People often say that working in the dark, especially when using your laptop, can damage your eyes. Is that really the case? Can working in the dark really lead to long-term problems that affect your sight? Let’s find out.
Is it Bad to Use a Laptop in the Dark?
Using your laptop in the dark might be necessary when you do not want to draw attention or disturb others. For example, when you’re working on a project late at night in a shared room but feel that leaving the light on might affect the sleep of others, you’d most likely choose to work in the dark.
Is this bad for the eyes? If you only intend to use the laptop for a few hours, it might not bring serious issues.
However, using the laptop in the dark for an entire night might cause eye strain and even a slight headache. The time you spend trying to focus on the laptop screen and the limited amount of light are the main reasons why using the laptop in the dark is not recommended.
Will Using a Laptop in the Dark Damage your Eyes?
When you use your laptop in the dark for an extended duration, you will start to feel a bit of eye strain. Additionally, if your laptop screen is too close to you, you will begin to feel a headache, and your vision will be affected. Using the laptop in the dark will also cause you pain when you eventually turn on the light.
The damage is also dependent on the genetic conditions of the user of the laptop. Some people inherit eye problems, but they only develop later in life, so they don’t realize it’s by blood. Also, if you had previous eye conditions and problems, the laptop might not be safe for you.
Eyes might also be damaged due to the eyestrain developed when you are peering at the screen for too long. For instance, if you are reading small text on the laptop screen, you will be straining a lot more than watching a movie.
Using the laptop in the dark has been known to be dangerous and can cause harm to your eyes. When you are in the dark for extended durations, your eyesight will also be accustomed to low light conditions. Adapting to normal light conditions will be difficult.
Protecting your Eyes when Using a Laptop in the Dark
You can do some things to ensure that your eyesight is protected when you are using your laptop in the dark. These measures will ensure that you adjust the lighting condition to a safe and comfortable level for you.
1. Set Up Proper Lighting
Proper lighting in the room where you are using the laptop will be essential to avoid damage from using the laptop in the dark. When you have adequate lighting, you will be able to balance the light in the room. That will counterbalance the light emanating from the laptop screen from the rest of the room.
You will then be able to use your laptop safely, and the light will be comfortable for you. Using the lighting in your room will also help you when you need to interact with the laptop. When you are typing something, you will see the keys as you type, which will make the experience better.
The proper amount of lighting that is required for when you are using your laptop in the dark should be twice that of the surroundings. This means that the ambient lighting should be half that of the laptop. The environment should not be completely dark since this will make the glare from the laptop unbearable.
2. Adjust your Monitor Brightness
Your monitor emanates light which lets you see what is on the screen. When you are having issues with your eyesight resulting from strain, it might be because your laptop is not producing enough light to let you read.
Adjusting the monitor brightness will ensure that you no longer need to strain as you read what is on the screen. The brightness should not be too much, and you can bring it down to a comfortable level.
Excessive brightness is responsible for causing eye strain, and when the screen is brighter than the environment, you will feel some discomfort.
3. Increase Contrast
The display settings on your laptop might be why you are having problems seeing what is on the screen. Low contrast usually causes the items on display to blur, causing you to strain.
A high level of contrast is recommended for your laptop display as it will enable you to see everything clearly. You will be able to observe more details on the screen and eliminate eye strain.
4. Avoid Glare on Your Screen
Glare is caused when the light gets into your eyes directly. Whenever you use the laptop in the dark, all the light will be directly going into your eyes.
Your eyes cannot be able to manage the light that comes directly, making the glare very uncomfortable. The reflected light is also known to cause glare and should be avoided.
Some of the methods that you can use to reduce glare include installing dimmer lights in your room. These ensure that the light is reflected upwards and diffused before it can get to your eyes.
Task-based lighting also focuses on the area of work and does not light up the entire room. If you are worried about disturbing others, this light will diffuse the light and will only focus on your work area.
5. Increase Font Size
Font size might be the reason you are straining to read what is on your laptop screen. When you intend to read for long periods, you should increase your font size.
Older people have a problem reading small text, which causes them to strain when reading something on the screen. Doing this will ensure that you can comfortably read what is on the screen without having to strain.
The font can be increased in the app you are using to read or on the general display settings on your laptop. With a bigger screen, the reader will not move forward to read, and they will be comfortable while using the laptop.
6. Turn on a Blue Light Filter
One of the most effective ways to ensure that you have enough light on your laptop is by using a blue light filter. The blue light goes directly to the back of your retina and adds to the risk of macular degeneration. The light is not safe for your eyesight and can cause diseases of the retina.
The filter ensures that you have a soft glow on your laptop, and all the strain is eliminated. It will also eliminate radiation from the light, making it possible to read in the dark and use your laptop for many hours.
Using your laptop in the dark might cause some strain on your eyes, and you could experience headaches. With the settings that have been suggested above, you will be able to fix most of the lighting and display issues that cause eye strain when using your laptop. As such, you get to have a comfortable experience with your laptop.
