Dr. Sunil - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Sunil

Is Watching TV In The Dark Bad For You?


Grade

N


Short answer

Contrary to popular belief, watching TV in the dark does not cause any long-term damage. Short-term, however, it can cause eye strain and problems associated thereof.

Grade

N


Long answer

Watching TV in the dark really isn't bad for your overall health, but it isn't good either. While it won't cause any permanent damage to your eyes or weaken your eyesight, watching TV in the dark can still cause some temporary problems stemming from eye strain.

When the eyes have to constantly adjust to changing lightening instigated by the contrast of a dark room with a bright screen, it forces the muscles in the eyes to work harder. Also, in a dark room, people focus more intently on the television screen, causing less blinking. These factors combine to produce eye strain. Eye strain can cause headaches, fatigue, and blurry vision.

If you have your heart set on watching TV in a dark room (perhaps you want to enhance the effects of a horror movie), then go ahead and do so - the worst that will happen is your eyes will hurt and you'll have to close them. Better yet, you can avoid eyestrain by being sure to take periodic breaks from staring at the screen and blinking on purpose. Closing your eyes for a couple minutes at a time can also be helpful.

All in all, watching TV in the dark can cause eye strain and its associated problems. Other than that, it's perfectly safe and shouldn't be a cause for concern - that is, unless you are watching the video from Ringu.


Possible short-term side effects

  • eye strain
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • blurry vision
  • eye "soreness"


Healthier alternatives

  • blinking
  • periodically looking away
  • using low-level lighting



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-10-2016




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