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Adjust TV settings to suit your comfort

Eye care experts generally agree that watching television will not harm your eyes or vision to larger extent if the TV room is lit properly and if you follow a few viewing tips.

In fact, there is usually less strain involved in TV viewing than in doing work such as sewing or reading. But TV watching for long stretches of time can leave your eyes fatigued, according to Dr Arif Adenwala, Specialist Ophthalmologist at Zulekha Hospital.

A normally lit room, suitable for general activities, is best, he explained. “Excessively bright lighting tends to reduce contrast on the screen and ‘wash out’ the picture.”

No lights should be placed where glare or reflections will be seen in or near the television screen. Strongly coloured lighting should not be used and surroundings should be neutral in colour, said Dr Adenwala.

When the room is totally dark, the contrast between the television screen and the surrounding area is too great for a comfortable and efficient vision. When the room is softly illuminated, undesirable high contrast is kept to a minimum. He also said that it is better to adapt the set’s brightness and contrast to room lighting and not room lighting to the set. Wearing sunglasses may shut out too much light for good vision. “If worn when not needed, they tend to make it difficult for the viewer to adapt promptly to normal light levels. If you are bothered by brightness, consult an eye care practitioner about the possible need for lenses more appropriate to TV viewing,” he said.

Close-up or continuous viewing is certainly not recommended. It is best to watch television from a distance of at least five times the width of the picture. Picture details will appear sharper and better defined and the television lines and defects will be less apparent. “If your child persists in watching television from a short distance, have his or her vision checked. Nearsighted (myopic) children like to sit close to the screen.”

Watering eyes or visual discomfort could indicate a problem that needs professional attention. “Some viewers, especially those over 50 years old, may find relief with special glasses for television viewing,” said the doctor.

Discomfort could also indicate that the passages which drain tears from the eyes into the nose are partially blocked and require examination.

Colour deficiency (i.e. colour blindness) is generally not a barrier to enjoying colour television. However, viewers with colour deficiencies may disagree with others as to the ‘proper’ colour adjustment.

A colour TV picture properly adjusted for most people may appear too green to a protanomalous (weak red) observer, or too red to a deuteranomalous (weak green) viewer. When the set is adjusted to ‘correct’ its colour, the resulting picture is usually unsatisfactorily tinted for other viewers. Viewers who are severely colour deficient, the so-called ‘red blind’ or ‘green blind,’ will see little or no difference in widely different color mixtures, and will not be bothered by most colour adjustments.

TV viewing tips

• Make sure your television set is properly installed and the antenna properly adjusted.
• Place the set to avoid glare and reflections from lamps, windows and other bright sources.
• Adjust brightness and contrast controls to individual and/or viewer’s taste and comfort.
• Have the set at approximately eye level. Avoid having to look up or down at the picture.
• Avoid staring at the screen for lengthy periods. Briefly look away from the picture, around the room or out of the window.
• Wear lenses prescribed for vision correction, if advised to do so by your eye care practitioner.
• View from a distance at least five times the width of the television screen.