For years, we have heard from parents and grandparents that watching television in the dark is destroying our eyes, and then we start to think so. This belief, passed down from generation to generation, is strongly fixed. We check if we really have anything to fear.
What happens to the eyes in the dark?
Contrary to the fears and urban legends, Watching TV in the dark does not lead to permanent vision damage. Our eyes are perfectly adapted to work in different lighting conditions. The problem lies elsewhere – in temporary overload of the eye.
Contrast plays a key role. Imagine this situation: we are sitting in a completely dark room, a TV screen is shining in front of us, which alternately shows darker and lighter scenes. Our pupils must really work hard. Every now and then they expand (to see better when it is darker) and shrink (when they look at the light screen). It tires our eyes very much.
This continuous “training” of the pupils is not everything. When we focus on the screen, we blink much less often than normal – up to 60%. And blinking is not only a reflex – it is a natural way to moisturize your eyes. That is why after a night, long watching, we often bake our eyes, even the next day.
There is also The matter of blue light. Contemporary TVs emit a lot of it, and In the dark, its action is particularly strong. It is blue light that mixes us in the production of melatonin – a hormone that helps us fall asleep. Effect? We lie in bed and despite the fatigue we cannot sleep.
How to watch so as to not suffer?
Fortunately, there are several ways that we can enjoy the evening watching without unpleasant consequences:
- Take care of gentle background lighting. The lamp behind the TV works best – it will create a pleasant glow and reduce the contrast between the screen and the surroundings
- Don't sit too close – Keep at least 2.5 meters away from the screen
- Darken the TV – after dark, the brightness should be set to a lower level
- Turn on the night mode on the TV. It will reduce the emission of blue light, thanks to which you will fall asleep easier. You can also bury more in the settings and change the color temperature. Choose the “heat” option – the image will be less blue
- Take a break – Stand up, drag yourself, look out the window. 5 minutes every hour is enough
When do you need to worry about?
If we do not follow these rules, we can feel different ailments. Most often they are:
- Feeling of dryness and baking eyes
- Problems with a clear vision
- Persistent headaches
- Insomnia
These symptoms usually pass after rest. However, if you regularly experience eye pain or vision problems while watching TV, do not underestimate this. It is worth going to an ophthalmologist – it may turn out that you need glasses with special glasses or your current glass requires replacement.