If your computer or TV screen is hurting your eyes, a problem sometimes referred to as computer vision syndrome, there are a group of problems that may be causing this pain, and through a few simple steps you can confirm whether your screen is harming your eyes or not, and you can also These steps provide some solutions and specifications that you must ensure are available in your next screen.
Is your screen causing eye pain?
Writer John Alexander said in the report published by the Popular Science website that with the increase in computer work, people are blaming their screens for causing eye pain more than ever before, and this is a well-founded belief. One study in the journal Nature indicated that using electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets for up to 3 hours a day can contribute to “computer vision syndrome.”
Symptoms of “Computer Vision Syndrome” include watery eyes, double vision, dry eyes, generalized eye pain and other symptoms that were identified in a cross-sectional study of Computer Vision Syndrome. In other words, any type of pain or discomfort associated with using screens is part of this. The syndrome, therefore, if you find that your eyes hurt while looking at screens or immediately after looking at them, you may have the syndrome.
However, noticing some symptoms does not necessarily mean a true diagnosis of the syndrome. You may simply have developed another problem while using the screens that most of us use on a regular basis.
Why do screens harm eyes?
The writer explained that there are many potential problems that can occur as a result of too much staring at screens, and among the common possible causes are:
Screen height
If your screen is not at the right height, you will likely feel pain in your neck at some point, but a study conducted in an office environment indicates that higher screens cause eye strain more than lower screens, as most people prefer their screens to be at eye level. Or it’s a bit low, and your monitor likely has a height adjustment feature, so if you find it’s too high, take the time to adjust it.
Viewing distance
“If you sit too close to the TV, you’ll go blind” This advice sounds like parental advice from a bygone era, especially with how close we are to our screens and phones every day, but does viewing distance actually affect how much strain our eyes get?
In the same study mentioned above, it was found that participants preferred viewing distances ranging between 60 and 100 centimetres, and that screens closer than the preferred distance cause increased visual fatigue. In this case, you can move your screen on your desk or change the location of your chair, and you can also use a screen stand. On the wall if you are using a narrow desk.
Screen size
The writer pointed out that opinions differed about the effect of screen size on the eyes, and each opinion is supported by its own research, but most likely a smaller computer screen is better for your eyes, but there are cases in which larger screens are also better.
If you search for screen size and eye health, you’ll likely come across references to a BMC Ophthalmology study on eye adaptation when using smart devices, which suggested that a smaller screen was more harmful, but this study used an iPhone R and the 9.7-inch iPad, both of which are also not used in the fixed way that screens are used. Additionally, the study focused on specific measurements of eye ability rather than focusing on overall eye comfort.
But when we look at the most common patterns of screen use and eye health in general, the results are different. Smaller screens seem to be better, and according to optometrist Dr. Jennifer Lyerly said that smaller screens are more comfortable for the eyes, as she cited a study that showed that employees who use small laptop screens suffer from fewer symptoms of eye strain than those who use large screens.
This is down to our behavior when using screens: larger screens mean our eyes open wider and we blink less, giving healthy, protective tears less time on the surface of the eyeball.
Refresh rate and screen flicker
The writer stated that the refresh rate and screen flicker may be the problem, but it is somewhat unlikely that they are, as humans stop sensing individual images and begin to perceive them as flowing objects at a rate of 50 Hz, or 50 individual images per second, and below this rate. Imperceptible screen flickering can often cause annoyance, however, the typical minimum for monitors today is 60 Hz, which greatly reduces if not the eye-irritating screen flicker. Eliminates it completely.
Many of our favorite screens for eye strain operate at 60 Hz and beyond, and screen flicker can be reduced in ways other than increasing the refresh rate. For example, ViewSonic’s flicker-free technology uses a single continuous light source rather than rapidly rotating the light source to change levels. Brightness.
Accuracy
The writer said that most people prefer high-resolution images to get clearer details and a clearer image, but does this help protect the eyes?
A 2022 report from the journal Review of Optometry notes that higher-resolution displays may reduce eye strain because they reduce adaptive lag (the time it takes the eye to focus on an object closer than the object previously looked at).
