For standard-definition television, the recommended distance for viewing is six times the height of the TV screen.
If you have a high-definition TV, you may be able to sit closer.
However, many people still worry that they may injure their eyes by sitting too close to the TV.
iStock
Sitting too close to the television may cause eye strain, however.
To prevent eye strain, someeye care professionalsrecommend sitting approximately 10 feet away from the TV screen.
Constantly looking up will eventually cause these muscles to fatigue.
For example, if you usually stay 10 feet from a screen, move at least 20 feet away.
For HD TVs, the recommended distance is three times the TV vertical screen size.
Why Do Screens Cause Eye Strain?
The average person blinks around 18 times a minute, naturally refreshing and lubricating the eye.
However, these devices can cause eye strain, much like watching a television.
Symptoms can develop due to focusing on a much smaller screen at a very close distance to your eyes.
This condition can result from using computers, e-readers, tablets, and smartphones.
Symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain.
Handheld digital devices such as smartphones should be held below eye level.
If you have difficulty holding your gadget at this distance, enlarging the text on the screen may help.
Adjusting text size can sometimes make viewing more comfortable.
This TV viewing distance may be shorter if you have a high-definition television.
Due to the advancements of modern television screens, watching TV up close will not injure your eyes.
However, watching TV from a close distance may lead to eye strain or fatigue.
They can conduct acomprehensive eye examinationto identify possible underlying causes of eye strain and offer ways to alleviate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, TVs emit blue light.
Late-night watching on blue light screens can make falling asleep more difficult.
Sony.What is the recommended viewing distance for televisions?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can sitting too close to the TV damage your eyes?
2017;71(7).
doi:10.1111/ijcp.12962
American Optometric Association.Protecting your eyes at work.
Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS.Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.BMJ Open Ophthalmol.
2018;3(1):e000146.
doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146
John Hopkins Medicine.Eyestrain.
Read JC, Bohr I.User experience while viewing stereoscopic 3D television.Ergonomics.
2014;57(8):11401153. doi:10.1080/00140139.2014.914581
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Digital devices and your eyes.
American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Screen use for kids.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Should you be worried about blue light?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Excessive Blinking in Children.
Nemours Children’s Health.How media use can affect kids.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices and eye strain.
