Are E-Readers Bad For Your Eyes?

The new trend when it comes to books and reading is to have an e-reader, which is an electronic device that stores books, magazines, and newspapers in it and is capable of holding millions of pages of information at any given time. These e-readers are becoming more and more popular because of their convenience and easy usability and this year big e-book retailers like Amazon are projecting double the sales that they did before but all of this new tech thats replacing paper may cause some people to worry about the effect that it could have on their eyes. Are e-readers a strain on the eyes of people who like to read for extended lengths of time - or even those of us that only read a few minutes now and then?

Most of us have been told the common adages by out parents that revolved around things like sitting too close to the tv screen or holding a book too close to your face and believe that these can cause eye fatigue or strain but for the most part its actually other aspects of reading that can pose potential risks. For instance a lot of people get in the habit of staring at computer screens for long periods of time without blinking or resting their eyes and it’s habits like that, along with reading for long periods of time without taking a break that can cause us problems. In fact there are some studies that have shown that reading off of a paperback or inexpensive newsprint can actually provide a worse reading experience than some of the new electronic alternatives.

Sometimes it also depends on the type of screen that your e-reader has. The “E Ink” kind that has been developed is great for reading in bright sunlight like you’d be able to do with a book because of it’s low contrast - but that same low contrast and lack of backlighting that makes it feel so much like a book can be a problem in darker situations  where it is more difficult to see the text on the screen. On the other hand the LCD screens have always struggled with viewing angles and screen glare but the angles are getting better and the newer screens are designed to not affect your eyes. The more modern backlit screens like what’s used in the iPad can be great for reading at night or in dark environments but make it extremely difficult to read in very bright conditions - even though Apple’s design has come a long way.

What it really comes down to is using the screen that works best for your circumstances or situation and then being sure to always take good breaks as you read - regardless of whether it’s on print or on paper. Reading causes the eyes strain no matter what surface the text is on so make sure to let your eyes rest when you are reading and make a point of ensuring good eye care overall.