Office dry eye sufferers: Your wishlist for a moisture chamber?

[Rebecca Petris]

This is to all of you who have difficulty with dry eye in a work environment, whether generally, or during computer use.

If you could have the perfect eyewear product to retain moisture and protect the eyes at work, what would it be like? Or, what are the most important considerations as far as you're concerned?

[kitty]

They would need to look like regular glasses (I am so vain!) and be adaptable for prescriptions including bifocals. They would also need to be less than $300.00 and preferably covered by medical insurance.

[Natalie06]

I'm with Kitty on this one

They need to look good. As someone who has regular meetings with outside vendors and senior management, I need a professional image and I want a pair of glasses that I can wear for more than just in front of the computer. A great looking pair could also solve the travel issues, AC issues in stores or just the everyday stuff and so I don't have to juggle and keep track of two or three pair of glasses just trying to get through my day.

Also, they need bows that can stand up to the constant off/on again required when you are using eyedrops every hour or so. I am constantly having to go the optician to get my eyeglasses tightened.

Natalie

[stella]

Please Rebecca remember those of us who always wear glasses and want something over them that does'nt make you look like an insect with huge eyes

[Terri]

Appearance and comfort are essential

I'll add my support to all of the above. I tried on Panoptx glasses and loved the way the Diablos fit. However, they made me look like Buddy Holly or the Verizon Test Guy, so that rules them out for office use. I might still buy a pair to wear outside or in more casual settings, like shopping.

So, for me, appearance means a range of frame styles and colors that you would wear indoors (like tortoise shell) and a close fit to the face to minimize the thickness of the eye pad. Other things might be possible for minimizing the appearance of the eye pad, like using transparent materials or different colors.

Comfort boils down to eyeglass fit and the feel of the eye pad material. This is one of the big differences between the Wiley-Xs and Panoptx glasses. The Panoptx eye pad is softer and more comfortable (in my opinion), and I imagine that makes a difference over a full day's wear.

[dzzyname]

I don't think it could be said enough that they would need to look like regualr glassess and offer the ability to be prescription glassess. Its not just about sitting in front of the computer, but about being in front of customers and colleagues, as well as just being in the outdoors doing the day to day choirs. With all that being said, they need to still function as a moisture chamber.

[20/20_Hindsight]

I think being light weight is also important. I currently wear Panoptx with reading prescription for 10 hours a day on the computer for work. By the end of the day, I have deep indentations on my cheeks from the foam/weight of the lenses.

The indentations take hours to go away after goggle removal, not a pretty sight either...

[Lucy]

Like 20/20 my Panoptx are heavy. They rest on my cheekbones and after wearing for any length of time, they feel like I'm wearing cement glasses (with the indentations.)

[Silverlady]

fit, cost, prescription ability,

I think I'd settle for fit, cost and being able to get prescription lens. I wish they looked like regular glasses, but at home I'd settle for whatever I could get. As the moderator of a forum for Sjogren's and a professional jewelry designer, I wear glasses in public and spend hours in front of a computer at home. It would just be nice to have a regular pair of glasses that retained the moisture and had my prescription in them. I have three pair of glasses I'm trying to juggle.

Not a whole lot to ask...

Billye

[dianat]

I've always been intrigued by jewelery designers! I was in a local jewelery store today to get a battery in my watch. The store was so hot and dry I nearly ran out of there...

D

[dryeyes2]

my preferences

For the office, I would like normal looking glasses that are lightweight and are able to take a very strong prescription (-13.00) and a bifocal (they would be high index lenses).I would prefer a reasonable price and I think that medical insurance (not vision) should pick up the cost since they would be for a medical condition. If they were ugly or very conspicuous, I would have a hard time wearing them because I would be self-conscience. Have a high prescription already looks a little odd as it is. If they were for home, I would not be as concerned because they would be better than wearing uncomfortable safety goggles cutting into my nose and cheeks. Having both dry eye and a high prescription is like a double whammy and it is hard to get something that looks decent or that actually works well now for the dry eye problem.

It would be fabulous to have something to wear when I go to stores so I don't have to wear my sunglasses all the time, including in the evening. It is embarrassing.

Thanks.
dryeyes2

[Rebecca Petris]

Thanks everybody for the input thus far. Keep 'em coming!! And please be as specific as you can.

There are two outfits in late stage development of products for this type of use and I know of two others who are in early stages (design concepts). The more guidance we can give them, the better.

[sai1930]

I dont know if any kind of MoistureChamber glasses could be made to appear normal. They are just different..
Well since this post is just about wishing, here's mine..
A motorcycle goggle, but instead of the bulky plastic frame, a very sleek translucent titanum frame.
(Come to think of it, why do Motorcycle goggles have such thick & dark frames. Hmm...)

[calli66]

I agree. Part of the aesthetic problem is the dark colored frames and black foam lining. When you put a sunglass lens in it, it looks OK, but when you put in a clear lens, the effect looks like Raccoon Eyes because of the contrast.

I like your idea about a sleek frame. The Motorcycle Look and the Military Look are holdovers from the original designs aimed at specific markets. I hope the new Moisture Chamber designs are aimed specifically for dry eye with our need for appearance taken into consideration.

The regular over-the-counter fit-overs without foam are getting much better in their design---they resemble fashion sunglasses. Now, IF the same frame styles were available in a clear lens at a reasonable price, that would be good--then they could be worn indoors.

I know the commercial fit-overs don't block air or retain moisture because they don't fit close enough to the face. I have wanted to experiment with these by adding thin foam strips (press-on foam) to the frame flanges, letting the foam extend out farther that the plastic to close that air gap from frame to face. Haven't done it yet.

Calli

[dryeyes2]

another thought

Unless the goggles have a flat base curve, they would not work for someone with a strong presription. That is why lean towards glasses. Also, goggles although they block more air, they are not as comfortable as glasses.