Do E-Readers Cause Eye Strain?
That’s a question on the minds of many consumers, and many ergonomists. Below are a few excerpts from an article by Nick Bilton, writing in The New York Times, including a quote from ergonomist (and member of Ergoweb’s editorial board) Alan Hedge: The admonition offered by legions of mothers — “Don’t sit so close to the TV” — isn’t really an option when it comes to e-reading devices. You have to get close to the screen to use it. “Most of what our mothers told us about our eyes was wrong,” said Dr. Travis Meredith, chair of the ophthalmology department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “Sitting close to a television, or computer screen, isn’t bad for our eyes. It’s a variety of other factors that can cause physical fatigue.” For example, the ergonomics of reading screens and the lack of blinking when we stare at them play a big role in eye fatigue. “The current problem with reading on screens is that we need to adjust our bodies to our computer screens, rather than the
