Can eReaders Damage your Eyes?
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:31 am
A lot of reading gets done on screens. Emails, instant messaging, texting, all your favorite websites, and if e-reader manufacturers have their way, even all of your books; not to mention all the games, TV shows, movies, and videos. So is it possible to look at a screen for too long?
According to doctors interviewed by the New York Times, not really. "Sitting close to a television, or computer screen, isn't bad for our eyes. It's a variety of other factors that can cause physical fatigue," says Dr. Travis Meredith, chair of the ophthalmology department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Different display technologies have different strengths and weaknesses. While the e-ink in an e-reader may be better for reading under well-lit conditions, LCD displays are preferable low light conditions. Similarly, different types of paper and ink can be easier on the eyes than others. Even the reflectiveness of the iPhone's glossy screen plays a role. What this means is that the best display depends on where you're sitting.
As for trying to minimize fatigue, Director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University, Professor Alan Hedge, says it's more about giving your eyes frequent opportunities for rest. "While you're reading, your eyes make about 10,000 movements an hour. It's important to take a step back every 20 minutes and let your eyes rest."
more here
so would you agree that sitting to close to a monitor would damage your eyes?
According to doctors interviewed by the New York Times, not really. "Sitting close to a television, or computer screen, isn't bad for our eyes. It's a variety of other factors that can cause physical fatigue," says Dr. Travis Meredith, chair of the ophthalmology department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Different display technologies have different strengths and weaknesses. While the e-ink in an e-reader may be better for reading under well-lit conditions, LCD displays are preferable low light conditions. Similarly, different types of paper and ink can be easier on the eyes than others. Even the reflectiveness of the iPhone's glossy screen plays a role. What this means is that the best display depends on where you're sitting.
As for trying to minimize fatigue, Director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University, Professor Alan Hedge, says it's more about giving your eyes frequent opportunities for rest. "While you're reading, your eyes make about 10,000 movements an hour. It's important to take a step back every 20 minutes and let your eyes rest."
more here
so would you agree that sitting to close to a monitor would damage your eyes?