Computer Desk is a Pain in the Neck

I once had my eye Dr make a pair of trifocals that worked quite well, but my eyes & glasses prices changed...... Now that I'm older, I just take glasses off when surfing etc.. A neck string would help avoiding misplacing (or sitting on) them ! ! !.. Hope this helps...

What's causing the glare? Do you have a reading lamp on top of the glass pane?

If so, maybe you could mount a mirror on a flexible arm pointing down toward the monitor and use the light from the monitor itself to light up your keyboard, papers, etc.

Maybe a backlit keyboard?

I'm in a office with floresent lights in the ceiling. I can see the light fixtures perfect in the glass. that's why I think blocking the light would work better than anything else.

I've been in that situation before, and, at least as a temporary solution, I simply put a fairly big piece of plywood on top of the monitor, cantilevered out towards me, and with weights on the back to provide a counterbalance. (Maybe cantilevered isn't the right word (I'm an EE), but I think you get the idea.)

A little bit off the point, but I use to have a lot of neck trouble also, with trifocals (with oversize middle distance area intended for use at 25" or so--I keep a good distance between me and my monitor). But, one thing that helped me a lot was moving the--what do you call it--the tool bar(?) from the bottom of the monitor to the top.

IIRC, when I left Windows (still using Win95 at the time), I don't think I had that option. Switching to Linux gave me that option and helped my neck a whole lot. I'm pretty sure Windows by now has a similar option--in fact, I'm sure it does.

With the tool bar at the bottom I used to spend a lot of time looking at the bottom of the screen. Now I don't.

Your right about the louver idea !! That's along the same lines as the hood I was thinking about. I even looked at a car parts catalog to see if they sold a hood scoop that I could use. Mine would need to be 12" tall and cover 12" of the glass to block all of the glare.

Agreed. You could get something like this that folds up, so that you could still use your office as an office if needed.

If I were to go that far, I would let the umbrella in my drink to the job.

If worse comes to worse, buy some cheap clip on sunglasses to mount on your current glasses. Also, get yourself a , non glare pad to lay on the glass. You can still write what ever you need as they are firm enough. My dad years ago had one on his writing desk to eliminate glare, and to keep his pen from hitting a small hole in the wood, that would tear his writing paper.On my Mack, I can change the brightness of the screen, which also helps my eye strain.My Mack also has a screen that is moveable. I can tilt it up or down, and this helps a lot.I also use glasses that are the same power as my regular glasses,and they work very well even when looking down at the bottom of the screen.No bi-focsals to look through.I bought these at the dollar store, for a dollar.I no longer have neck aches anymore. I too have had my back and neck broken, and they did not heal well.You may want to place a small thin book or wood under your monitor to get that optium height to suit you. This is not a big problem, you just have to do what suits you. To heck with what co-workers think.They don`t sign your pay check.Do what you gotta do to be comfortable for a eight hour job.I`m retired, and I spend my time on ham radio, which involves using my computer to run software programs for up to 16 hours a day with out any ill effects. Before I was lucky to do 3 hours. Good luck, I know you can do this, I did. Bob KC0VEA

If the glare is being caused by an overhead light, you could turn that off and use a lamp.

If the glare is being caused by a window, close the shade.

When I get to work early, I don't have on any overhead lights. I have a light on that is in back of the monitor.

Just a few ideas that you may have already tried.

Good Luck.

I, as an electrician have been asked for, and have obliged the requests of people's work stations in removing and replacing tubes and ballasts, and even relocating the entire fixtures one or two rows to one side or the other in T-bar ceiling tile office situations.

It turns out to be, however, to end up to the individuals' personal likes or dislikes regarding how they prefer to have the direct or indirect overhead lighting affecting their personal working environment.

Hey, it was no skin off from my a$$ if they wanted less, or more overhead lighting, as I was paid by the hour, and we always carried extra T-8 and T-5 tubes and ballasts as well as replacement ceiling tiles in stock.

What it basically came came down to; reducing it to the basic level, was an ongoing contest on who was able to complain and whine to their immediate supervisor the loudest and most often about their unbearable and uncomfortable work related conditions.

