EV6’s, closer to a standard progressive.
About EVinfinityEV6 Readers
Find your EV6 Reader
Customer reviews
What customers say
“Great glasses…yet again”
This is my fourth pair from Lens and Frame and their EV Readers are amazing. Highly recommend this company.
“Perfect!”
These are something that you really don’t know how much you need, until you’re wearing them. They’re a game changer for me!
“customer service”
maybe one of the best customer focus companies around. very responsive, very polite, and great communication. i'd give 6 stars if i could
“Best progressives EVER”
I’ve bought progressives from just about every company, but they were all so difficult to use. Lens & Frames are high quality and provide clear and perfect vision at every single level. I can see perfectly even while dri…
“LOVE”
These readers have changed my work life! I recently started a desk job and had to find something ASAP for my close up vision. I wanted something that was great quality and that I could use my HSA for and these are it! Th…
“One pair isn't enough...”
Quality frames and good vision. I'm about 90% happy with my vision when I used my new glasses for reading and computer. I say 90% because the 'reading power' I selected from from a pair of basic drug store readers and mi…
How it works
From your order to your desk
Pick a frame and a range
Each range comes in 35 frames from L&F, Ombraz, RAEN and STATE Optical.
Order your reading power
The power you’d use to read a book, from +1.00 to +2.75. Add your PD, which you can measure at home in about a minute.
We make them in about two weeks
We digitally surface, coat and edge the lenses in California. Shipping is free and takes about three days.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What strength reading glasses do I need for a computer?
For a single-distance pair, about three quarters of your reading power for a monitor at 25 to 30 inches: +1.50 if you read at +2.00. For EV6, order your full reading power.
Why are my reading glasses blurry at the computer?
Reading glasses focus at about 20 inches. A monitor usually sits farther out. A lens with less power, or a multifocal lens such as EV6, brings the screen into focus.
Should computer glasses be weaker than reading glasses?
Single-distance computer glasses, yes. A multifocal lens such as EV6 is ordered at full reading power because the lens itself gets weaker toward the top.
What does +2.00 mean?
It’s the lens power in diopters. A +2.00 lens focuses at about half a meter, roughly 20 inches. Higher numbers focus closer.
Do I need a prescription?
No. You order a reading power from +1.00 to +2.75 in quarter steps, the same way you’d choose a pair of readers. If you already wear prescription glasses, EV6 and EV20™ can be made to your prescription with the Custom Rx option.
What if they aren’t right for me?
You have 30 days from delivery to return them for a full refund, with a prepaid label. Within 60 days we’ll remake the lenses at no charge if the power or measurements need adjusting, or exchange them for a different frame style, color or lens option. Start any of these through the contact form.
EV6
Order the power you read at. It eases off toward the top of the lens for your screen.
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