SPECIAL GLASSES ARE REQUIRED TO VIEW TELEVISION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 25, 15 August 1949, Page 4

SPECIAL GLASSES ARE REQUIRED TO VIEW TELEVISION

Although the New 'Zealand Broadcasting Service has intimated that television will not appear in this country for some years yet it is probable that when it is introduced into the Dominion most of the preliminary problems of growing pains will probably have been solved. One of the problems encountered, which is causing some trouble, is the strain on the eyes after several hours of continued viewing. The Recorder says that viewing television should not cause eyestrain provided reasonable moderation is exercised; but persons over the age of about 55 are likely to find that the picture is slightly blurred, and if they try to wear their reading glasses the result is worse. The explanation is that accommodation is necessary to see clearly objects which are near or fairly near and this ability to accommodate is reduced very considerably by the time 55 years of age is reach, ed.

Reading glasses, on the other hand, are prescribed to give clear vision at a distance of about 14-20 inches. It is an intermediate prescription that is required, and it be obtained in a number of ways. A special pair of glasses may be obtained, or a discarded pair of reading glasses may be the right strength, or special bifocal lenses may be used. , This last method is probably the best, for the bottom portion of the bifocal is made suitable for ordinary reading, and the upper portion of the lens is made a little stronger than the person would need for dis_ tance wear, rendering it ideal for viewing television at 6-8 feet.