The belief is widespread that you can’t watch TV from too close distance, as this threatens with numerous health problems. We decided to check if there is a scientifically confirmed distance, watching the TV is safe.

The fact that watching TV is not worth it from close range, they write in Media And Blogs. Large shops technology The methodology for calculating a harmless distance from the screen to the eyes is brought on their sites: for FullHD, the distance should be three sizes of the screen vertically, for 4K - 1.5 of this size. You can also meet calculationsbased on the diagonal of the screen. According to them, this indicator must be multiplied by 2.5, and this will indicate at what distance the TV will not harm health. There are also recommendations in absolute values - no less 2 mno less 3 m And even 5 m. Rospotrebnadzor He thinks A safe distance from the TV for children at least 3 m, the department also notes that watching the TV is harmful to children's vision.

Most likely, the idea of a certain safe distance from the screen was born during the time of TVs with kinescos -electronic beam devices converting electrical signals into light. Such devices could really emit X -ray radiation, harmful to health, primarily for vision. In particular, the American company General Electric in the 1960s released TVs, radiation levels in which exceeded the recommended by experts in the field of health care by 100,000 times. Having found out, the company quickly recalled dangerous models, but the idea strengthened in society that TVs are unsafe and it is better to stay away from them. Models released after 1968, no x -ray radiation Do not emit, however, in relation to them in society, there is alertness. Ophthalmologist Norman Safra from the Medical Center Maimonid in Brooklyn speaks: “The distance from the TV necessary for health is not a grandmother’s horror story, but outdated technologies. In the world of our grandmothers, not to sit close to the TV was an acquitted recommendation, but now it is outdated. ”

It is also believed that the blue light from the screen negatively affects vision, so it is better not only to sit away from the device, but also to wear special for the time of watching the TV. glasses, blocking blue spectrum colors.

Many scientists are wary of blue, since its prolonged exposure before going to bed worsens The quality of rest due to the fact that it prevents the production of melatonin. However, firstly, not all scientists agree with this: part of the experimental data It shows that the sleep cycle is more closely confused - wakefulness is not blue, but yellow light (at least at the experimental mice). Secondly, the blue spectrum is absolutely It is necessary - He is responsible for a number of important visual functions, including the color perception of objects and the determination of their contrast.

Specialists from the American Academy of ophthalmology They saythat today there is no scientific data confirming that the blue light from electronic devices, including TV, is harmful to vision. They also note that the person receives the most blue light in the form of sunlight, and by no means from the lighting of the screen of the TV, computer and smartphone. The International Lighting Commission reports that of all sources of blue, only two are proven for vision: the sun and welding. Messages that the blue color increases the risk age -related macular dystrophy (The most common reason for the irreversible loss of vision among older people) The commission experts call the “speculative and not supported by the reviewed literature”. Thus, the blue light from electronic devices may only prevent you from falling asleep on time, but not damage to the organs of vision.

In 2015, scientists from the University of Ohio Bone The results of a 20-year observation, including 4512 children aged 6 to 11 years at the time of the start of the study. They came to the conclusion that the habits associated with television do not affect the development of myopia. Debra Ronka, author of the resource of How Stuffs, suggests: Seeing how the child is sitting close to the screen, some parents literally put the cart in front of the horse, that is, they consider the distance to the screen the reason for the reduction of vision, while the child chooses such a distance because he already sees an ophthalmologist at a time. At the same time, Doctor of Medicine Lee Daphner Notesthat children are better than adults focus on closely located objects. Therefore, the child can keep the book much closer to the face or sit at a lower distance from the TV than an adult. Daphner also says that the seat right in front of the TV does not worsen vision of either children or adults - he calls such an idea a myth.

Unlike the distance to the screen, the time spent on the TV can negatively affect health. Canadian scientists for seven and a half years Observing For 1314 children, tracking their habits regarding television viewing and various aspects of health. The first time the children were examined in two and a half years, then at four and a half and ten years old. Scientists noted that the average television for children for children in two and a half years was 8.8 hours a week. Those children who at this age watched the TV for only an hour more, at the age of ten, were so different from their peers:

- were 7% less active in school classes;

- 10% more time spent on computer games;

- 9% more consumed sweet soda and 10% more unhealthy snacks;

- 10% more often became the object of children's bullying;

- 5% were more prone to a set of excess weight.

With each additional hour behind the screen in childhood, negative consequences increased. So, if in two and a half years the child spent not 8.8, but 11.8 hours (three hours more) behind the TV, then at ten years old he consumed almost 30% more unhealthy food and drinks than peers, and his total physical condition index was 27% worse.

Scientists from the University of Glasgow noted Another pattern: children who at the age of three and a half years watched TV for more than two hours a day, at 11 years old have a diagnosis of bronchial asthma twice as often than their peers who spent less time in childhood.

There is a negative dependence between the time of television and health and for adults. Scientists from the University of Regensburg (Germany) Countedthat every two hours, daily spent in front of the screen, increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 8%, as well as the risk of endometrial cancer (internal mucous membrane of the uterine body) by 10% in women. However, the provoking factor is by no means harmful radiation, as one could assume, but a sitting position.

Thus, according to scientific data, there is no minimum safe distance from the TV screen to the eyes. If for a clear perception of the picture on the screen you have to literally get into it, this is an occasion to visit an ophthalmologist, as this may indicate vision problems. It is much more important for health at the same time not how far to sit from the TV, but how much time to watch it a day. After all, there is a lot of evidence that too long sitting in front of the screen leads to problems in both children and adults.

Image on the cover: Public Domain Pictures.net