Can the Printed Page Affect the Eye as Much as a Screen?
There has been much talk over the last couple of decades about the negative effects of how spending too much time staring at a screen can affect one’s eyesight. Computer Vision Syndrome is a real phenomenon, and a definite challenge for those of us whose work requires long stretches of screen time. And eye fatigue is a legitimate contemporary health concern for many workers and employers in the U.S.
This has lead to the creation and recommendation of reading breaks, specially coated lenses for computer workers, and a variety of other measures designed to ameliorate the effects of spending too much time reading material on digital screens.
But somewhere in all the concern that’s arisen over digital eyestrain, the question over whether engaging with the printed page has the same effect as electronic reading has gotten lost. So is reading the printed page bad for your eye health? If so, is it as bad or worse than digital?
CVS and the Trouble With Digital
CVS stands for Computer Vision Syndrome, also known as Digital Eye Strain by some eye care professionals. It can arise from repeated long-duration use of e-readers, cell phones, tablets, and computers. Most folks who experience it report that its occurrence can begin with as little as two hours of uninterrupted screen reading, and that the discomfort associated with CVS gets worse the longer the duration of screen reading.
With the average American worker spending as much as seven or more hours working on a computer and then relying upon other digital interfaces in their leisure time, the reality of CVS and the need for measures like the 20-20-20 rule (look at something twenty feet away for twenty seconds every twenty minutes) to combat it are necessary these days.
Eye Fatigue From Reading Print
If only it were as simple to find a solution to CVS as it is to bring back print’s dominance in the workplace. Employees could sue their employers over digital eyes strain and we could all dust off our FAX machines.
Unfortunately, research shows that eyestrain is not a new phenomenon predicated on advancements in workplace technology. Reading text, regardless of the format in which it is presented, can require as many as ten thousand eye muscle movements a minute.
Your eyes don’t simply see text, even on a printed page – they work with it, causing many experts to recommend something like the 20-20-20 rule to avoid eyestrain during reading of any kind, including the reading of printed matter on the page.
The Verdict: Eyestrain From Printed vs. Digital Reading
Reading is hard work for your eyes, regardless of the format the words are delivered in. To keep your eyes healthy and to cut down on the negative effects of prolonged reading, remember to take breaks away from paper or screen every twenty minutes or so. Your eyes will thank you.