Article 009 - Short-Sighted & Ageing at the Workbench: Computer Varifocals (progressives)
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- Published: Thursday, 15 October 2026
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Short-Sighted & Ageing at the Workbench: Computer Varifocals (progressives)
1. Introduction
I've been short-sighted most of my life, and I'm now just past 60. For years I did what most myopic engineers do at the bench: whip the glasses off and get my nose down to the board. It worked well, until it didn't.
This article explains what changed, what I use now, and what other electronics people said when I raised the subject in a thread on the EEVblog forum.
2. The Short-Sighted "Advantage" Runs Out
As we age, the eye's lens stiffens and we lose the ability to focus close up (presbyopia). Short-sighted people get a head start here, because our uncorrected eyes are already focused close. So while friends with normal eyesight start struggling to read small print, we can still manage without help. Eventually, though, most of us run into trouble too. The catch is that our close focus becomes fixed at a single distance.
For me (over 60), glasses-off focus sits at roughly 33–40 cm. That's fine for reading, but too far for fine-pitch SMD work. To get closer I was having to put on +1.0 or more recently +1.5 reading glasses, so I was swapping glasses anyway.
↓
GLASSES OFF FOR THE BENCH
↓
READERS ON FOR FINE SMD WORK
↓
REPEAT ALL DAY…
3. My Solution: Computer Varifocals
My prescription
| Eye | Sphere | Cylinder |
|---|---|---|
| Right | -1.75 | -0.25 |
| Left | -2.50 | -0.25 |
| Near add | +3.00 | |
| Intermediate add | +2.00 | |
How the zones work
Ordinary varifocals run from distance at the top to reading at the bottom. My computer (or "occupational") varifocals drop the distance zone completely and use the whole lens for indoor working distances.
| Lens zone | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Upper, about 60 cm | Sharp on the monitor, scope screen and bench instruments. |
| Lower, about 25 cm | Extra power for soldering, inspection and reading component markings. |
The result is one pair of glasses that covers everything on the bench. I look up at the screen and down at the board without taking anything off or putting anything on.
When I ordered these varifocals I specifically asked about getting better near vision. So, looking through the bottom of the lens, I can see fine detail better than with my glasses off. Glasses off, the closest I can focus is about 33–40 cm. The extra plus power in the lower zone lets me focus sharply at about 25 cm. Because the board is that much closer, everything looks bigger, a bit like built-in magnification. Tiny SMD parts and their markings are clearer than I can get with bare eyes.
The downsides
- Blurred edges. Like all varifocals, the clear area narrows toward the sides. You learn to turn your head instead of your eyes.
- Not for walking about. There's no distance zone, and my pair has a little distortion, so I keep them for the workshop and desk. I have a separate pair of normal varifocals for TV and everyday use.
- Frame size matters. A larger frame and a lens design with a wider clear zone make a real difference.
4. What Other Engineers Said
The forum thread drew a good range of experiences, and it's clear there's no single right answer.
Separate single-vision pairs
Several people dislike the "tunnel" of progressives. They keep dedicated driving, computer and reading glasses, sometimes colour-coded so they can tell them apart. Cheap online glasses and drugstore readers keep the cost down.
Glasses off plus magnification
Some still remove their glasses for close work and use a magnifier lamp, a loupe or a stereo microscope for fine detail.
All-day varifocals
Long-term wearers say premium lens designs (HOYA and Varilux were named) distort less. A careful fitting and starting with a low add make adapting much easier, and varifocals avoid the hard image jump of old-style bifocals.
Not everyone adapts
A few people find the zone transitions cause dizziness or nausea, or that the reading zone is too narrow for bench work.
Bifocals and stairs
The trip hazard from a magnifying lower segment mainly affects long-sighted wearers. For short-sighted wearers, the lower segment just looks blurry.
Cataract surgery
If it's in your future, think about the target focus. Some chose close focus for both eyes and wear glasses to drive, while others go for distance or a mix.
The optician matters. Experiences with high-street chains varied. A good independent optician who listens to how you actually work is worth finding. My own pair came from Duncan and Todd.
5. My Advice
If you're short-sighted, past 50, and juggling glasses at the bench, ask your optometrist about computer or occupational varifocals.
- Say clearly that you want a true near zone at the bottom for close work at about 25 cm, not just a single-distance "computer lens".
- Measure your real working distances (eye to monitor, eye to PCB) before you go, and take those numbers with you.
- Choose a reasonably large frame and ask about lens designs with a wide clear zone.
For me, they were a game changer.
Remember, nobody escapes the stiffening lens. Your prescription can only change how much you notice it and when.
This is my own experience. Get your eyes tested and take professional advice.
Read the full discussion on the EEVblog forum: Short-sighted and aging? Why my computer varifocals beat taking my glasses off
