Is it true that reading from the screen spoils vision?

It is common that reading from a computer, tablet or smartphone worsens vision and leads to myopia. We decided to check if there are scientific confirmations of this point of view.

Parental Forums And sites numerous optics. Such warnings are also found on resourcesdedicated to a healthy lifestyle. The materials say that reading from a computer or smartphone due to a luminous screen radically reduces vision and causes myopia. IN quality basic argument In such articles An interview with 2013 of the British ophthalmologist David Allamby is given, in which he declaredthat since 1997, the number of patients suffering from myopia and contacted its clinic has increased by 35%. He called this phenomenon a special term “screen myopia” and tied Its using smartphones.

To begin with, let's try to figure out how the reading from paper and electronic media differs from the point of view of physics. As is known from school lessons, the subject is visible It becomes Then, when it reflects or emits elementary particles of light - photons that They get To the photosensitive cells of the retina, and from them a signal along a chain of neurons reaches the brain. Photons from the Sun or an artificial lighting source fall on the book sheet, the black letters are absorbed by the black letters, and the white gaps reflect them directly to us on the retina. From the point of view of physics, it would be more correct to say not so much “I see letters”, but rather “I do not see letters, but I see the intervals between them”. In the case of an electronic medium, the reflected light is not required for us, the built -in backlighting of the screen itself emits the required number of photons so that we can perceive the text or image. 

With insufficient lighting, the human eye has the opportunity to adapt. When we try to consider something at dusk, our pupil Expandingso that more light falls on the retina. When it returns brighter lighting, the pupil narrows. If the body’s forces were not achieved by sufficient brightness, we use external adjustment capabilities: we adjust the lighting for the needs of our vision (turn on the brightest light, we transplant closer to the light source), and in the case of an electronic media we adjust the highlight power. It is important to note that the fear that reading in insufficient lighting is harmful to vision is absolutely Uselessly. Tagged analogies The New York ophthalmologist Richard Rosen, "It's like saying that photography in poor lighting will damage your camera."

The largest study of the influence of reading from screens on vision, perhaps, can be called work Scientists from the University of Ohio. In 1989, they selected 4512 children aged 6 to 13 years of different ethnic groups without signs of myopia and observed their vision for 21 years. When developing a research design among potential risk factors, scientists identified the time spent on the TV screen, and later a computer. The study showed that this factor in the end Not played a significant role in the development of myopia, in contrast to, for example, such unobvious at first glance parameterLike the time of games in the fresh air. Karl's backdrop, the head of this study, He emphasizesthat "despite the fact that the time spent at the screen was considered an important factor in the development of myopia for almost 100 years, our large and ethnically representative sample did not show any connection." With the backdrop agree Her colleague, Dr. Donald Mutti: “There is no convincing evidence that work at the computer increases the risk of myopia in adults compared to other forms of work associated with visual tension.”

However, some connection Between the amount of time spent on reading and the development of myopia, exists. Vision of vision due to long -term work for the monitor is caused by the fact that many do not comply with the rules of safe work near, namely, neglect the necessary distance Between the text and the eyes and do not make the necessary pauses for the rest of the eye. The most important rule of ophthalmologists called “Rule 20–20–20”: every 20 minutes of work it is necessary to take a break and translate the look at an object located at a distance of 20 feet (about 6 m) for 20 seconds. Observing it, we give the eyes the necessary rest and can continue to work without experiencing unpleasant symptoms and without harm to our vision. The neglect of this rule, most likely, explains the “screen myopia” by Dr. David Allalamby.

It is also interesting to note: in 2019, scientists They came To the conclusion that reading white letters from the black background stimulates the paths of information unusual for our eye and represents the prevention of myopia, in contrast to the standard reading of black letters from the white background. It is also worth mentioning Observation Japanese scientists: chewing chewing gum during tense reading from the screen, using various muscles of the face, reduces such symptoms of eye fatigue as dryness, a feeling of sand in the eyes, doubleness and pain.

Thus, there is no evidence that reading from the screen of a computer, tablet or smartphone more strongly spoils vision than reading from paper. However, it is important to remember that regardless of whether the book is in front of you or a mobile phone, you should follow some rules of safe work and, possibly, following the advice of Japanese scientists, relax the muscles of the face, in parallel with reading chewing gum.

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Vision as it is
2. 5 myths about myopia