Computer Use Needs

Criteria for Determining Whether the Need for Eyeglasses or Other Treatment is Related to Computer Use




Glasses or other therapeutic eye care services may be considered to be computer related if:

  • The person would not require the use of glasses or other treatment for a less visually demanding job, or
  • The glasses required for work at the computer are different in prescription or design from those which would be required to meet the other general daily vision needs of the individual.

Individuals with the following diagnosed conditions (with accompanying ICD-9 codes) often require occupationally related eyewear or other therapeutic services in order to comfortably and efficiently work at a computer.

Presbyopia (367.4)
Glasses for the correction of presbyopia are considered to be computer related if they are of a prescription power or lens or frame design which is different than that required for everyday visual needs. In general this includes:

  • Single vision lenses prescribed specifically for the computer working distance;
  • Intermediate/near bifocals prescribed for use at the computer workstation;
  • Other special multifocal lenses prescribed for use at the computer workstation.

Computer related glasses would not include:

  • General purpose single vision or multifocal lenses prescribed for everyday wear;
  • Progressive addition lenses, except those specifically designed or prescribed for computer use.

Hyperopia (367.0)

Glasses for the correction of hyperopia (farsightedness) are considered to be computer related if:

  • The individual would not otherwise require correction of their hyperopia for everyday visual needs.

Myopia (367.1)

Glasses for the full correction of myopia (nearsightedness) are generally not considered to be computer related.

Astigmatism (367.2)

Because of the visual demands of computer work, individuals with low amounts of astigmatism may require correction for computer tasks. Glasses are considered to be computer related if:

  • The individual would not otherwise require correction of their astigmatism for general vision needs.

Glasses would generally not be considered computer related if:

  • The individual has moderate to large amounts of astigmatism (generally 1.00 diopter or greater) which require correction for habitual wear.

Heterophoria (378.4)

Glasses, which are prescribed for the correction of a clinically significant near heterophoria causing computer related symptoms, are considered to be computer related.

Convergence Insufficiency (378.83)

A convergence insufficiency causing work related symptoms is considered to be computer related. Vision therapy would be the treatment of choice for clinically significant convergence insufficiency.

Disorders of Accommodation (367.5)

Treatment for disorders of accommodation causing work related symptoms are considered as computer related:

  • Glasses may be provided for the correction of clinically significant accommodative disorders in persons younger than age 40.
  • Vision therapy for accommodative disorders may also be prescribed based upon the judgment of the eye care provider.

Dry Eye (375.15)

Treatment for dry eye should be considered as computer related if:

  • The symptoms occur most frequently during or are exacerbated by computer work.

Other conditions or treatment options may also be considered computer related under specific circumstances. The above criteria are not intended to limit the range of eye care services provided to computer operators. They can, however, be helpful in establishing minimum criteria for the reimbursement of eye care services for computer operators.