Does Reading In Dim Light Damage The Eyes?
When you were a young teenager growing up chances are you defied your parents when they insisted that you turned off all the lights and went to bed.
This may have been the case especially if you were an avid reader, as you probably snuck under the covers with a torch - light to read your favorite fictional novel in dim light.
From this point of view, not only were you worried about the consequences regarding the punishment you would receive from your parents if you were caught, but, additionally, you were probably also concerned about the warning that they gave you concerning the claim that reading in dim light could possibly ruin your eyesight.
Is this a vision myth or is there some truth or validity to this claim? You might be surprised about the answer to this question.
The general consensus by the majority of eye care professionals and those in the scientific community is that this medical claim is a myth.
Here are some of the effects of reading in dim light on the eyes: These are eye strain, and tired eyes.
According to eye care experts these effects are only temporary and go away as you stop performing this activity.
The eyes are resilient and adapt to the effects of this visual habit.
In ancient times people have been reading from dim gas lights and lamps and there has not been a correlation between this activity and an increase in nearsightedness.
The only concrete scientific evidence available with regard to a direct link between visual habits and nearsightedness are those that are associated with excessive close up work.
When it comes to finding a direct correlation between reading in dim light and the development of nearsightedness there is a lack of scientific evidence to point to that conclusion.
The eyes have the ability to adapt to various levels of light.
For example, if you are reading in the dark, in a dim light setting, your pupils open wider so that more light is absorbed through the eye lens into the Retina.
The eyes consists of rods and cones.
These are cells that are found in your Retina and these rods and cones are responsible for processing information and transmitting it to the brain about what you are seeing.
These rods and cones play a role in the adjustment process when you transition from seeing in a dark setting to a light setting.
For example, if you walk from a dark street and suddenly enter a room filled with bright light it may feel unbearably uncomfortable, that is, until your pupils are able to adjust to the change in light level by the process of dilation.
A similar adjustment process happens with reading in dim light.
Here is a quote from Dr Ryan Nakamura, a vision care optometrist affiliated with the American Optometric Association: "It may seem hard to believe, but there is no evidence that reading in dim light will cause any long- term damage to your eyes.
Dim lighting can lead to eye strain, requiring your eyes to work harder and making them tire more quickly, but it's only temporary " says Dr.
Nakamura.
"That said, if you have access to a well-lit room for reading, take advantage of it.
" While it is true that reading in dim light can cause negative side effects on the eyes such as eye strain, tired eyes, the eyes are adaptive and recover from the negative effects from such a visual activity.
Due to the fact that there is a lack of concrete scientific evidence directly linking nearsightedness to reading in dim light, ultimately, the general consensus is that this medical claim is a myth.
This may have been the case especially if you were an avid reader, as you probably snuck under the covers with a torch - light to read your favorite fictional novel in dim light.
From this point of view, not only were you worried about the consequences regarding the punishment you would receive from your parents if you were caught, but, additionally, you were probably also concerned about the warning that they gave you concerning the claim that reading in dim light could possibly ruin your eyesight.
Is this a vision myth or is there some truth or validity to this claim? You might be surprised about the answer to this question.
The general consensus by the majority of eye care professionals and those in the scientific community is that this medical claim is a myth.
Here are some of the effects of reading in dim light on the eyes: These are eye strain, and tired eyes.
According to eye care experts these effects are only temporary and go away as you stop performing this activity.
The eyes are resilient and adapt to the effects of this visual habit.
In ancient times people have been reading from dim gas lights and lamps and there has not been a correlation between this activity and an increase in nearsightedness.
The only concrete scientific evidence available with regard to a direct link between visual habits and nearsightedness are those that are associated with excessive close up work.
When it comes to finding a direct correlation between reading in dim light and the development of nearsightedness there is a lack of scientific evidence to point to that conclusion.
The eyes have the ability to adapt to various levels of light.
For example, if you are reading in the dark, in a dim light setting, your pupils open wider so that more light is absorbed through the eye lens into the Retina.
The eyes consists of rods and cones.
These are cells that are found in your Retina and these rods and cones are responsible for processing information and transmitting it to the brain about what you are seeing.
These rods and cones play a role in the adjustment process when you transition from seeing in a dark setting to a light setting.
For example, if you walk from a dark street and suddenly enter a room filled with bright light it may feel unbearably uncomfortable, that is, until your pupils are able to adjust to the change in light level by the process of dilation.
A similar adjustment process happens with reading in dim light.
Here is a quote from Dr Ryan Nakamura, a vision care optometrist affiliated with the American Optometric Association: "It may seem hard to believe, but there is no evidence that reading in dim light will cause any long- term damage to your eyes.
Dim lighting can lead to eye strain, requiring your eyes to work harder and making them tire more quickly, but it's only temporary " says Dr.
Nakamura.
"That said, if you have access to a well-lit room for reading, take advantage of it.
" While it is true that reading in dim light can cause negative side effects on the eyes such as eye strain, tired eyes, the eyes are adaptive and recover from the negative effects from such a visual activity.
Due to the fact that there is a lack of concrete scientific evidence directly linking nearsightedness to reading in dim light, ultimately, the general consensus is that this medical claim is a myth.