Bright screens in a dark room advice...?

[Koldov]

I am constantly walking past the ICT Suite and noticing pupils sitting in the dark staring at bright screens... going in and turning the lights on... to puzzled looks from the teachers...

 

I asked the head to email all the teachers as I believed it was bad for the children's eyesight (eye strain) I mean, I remember my mum telling me I'd get square eyes sitting too close to the TV in the dark... and this was in the 70s - yes, I'm that old kids... so I just presumed it was common knowledge.

 

I am in the middle of a follow up email as it still seems to be happening, but actually finding little actual, concrete, black & white evidence... did I make it up, is it an urban myth...?

 

There isn't even really any guidance in the HSE - DSE!

 

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.PDF

 

"Adjust the brightness and contrast controls on the screen to suit lighting conditions in the room"

 

I'm not about to let them all start playing with the monitor buttons...

 

EDIT: Obviously more noticeable today as the blinds are all closed and everybody is making sure they take their ICT lesson in the ICT Suite (because... air-con)!

Edited July 18, 2022 by Koldov

[TechMonkey]

Looks like it is more about staring at screens then the lighting conditions - https://sites.uci.edu/morningsignout/2017/05/17/fact-or-fiction-screen-use-in-the-dark-can-harm-your-eyes/

My understanding was that dark room was better as you weren't straining your eyes against the competing light sources. You could use safeguarding as a reason, how can the teacher be supervising the pupils fully if they can't see them?

[StevieM]

We had someone from 'Compliance' do a H&S check on our work stations, last year. Apart from recommending a larger desk, so that my monitor was a suitable distance away from me, he also liked the fact that I had the lights off and said that was better for me.

[Koldov]

So, 'old wives' tale' and 'urban myth' it is!

 

Although most agree no long term damage, they do all conclude it may induce eye strain/fatigue/dry eye...

 

"As a result, the researchers discovered that less screen-use in poorly lit settings resulted in less frequent blink rates, less eyestrain, and less fatigue"

 

"To be fair, viewing a bright screen in a dark room does have an impact on your eyes, but not in a way that directly affects your vision. Rather, the combination of bright-screen-dark-room causes you to blink less, and that causes your eyes to dry out. Dryness leads to irritation and aches, but your vision itself suffers no long-term effects."

 

"You may experience some eyestrain or visual fatigue from viewing your screen in the dark"

 

"The result of all this testing and observation was that there was less eyestrain, discomfort, and visual fatigue when the volunteers watched the movie against a lighted wall"

 

So that's good enough for me, plus good shout on the 'safeguarding/classroom management' aspect.

 

EDIT: Well, I didn't get poor eyesight from years of watching kids TV in the dark.... maybe it was the other thing she warned me about...?

Edited July 18, 2022 by Koldov

[FN-GM]

 

EDIT: Well, I didn't get poor eyesight from years of watching kids TV in the dark.... maybe it was the other thing she warned me about...?

 

Maybe you didn’t eat your carrots?

[Koldov]

Maybe you didn’t eat your carrots?

 

Ah, yes that was it!

[StevieM]

Ah, yes that was it!

You needed a hand to remember, eh?

[Koldov]

You needed a hand to remember, eh?

 

Hopefully not one with a hairy palm...