Dear Dopers, can you help me settle an old argument? I would like some reputable citations with data showing that looking at a bright screen (IE, a computer screen) in a darkened room for prolonged periods of time either does or does not have perceptible effects on eyesight*. Data about reading under low light are also of interest.
Thanks - this seems kind of inconclusive, but at least it’s a start! (And it’s looking like I may be wrong, with my “of course it hurts your eyes” stance in the aforementioned argument.)
I think those links are all pretty clearly pointing to the same thing: viewing a bright screen in a dark room causes eye strain (which is a temporary discomfort), but no permanent damage. So it “hurts your eyes” in the sense that eye strain can cause a dull aching or photosensitivity, but not in the sense that you’ll lose your eyesight any faster.