For many, keeping safe at home during the pandemic entails more frequent watching and binge-watching. Since safety is a predominant concern during these trying times, watching more frequently begs the question, “is too much TV bad for your eyes?”
Warnings against permanent eye damage
Children have been warned not to watch too often and too closely from the telly. This forewarning’s truth is relative. Decades ago, many colour televisions were known to be emitting excessive X-rays which is dangerous to one’s health. The radiation emitted was up to 100,000 times over the considered safe rate, which was quickly remedied by television-producing companies. Fast forward to today, experts unanimously agree that watching is unlikely, causing permanent damage to your eyes.
Warnings against eye strains
If televisions won’t make you go blind, why do eye doctors encourage eye exercises, eye rest, and the use of protective eyeglasses? Prolonged activities like watching, reading and driving can cause eye strain. This kind of eye discomfort is a temporary yet annoying experience. When you stare at a screen for too long and without adequate rest, this can cause headache, temporary blurred vision, light sensitivity, watery and itchy eyes, and seeing after images when you look away from the monitor.
Watching from a dark room
A research conducted from the Lighting Research Centre reported that eyestrain could also occur when your eyes are fixed on the television for a long period, and there is poor lighting. Watching from a dark room causes visual discomfort, and the best way to decrease the strain is to illuminate the background. Other ways to minimize eye fatigue are using protective spectacles, resting your eyes every 20 minutes, and using less eye-straining gadgets.
Minimizing eyestrain
In the market, you will find inexpensive projectors that deliver at least 3,000 lumens which is ideal for daylight watching. Unlike televisions, projectors reflect blue light instead of emitting them, making this option safer for the eyes. If you intend to watch in a dark room, getting a projector with 1,000 to 1,200 lumens are even eyesight-friendlier. Although a reflective source is generally less strenuous than an emitting source, there are other factors to consider when being mindful against eye fatigue.
As you look into nearby objects, your eyes will put in extra effort to see clearly. Projectors are usually positioned at safe distances which lessens the demand on your eyes. Although your proximity to the television or projector does little damage to your eyesight, a healthy distance will help minimize eye fatigue. TVs will pretty much require you to sit further back, which risks your not being able to see minute details and smaller texts. In comparison, a projector’s visibility and projected size can be configured more easily. As long as you have a trusty projector mount, your device will remain in place for a long time. Less durable mounts will loosen due to the projector’s heat and weight.
Projectors are certainly an eye-friendlier version of televisions. Whether you upgrade or not, letting your eyes rest for some seconds will keep eye strain at bay.