It’s common knowledge that too much screen time can negatively affect your eyes.
But not many know why this happens and how you can avoid it.
That said, you’re lucky because…
This article will equip you with the right knowledge to protect your eyes from the screen.
Continue reading to find out:
- 5 vital facts about TV screens and your eyes.
- 5 helpful tips to protect your eyes from the TV.
- What the best and worst TV screens are for your eyesight.
- And this is just the beginning…
What’s the best TV screen for eyes?
The best TV screen for your eyes is an OLED TV. That’s because OLED screens have more natural lighting compared to others. And they also have natural-looking colors, making them easier to look at.
TV screens and your eyes – 5 vital facts
#1: Too much TV brightness is bad for your eyes
HDR aka High Dynamic Range. Most likely, you’ve passed by this term before.
That’s because companies always advertise this feature as…
Something that makes your TV display look much better.
See, it’s so popular that even these streaming apps have it:
- Hulu.
- Netflix.
- Disney Plus.
- Amazon Prime Video.
However, tell you what…
While HDR indeed makes images look better, it worsens your eyes’ health over time.
Why?
Because this feature enhances your TV’s:
- Contrast.
- Saturation.
- Brightness.
And all of these, especially the brightness, hurt your eyes when your increase them too much.
“Why does TV brightness affect my eyes?”
Good question.
Let me give you a scenario to explain this simply.
Imagine walking on a dark sidewalk, and suddenly, someone shines a flashlight on your face.
Of course, that would irritate your eyes, right?
The same happens when you suddenly turn the lights ON in a dark room.
Now, this occurs because…
The iris in your eyes expands and contracts depending on how bright your surrounding is.
That said, if the room is dark, the iris opens up so more light can enter.
And likewise, when it’s bright, the iris shrinks. So that your eyes won’t be too irritated by the lights.
As you can see, your eyes need to expand or shrink depending on their surroundings.
Now, how does this relate to your TV?
See, when the brightness of your screen is way higher than that of your room…
Your iris needs to shrink and expand back and forth all the time.
That’s because it’ll shrink when you directly look at your bright TV.
But it’ll expand when you look elsewhere in the dimmer room.
See, your eyes must do more work in this scenario. And this causes eye strain over time.
That said, don’t set your TV to its highest brightness settings if possible.
And aim only to use 70-80% of its backlight.
Fun fact: Not only will this protect your eyes, but it’ll also extend your TV’s life.
#2: Your room’s brightness also matters
When it’s time to watch the long-awaited new season of your favorite show…
The first thing that comes to mind is to prepare the snacks, and the second is to kill the lights.
Now, of course, I’m not gonna lie…
It does feel more exciting to watch your TV in a dark room.
However, unfortunately, doing this can damage your eyes in the long term.
That’s because, as mentioned earlier…
Your eyes must constantly adjust if the room’s brightness is lower than your screen’s.
That said, if you want to protect your eyes…
You should avoid watching your TV in a dark room.
Pro tip: As a general guide, have at least 1 extra light source to brighten your space. For example, turn ON a lamp while watching your TV.
#3: The blue light emitted by TVs prevents you from sleeping
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue?
Well, that’s all thanks to the blue light emitted by the sun.
But see, it doesn’t just exist to make our skies aesthetically pleasing.
That’s because they have a significant role in nature.
See, blue light helps stimulate our brains to stay active.
That’s why it’s naturally easy to stay awake in the morning. And to fall asleep at night.
Note: This pattern is formally known as your circadian rhythm. And it guides the behavioral changes of your body within a 24 hr cycle.
As you can see, blue light is beneficial for you.
However, that’s only the case if it’s coming from the sun.
See, most technological gadgets like these produce blue light as well:
- TV.
- Tablet.
- Phone.
- Computer.
So staring at their screens for too long will stimulate your brain to think it’s still morning. Even though it’s already late at night. Thus, your eyes won’t be able to relax and prepare to sleep.