I suppose that it was only their little outlet cry (primal scream), about that individuals' impoverishment regarding their harsh working environment situation, as well as a small sense of empowerment as to how they may be able to directly affect their immediate working location.

Note; A whole lot of people were moving from one location to another location a whole lot - in and out all the time - and every one wanted his or her overhead lighting just right, their temperature just right, as well as their receptacle outlets and phone jacks and computer hookups to their preference as to how they decided to orient their desks within their cages confines.

Hey, I didn't care a U know what - I'm being paid to cater to whiny workers' personal preferences. It just went to prove to me and reinforce my notion that some people will always try to exploit their sense of rights of entitlement, whether they feel themselves to be downtrodden or otherwise. Power to the people - Down with the "Man".

Just a Thursday's afternoon rant. Happy April Fool's Day t'morning everyone- Loupy

Good comment (GA) it seems more about the glasses than the workstation. Many bifocals are also 'upside down'.

You want lenses that correct for 'close' at the bottom and 'far' at the top.

These are more 'vision natural' - so way less impact-full on neck posture.

However; I too, use a pair of single focus 3/4 frames - that live at my workstation.

Cost about $20 from one of those racks.

Also aware some of that glare can be from light spill onto the side or top of your glasses, and especially bad if the the lenses are not sparkley clean.

Re: Also aware some of that glare can be from light spill onto the side or top of your glasses, and especially bad if the the lenses are not sparkley clean.

Oh, yes--and that reminds me of something else--for the last 20 years I've worn a baseball cap (even with a shirt and tie) for a similar reason--keeps some of the ambient (overhead) light off my glasses and reduces glare from them.

That's good info. I emailed them for a sample.

So far, (before posting) I couldn't find a supplier that had close to the size I need. It was either too small or a role for $300.00 or $400.00. 3m didn't have anything and I figured if they didn't have it, nobody else would.

I had the optometrist make some glasses just for the computer. The only problem is, I instinctively try to look through the bottom of the lenses.

Turn the lights off in the room. Use desk lamps as required.

You could go all the way.

Two possible solutions:

--Remove the table glass so there is nothing between you and the computer screen. Thus no glare from the table glass.

--This has been mentioned--get a pair of single vision glasses. This avoids tilting the head, but won't avoid the glare. I first got mine for desk work, but they also worked great for the computer. My monitor is on the desk surface, and it is possible to use eye movement only to see the entire screen, although I usually move my head a little--but far less than bifocals would require.

This may not be a solution, but I knew a construction worker who did a lot of overhead work. He had the close prescription in the top of his glasses--well actually trifocals of a sort with close at top and bottom and distance in the middle.

Removing the glass is the least expensive and simplest solution thus far.

A long term solution is to get a pair of reading only glasses with the correct focal distance to a computer monitor. I have the same issue with multi-focal glasses but my neck copes (for now).

GA

You beat me to it!!

For most people a pair of those cheap reading glasses are enough. I have them with my welder, so that I can weld easily at the exact distance required.....also, if they got damaged, I can get a new pair for around $5 from my equivalent to Wallmart!!!

I am longsighted, so I need magnifying lenses, I just try a few out till I find one that gives me clear vision at the exact distance required, usually +3 for me.......

For the table reflections, turn off the ceiling lights or shade the screen carefully and use a desk light.....

Best of luck.

If you try sunglasses, try polaroids.

I wonder if you can still buy a fine mesh fabric screen plate to place over the screen? (held on with Velcro dots). They used to be all the rage for computer users.

You could try some Dennis Taylor glasses!!!

A while back I suffered from numbness & 'pins and needles' in one arm which my doctor put down to tense neck muscles. After a visit to the physio & discussions about my work I was advised to raise my PC monitor by about 6" which has fixed the problem.

As has been mentioned it is good not to be too close to the monitor. We have made extended desk tops to move us about 12" back & incorporated an L shaped arm rest to support the mouse elbow.

