When our eyes are exposed to the UV radiation in sunlight for prolonged periods of time, it can cause permanent damage and vision impairment. But can low-light environments cause eye damage as well? While many people believe so, that’s not quite the case.
No, it doesn’t hurt your eyes
Long story short–no, reading in low light doesn’t hurt your eyes. It might cause eye fatigue and headaches, but it won’t cause your vision to deteriorate. However, once you finish reading or switch to an area with more light, any effects from eye fatigue should disappear on their own.
The idea that it does is just a myth
This idea that reading in low light can damage to your vision has been around for generations, but it’s nothing more than a common myth. Although reading in a dimly-lit room can cause eye fatigue and headaches, it won’t cause your vision to deteriorate.
How to protect against eye fatigue
That said, reading in a well-lit room can make reading far more comfortable. Ideally, the light should land directly on the page to maximize contrast in the text. If that causes too much glare, use a lampshade to diffuse the light across the page. Plus, clip-on lamps are great for those of us who like to read before bed. Just attach one to the headboard and adjust it to a suitable position.
While reading in low light won’t harm your eyes, you should still take steps to protect your eyes at all times. That means reading in properly lit rooms and, of course, wearing sunglasses when you’re outside. If you’re in need of a pair of sunglasses, then check out our selection here at Real Shades to get started.