That said, it’s important to avoid blue light at night.
And you can do that by not staring at the screens of your gadgets when it’s late. For example, avoid using any screens 1 hour before going to bed.
#4: The closer you are to the screen, the more you’ll strain your eyes
If you want to take care of your eyes…
You shouldn’t sit too close to the TV.
Why?
Because if you do…
Your eyes must constantly look in different directions just to see your whole screen.
And by doing so, they’ll get tired easily.
“How far should I sit from my TV?”
Now, while there are no hard rules about how far your TV should be from you, there’s a…
General guide about viewing distances for TVs
| TV size (in inches) | Suggested viewing distance (in feet) |
| 32 | 3.2 |
| 43 | 4.3 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 55 | 5.5 |
| 65 | 6.5 |
| 70 | 7.0 |
| 75 | 7.5 |
| 85 | 8.5 |
Note: If you have a 65” inch TV, you should be 6.5 feet away from it.
As you can see, the bigger your screen is, the farther you should be from your TV.
This way, your eyes won’t need to constantly look left and right. Just to see the whole picture of your screen.
#5: You blink less when you look at your TV screen
On average, adults blink between 10-20 times every minute.
However, when you’re staring at your TV screen…
You’ll only blink 3-8 times within that same duration.
Now, while this might seem like a minor side-effect…
Not blinking enough throughout the day can strain your eyes. And also cause:
- Dry eyes.
- Swollen cornea.
- Increased risk of eye infections.
That said, tracking how often you blink while watching TV is essential.
So that you won’t experience any eye discomfort down the road.
With that in mind…
I highly recommend doing blinking exercises that naturally rest and hydrate your eyes.
Now, there are many of these on the internet, but to give you an example…
Here are the steps for my blinking exercise:
- Gently close your eyes.
- Keep them closed for 2 seconds.
- With your eyes still close, squeeze your lids together slowly.
- Do this for 3 seconds.
- Gently open your eyes and stare at a distant object to relax them.
- Do this 4 more times.
Bonus: Your TV’s viewing level matters
Where you place your TV is also important.
See, if your TV is positioned higher than your eye level…
Your eyes will have to look up every time your watch your favorite shows.
And not only does this strain your neck…
It’ll also stress the vertical muscles of your eyes. So overall, it’ll be uncomfortable for you.
That said, place your TV on your eye level.
Because this way, you’ll reduce your eye and muscle strain.
Does the TV screen really matter to your eyes?
The TV screen really matters to your eyes.
See, while watching TV is harmless…
TV screen exposure can potentially cause long-term damage to your eyesight. And that’s if you don’t do anything to prevent this.
“Do you have any tips to protect my eyes from the TV screen?”
Glad you asked. Because I do…
5 tips to protect your eyes from the TV:
Note: You can apply these when watching on all technological screens. And that includes your TV, PC, and mobile devices.
Tip 1: Follow the 20-20-20 rule
You might’ve already heard this from your eye doctor before.
Because it’s a pretty famous rule.
And really, it deserves its popularity because it’s 1 of the most effective tips to protect your eyes.
Speaking from experience, when I implemented this into my lifestyle…
It really did make a difference to how my eyes felt. Even when I had to look at my screen for hours every day.
That said…
Follow these steps to do the 20-20-20 rule:
- Before watching your TV, set a timer for 20 minutes.
- When the timer hits, find an object 20 feet away.
- Stare at the object for 20 seconds.
Remember: Do do these 3 steps once more after 20 minutes pass.
And that’s it.
Very simple, right?
Now, if you’re wondering…
“Why do I have to stare at a far object for 20 seconds?”
That’s because it takes 20 seconds for your eyes to relax.
Tip 2: Take longer breaks every 2 hours
While the 20-20-20 rule is effective…
Only taking a minute break every 20 minutes isn’t enough to protect your eyes.
