How Relevant Is The TV Screen To The Eyes: Nowadays, a lot of people suffer more eye problems because of the latest TV invention which exposes the eyes to x-radiations.
Back in the days, people had better eyesight as there were no phone screens. The TV screens available as of then do not emit as high radiation as the new generation models. However, some models like LEDs and plasma flat-screens do not emit radiation, so we can say they’re safe.
Still, this hasn’t stopped the panic in the air as the majority of people are scared they could get their eyes strained or hurt from performing normal activities like watching television, viewing phone screens, laptops, tablets, and even reading.
They fear sitting too close to the television may compound eye problems. We must say that this is not always true.
Sitting close to a TV screen does no damage to the eye, but watching it at a close range is what blurs vision. So let’s not get it twisted!
Generally, why watching television very closely or staying on your tv screen for a long period is discouraged is because it affects your eye vision and over time causes eye strain, eye fatigue, and headaches. Focusing on a small screen for long dilates the iris letting in more lights especially when the room is dark.
We are going to be discussing a lot more in this article. Like the tips to prevent eye strains, the best distance and positions for viewing our television, calculating the distance of television screens, and how to handle eye strains.
Tips To Prevent Eye Strains
We must take care of our eyes and refrain from things that will alter our vision or cause us to regularly visit an optometrist.
To that effect, we have put together some tips that will help prevent your eyes from getting strained. The first tip is;
- Firstly, always sit four times the distance from your television screen. It is a flat, widescreen, thus, you will see the screen clearly even from a distance.
- If you don’t want to sit so far from the television, then close the curtains to prevent light from reflecting on the screen, it can be harmful to your eyes.
- When mounting your television in the sitting room, ensure you stay put in the perfect position such that you don’t stress your eye muscles. Try to keep it on the same level as the eyes.
- Place your TV in rooms that are not too bright or dark, as watching screens in a place without light strains the eyes.
- Rest your eye muscles after a long viewing. You can either look away from the screen for 10 to 20 minutes or move around. By so doing, you are not only preventing your eye muscle from getting stressed but also the muscles of your body.
- Massage your eyes gently if they get strained from viewing, or place a clean cloth soaked in warm water on the eyes.
- Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep after watching the TV screen for so long, this strengthens the eye muscle.
- Install a bigger and flat-screen television as it does not emit x-radiation and glare. With a wider screen, you don’t have to strain your eyes to get the picture on the television screen.
- Reduce the TV screen light using the backlight control button. This will allow you to watch comfortably at night.
- Also, do not forget to blink your eyes every few seconds when watching the TV screen, using your phones, and laptops. Blinking keeps the eyes from getting dry.
These tips are not only applied when watching TV, but also to your small screens such as computers, tablets, and phones.
Focusing on smaller screens can strain the muscles of the eye, so these simple tips mentioned above are applicable as well. You can consult a specialist to educate you on several ways to exercise the eyes.
Best TV Viewing Distance and Position
Eye experts have recommended perfect viewing distance and positions to sit while watching the television.
Thus, it is advised to sit 8 to 11 feet away from the screen or sit at a far distance from the television due to the wideness of the screen. Those with a 64-inch wide TV screen with a high definition should be sitting 12 feet away from it.
However, this doesn’t mean that sitting in a comfortable spot while watching the television is wrong. Most eye doctors suggest one picks any position that will aid clear viewing without any form of discomfort. Basically, as long as it doesn’t stress the eye, you are good to go!
You must also consider the position where the television is mounted. Sometimes eye strains are often alleviated by the placement of the TV screens, not the viewing distance.
TV positioning matters a lot, and as such, whichever way you place your flat TV, make sure it is positioned at the same level with the eyes, not above or below as this will prevent eye fatigue, stretching your neck, and straining of the eye muscle.
Another thing eye specialists recommend is the 10 to 20 seconds break. Whether you are watching a movie on your tablet, computer, phone, or flat-screen television, you must observe the seconds break. You can walk around or look away from the screen for some time to prevent eye defects.
How To Calculate TV Distance
Calculating your TV distance is not rocket science. You don’t need to use a calculator or any device. Just apply the general rule of thumb.
This rule states that you should be five times distant from the HD flat screens because it’s a large size television. Also, close viewing is advised for quality TV screens, one that doesn’t give glares or radiation.
The distance recommended for modern televisions like the 4K high-quality resolution is 1½ times the normal size. Also, the high-definition (HD) TV is three times the normal size screen.
How To Relieve Eye Strains
For anyone experiencing pains in the eye, eye fatigue, or itching after looking at screens for hours, there are simple ways of handling such problems.
First, try an easy one which is placing a wet clean towel on the eyes for at least 2 minutes. This method relieves pain, relaxing the stressed muscles of the eye.
However, if this method doesn’t work, it could be that it has degenerated into a worse state. At this point, kindly visit a professional opthalmologist as soon as possible. An eye examination will be carried out to know the level of the damage.
Eye specialists recommend that kids below five years should perform an eye test every year to monitor their eye health. Adults, on the other hand, should go for eye examinations every two to three years.
Conclusion
It is very important to keep our eyes healthy as they constitute a major part of our body and perform crucial functions.
To care for your eyes, ensure you stay away from the things that will initiate any defects or damage to the eyes.