While recent studies suggest that people enjoy 8K images more than 4K images, there is no conclusive evidence that they affect eye strain.
Blue light
The writer noted that blue light is often fully responsible for all types of eye strain, but the matter is more complicated than that, and it is easy to panic due to the use of adjectives such as “harmful” or even “deadly” by manufacturers whose screens contain filters. For blue light, however, research suggests that blue light is not the enemy you think it is, but it may affect your sleep physiology and may affect your eyes.
So, don’t worry about blue light, and instead make a plan to avoid poor sleep due to screen light, whatever its color.
Brightness
The writer stated that the screen brightness level may be one of the causes of eye strain, so the American Ophthalmology Association advises reducing the brightness of your screen, and this can be done through the brightness and contrast controls on the screen that reduce the intensity of bright light.
Backlight pattern
The writer explained that different backlight patterns (QLED / OLED / mini-LED) have become popular in consumer TVs these days, as it is difficult to have a high-quality TV without one of them.
Although research on this matter is not conclusive, these lighting patterns are likely not harmful to the eyes. For example, a study conducted in 2020 showed that although OLED technology still harmed eye cells, it was less harmful than lighting. LED, but there are still very few studies available on these technologies or their long-term effects on the eyes.
Your behavior and your environment
The writer believes that the screen may not be the main cause of damage to your eyes, but your behavior may be, as the tension in the eyes increases whenever you focus on something close for a very long time without a break.
The rule that has long been in vogue when it comes to preventing eye strain is the 20-20-20 rule: “Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.” With the spread of the pandemic and the increase in working from home, , academics have further questioned the 20-20-20 rule.
But despite the skepticism surrounding the 20-20-20 rule, optometrists will tell you that the data suggests that taking frequent breaks from work may be beneficial. So, take a break from work or stare away from the screen periodically.
Avoid computer vision syndrome with your next monitor
The writer reviewed some basic points that must be taken into consideration when purchasing a new screen, stressing the necessity of purchasing a screen protector for your computer if you want to protect your current screen, as screens with matte finishes are particularly useful in reducing glare.
Eye Comfort Certificate from TUV Rheinland
The writer mentioned that TÜV Rheinland offers a number of safety certificates and other recognized certificates, and the most prominent of these technology-related certificates is the “TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Certificate,” which is verified in its latest version for the year 2023 by a group of Things like flashing and ambient light management.
Although not obtaining this certification does not necessarily mean that the screen is harmful to your eyes, it does provide you with peace of mind when choosing a new screen. Manufacturers will proudly display this certification because they required payment to test their products, so it wouldn’t be difficult to find out if an individual monitor has this certification.
Curved screens
The writer reported that curved screens allow us to review a larger area of the screen quickly while reducing eye movement. Side (peripheral) vision can examine the edges, and the shape of the screen is not much different from the shape of a curved eye. In fact, a 2016 study showed that participants experienced less eye strain and less blurred vision while searching for information on curved screens compared to flat screens.
If you have looked at the best curved screens, you will know that they have a curvature rating expressed by the symbol “R”, which represents the distance in millimeters that you must sit away from it to be within the circle that it will form, but, what is the best rating? Another study in 2016 using flat panel displays and displays with 1000R, 2000R, 3000R, and 4000R curvature showed that 1000R curvature displays were significantly better than flat displays in reports of eye pain from users.
The author concluded that curved screens are better for eye strain than flat screens, and it turns out that 1000R screens are better for eye pain.
Experience the TV as a screen
The writer said that there should be no problem in using television for eye health. However, since TVs are designed to be placed further away and are usually larger, the experience can be a little uncomfortable. It’s usually better to choose a screen with flicker-free technology and designed with eye health in mind instead of a TV, but a small TV shouldn’t cause any harm to your eyes.
The writer emphasized the importance of paying attention to the health of the eyes, and although it may seem that the screen is the source of eye problems, there may be other things wrong, advising the necessity of seeing an ophthalmologist if problems persist.
At the conclusion of his report, the writer explained that most of the eye strain resulting from working at home will not harm your eyes in the long term, stressing the necessity of modifying the current screen, changing its settings, or getting a new screen to get the right screen for you, and this will likely preserve your health. Your eyes.