I have damage between the 5th and 6th vertebrae, so I know what you mean by the pain in the neck. I also wear glasses. My question is, do you really need the bifocals to see the monitor? I simply remove my glasses when at the computer and I still can see the screen quite well. I have done this for several years. I hadn't had a new pair of glasses for 8 years and thought my prescription was off (which it was) when I started the no-glasses approach. In February I got an up-dated prescription and still work without the glasses. I use them for reading and close work such as wiring, but not for drafting work at the monitor.

You probably have to be slightly short sighted for that to work with no glasses at all.

For most longsighted people that will not work.

We do not know what the OP has for a reading problem, whether long or short sight at this time (If I remember correctly!)

It would help if he mentioned it for us.

I am guessing only, but trifocals are usually (I believe!) for longsighted people......I actually like them a lot!!!

Yes, I believe I am a bit short sighted. Most of my projects costs exceed my quotes. Oh, that's not what you meant?

Re: I am guessing only, but trifocals are usually (I believe!) for longsighted people......I actually like them a lot!!!

No, they are for nearsighted people as well. They become required as you eye lens becomes less flexible and your eye can't change focus as easily.

I wear trifocals, and use them at the computer (except when I have a severe headache). I get them built so that they smaller focal areas are actually quite large (some eyeglass makers won't even make them for me), and I also have the "lines" dividing the focal areas quite high.

I sit far from the monitor (27 to 30") and view the monitor through the middle (mid range) focal area. This is one of the other things that lets me keep my head up (instead of bending down), thus minimizing my neck problems. (I'm trying to remember--I have pinched nerves at either the C4 or C5 <darn--you know, the bones in your spine> ;-) (Getting old is a bitch.)

Interesting to hear that they are also for short sighted people as well! Thanks.

I find them an excellent and cheap fully viable alternative to varifocal lenses, which I have at this time, which cause straifght lines to appear bent!!! I will never buy the varifocal again!!!

Two pricey solutions:

1) Have Lasik for far vision and use cheap reading glasses for the computer. That was my solution and I'm a happy camper.

2) Get new plastic lens in your eyeballs. Perfect vision at all distances and no glasses ever. I'm getting cataracts in my lens and will go this route if I live long enough for it to be a real problem.

Focusing is not the problem, the glare is. This desk has reduced the pain considerably and I think it definitely is part of the solution. I may have to make a hood for the table top. I am in a office with two other people and I can't reduce the light. Ideally, the desk would work perfect if all of the light came from behind me.

It depends just on how "bad" your/his eyes are.

When I wear contact lenses, I still need glasses for reading as there are no lenses that can correct my eyes enough to allow them to focus at all distances.....some people are luckier than others....if their problem is not as bad or the eyeballs still have a lot of natural focus range left.

I did not need any glasses till I was 40, then just for reading, at 50 I needed them all the time. Standard procedure for someone with "long" long sight from birth!!!

I have similar neck and vision issues. According to advice I got recently from my chiropractor I set up my work station so all my joints are at 90 degrees and my head is tilted only slightly down or not at all. I use single focus lenses when working at my desk and my monitors are almost vertical and at eye level. I have fewer neck and shoulder problems with this set up. My monitors are a flat LED screen (not a very expensive one either) and the laptop and I only occasionally have glare issues from a window directly behind me, none from the over head light.

I think you need to take care of the physical ergonomics of your work station first, then work on the glare issues around that. Good luck.

GA

OK.........a picture is worth a thousand words.

This is what i'm up against.

Don't laugh. but I was still using one of them for high quality jobs up to ten years ago.

A Sinar Wolf ½ plate camera.

That's the reason for the stove pipe hats!!!!

I've always wondered how they kept the cover from draping in front of their eyes.

I have had the same problem for several years (tilting my head back to focus on my monitor) and what I did was get a second pair of monofocal glasses that slightly over-correct my near-sightedness. Everything beyond about 2 meters is slightly out of focus (wouldn't want to drive wearing them) but everything in my work space is clear. I can use my monitor in the normal position/angle, so glare is not a problem. Probably cheaper than the down-view desk. My dad used to warn me not to get old. Now I understand what he meant.

I have a pair, not cheap ones either.

I have gotten into the habit of lifting my head to look through the bottom of the leses. I find myself doing it with a full reading lense. I decided not to get old along time ago and it doesn't seem to be working.