It seems likely, due to the dramatic increase in computer use
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| Computer Vision Syndrome |
in recent years, but the real reason is something your parents nagged you about.
Complaints of eye fatigue and discomfort are common during long term computer use. It even has a name - Computer Vision Syndrome – CVS. Symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, fatigue, dry eyes, and difficulty focusing.
It would make sense that the computer is the cause, however extensive testing has not produced evidence that computer monitors themselves harm your eyes. It seems how we use them is the problem. Your parents were right when they said “don’t sit too close to the TV” or “don’t read in the dark.” It seems that CVS is caused by forcing your eyes to focus on the screen for long periods. Since computer use is hard to avoid, we use glasses to solve the problem and glasses aren’t cheap.
While most people have health plans that cover the cost of prescription eyewear, glasses can still be expensive. The cost of replacing a broken or lost a pair, or having spare glasses for convenience or fashion can run into hundreds of dollars.
Last year I found that I was suffering from CVS and needed a pair of prescription glasses. At the time I thought they were a bit expensive, but didn’t realize there were other options for buying glasses. yhoti recently added GlassesUSA.com and I decided to compare prices. The same glasses were at least 60% cheaper – even with shipping.
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| The Virtual Mirror allows you to see how the frames look on you |
Price is one thing but how easy is it to buy glasses online?
At GlassesUSA it is very easy. They have built a website that leads you through the selection process step by step.
Step 1 is finding the right Frame.
They have hundreds of styles and choosing is fun. The Virtual Mirror allows you upload photo and “try them on”. You can email your favorites to friends and get their input.
A Virtual Optician is also available help you choose the right look.
Once you choose your frame the next steps are easy - just enter your prescription lens RX and make the purchase. International shipping is fast and they have free shipping in the US. They also have a 30 day return policy in case you have any issues.
Other features of the site are:
- Easy access to customer service, weekly specials
- Pricing in Canadian or US currency
- Incentives for referring friends
- A large selection of trendy sunglasses.
It’s worth visiting the site just to try the virtual mirror, and on top of the big savings you will get 10% Cash Rewards from yhoti.com.
For more info on why glasses are so expensive and how online glasses (at 70% off) compare, check out this episode of CBC's Marketplace. http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2012/framed/
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