That said, I highly recommend taking at least 15 minutes of screen time-break every 2 hours.
This way, your eyes can rest longer before you stare at the screen again.
Tip 3: Wear your glasses
If you have prescription glasses…
You may want to wear them the next time you binge-watch your favorite show.
That’s because glasses will help you see your TV display better.
And as a result, your eyes don’t need to work too hard just to focus on it.
Tip 4: Add bias lighting behind your TV
As mentioned earlier, the brightness of your surrounding affects your eyes.
That said, if you want an easy and cool way to put more lights around your TV…
You might want to install bias lighting behind your device.
“What’s that?”
Bias lighting is placing a light source behind your TV screen.
See, this helps your TV pop out less from its surrounding.
And as a result, your eyes will have an easier time focusing on your TV.
That said, if you’re in the process of buying a new TV and are interested in using bias lighting…
You should consider getting this OLED 4K UHD TV from Philips.
That’s because, as I said, OLED TVs have the best screens for your eyes.
And this particular TV model already has built-in bias lighting. Which Philips formally calls Ambilight.
Want to see this feature in action? Then watch this short video:
Tip 5: Limit your screen time
Naturally, if your eyes don’t stare at the screen for too long…
They won’t be as strained as they would otherwise be.
That said, I highly recommend reduce your daily screen time.
This way, your eyes can get enough relaxation throughout the day.
Is 4K better for your eyes?
4K is better for your eyes.
Why?
Because your eyes don’t need to put much effort when watching high-resolution screens.
See, when you watch low-quality videos or images…
Your eyes need to work more to translate the details on your TV.
However, if you have a 4K screen…
Your TV will already show all the details to you. So, your eyes won’t need to do much work.
That said, if you’re in the process of buying a higher-resolution device…
Here are my 2 best recommendations for 4K TVs:
LG OLED C1 Series 65’’
With over 8 million pixels on its screen…
Your eyes will surely benefit from less stress while watching this OLED LG TV.
Moreover, this device’s fast processor will also ensure that…
You won’t need to wait for apps to load for long. And this also reduces the time your eyes have to focus on your screen.
On top of that, with the help of its AIs: Google Assistant and Alexa…
You also won’t need to spend too much time manually reading or typing on your TV.
Because all you need to do is say a voice command. And this device will automatically do it for you.
SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class OLED 4K S95B Series
It’s impossible to create a list of the best Smart TVs without a Samsung representative.
Because as expected, the brand doesn’t back down when it comes to producing high-quality TVs.
That said, if you want an ultra-thin TV whose picture quality can protect your eyes…
This device won’t disappoint you. Because its display is 1 of the best.
On top of that, Samsung’s Smart TV Hub also ensures that…
You don’t need to spend too much time searching for the content you want. And that’s thanks to its Alexa AI.
That means less-eye strain caused by reading small letters on your screen…
And more fun and enjoyment watching your favorite movies.
You might also want to know: Can You Watch 4K Without a 4K TV?
Are new TVs better for your eyes?
New TVs are better for your eyes.
That’s because they have better resolutions than older ones do.
So your eyes don’t need to work too hard when watching new TV screens.
However, it’s still worth noting that even if you’re watching on a 4K TV…
Watching without any precautions can still strain your eyes over time.
So while new TVs are indeed better for your sight…
You should still limit your screen time and relax your eyes whenever possible.
You might also be interested: How To Use Smart TV As Computer Monitor
The worst TV screens for your eyes
LCDs are the worst TV screens for your eyes.
That’s because they have limited viewing angles.
“What’s that?”
This means watching the TV from the side will make the screen look distorted. And this strains your eyes more.
Moreover, LCD screens also don’t have light sensors. Or the feature that adjusts your screen’s backlight according to your room’s brightness. Even though LED and OLED TVs have this because it eases eye strain.
That said, LCD TV screens are bad for your eyes.
So avoid buying them on your next TV purchase.