What is the optimal distance that separates us from the computer screen?

7 min read

 

Millions of people around the world currently spend a few hours a day sitting in front of computer screens, whether desktop, laptop, tablet, or even smartphones, reading references, study materials, or websites, or doing their work that has become highly dependent on the use of these devices in various companies and institutions. and universities, or even engage in some recreational activities and use video games.

 

What is the optimal distance that separates us from the computer screen

On the other hand, many people suffer as a result of these long hours of use from many physical problems, especially back and neck pain, in addition to eye pain, which may become tired and dehydrated when sitting too close or too far from the computer screen. In the following, we will discuss the negative physical impact of sitting in front of computer and laptop screens uncomfortably, and what is the optimal distance that separates us on the computer screen during use in order to maintain the safety and comfort of our eyes.

 

Why should we sit at an appropriate distance from the screen?

 

Many people think that the danger of sitting in front of a computer screen for a long time lies only in sitting very close to the device screen and that the farther our eyes are from the computer screen, the more we keep our eyes safe, but in fact, this is not exactly true, whether the user approaches his eyes Stay away from the computer screen too much or stay away from it too much, both of which can harm the safety of the eyes.

 

If we sit too far from a computer screen, we will see things too small and we won't be able to see details clearly, for example, if we try to read a written text our eyes will suffer as a result. If we sit too close to the screen, the brightness of the screen and the sharpness of its details will become too big and bloated for our eyes, causing them to be tired as well.

 

The dangers of eye strain

 

The dangers of eye strain

Red and dry eyes, headache, blurred vision, eye pain, and other changes that occur to the user's eyes when sitting in front of the computer screen or the laptop in an incorrect position are the main signs that the user's eyes are tired and need some rest. Eyestrain may also cause the eyes to stay open for long periods of time without blinking, which is called squint.

 

Eye blinking or eyelid movement at intervals to close and open the eye involuntarily helps to moisten the eye using tears, mucus, and eye fluids, and to get rid of foreign bodies by expelling them, which protects the eyeball from drying out.

 

Exposing the eye to dehydration as a result of this lack of hydration poses a threat to the integrity of the cornea, which is the outer layer that protects the eye, and then dehydration may cause it to be scratched, and since this layer contains many nerve endings, this will be very painful. If these symptoms appear, the user should immediately stop looking at the computer screen, and get some rest by lying on the back and closing the eyes to rest them for some time, or going out to an open place to breathe some fresh air.

 

What is the best distance to sit away from the computer screen?

 

What is the best distance to sit away from the computer screen

It is difficult to answer this question, as it is not possible to determine the exact distance that should separate the user from the screen of his desktop, laptop, or tablet device, as this distance depends on several factors such as visual strength, which varies from one user to another, and the type and size of the screen The device, which is measured in inches, the resolution and quality of the screen display, which is measured in pixels, as well as the type of activity that the user engages in while using the device. Watching a movie or browsing websites, for example, does not require getting close to the screen as much as writing a text, or playing a video game.

 

But let's say we have a standard 16:9 screen, not an HD screen like 32-inch gaming monitors, and let's also say we have a standard user with perfect visual acuity i.e. 6/6, now we can find A standard answer is also to this question, that is, it does not apply to all users of desktop and laptop computers, but only applies to some.

 

First, in the case of desktop computers

 

First, in the case of desktop computers

while sitting to engage in various activities and uses in front of desktop computer screens; It is preferable that the user’s eyes remain at a distance from the computer screen approximately equal to the length of the arm, that is, between 50-70 centimeters, even if more than one device or screen is used at the same time, the user must maintain the same distance between his eyes and between each device with Ensure that all devices are placed in one horizontal level as much as possible so that the user does not have to constantly raise and lower his eyes while moving his eyes from one screen or monitor to another.

 

If not all of these screens or beams are of equal heights, it is best for the user to place the lower screens on flat surfaces of paper or cardboard to raise them and align them with the higher screens, and they can also be placed on special stands, which can provide other additional advantages besides Height control.

 

When using two devices at the same time, it is preferable for the user to sit exactly in the middle between the screens of both devices, with a distance of 50-70 centimeters from each of them so that he does not have to constantly move his neck for large distances. This position will allow him to turn frequently at slight side angles to keep his neck safe. In the case of using three devices at the same time, it is preferable for the user to sit at a distance of 50-70 centimeters from each of the three screens separately so that he is facing one of them directly and in the middle of the two screens or the other two screens exactly in order to facilitate viewing all the screens smoothly without causing bone pain the neck.

 

There is another solution in the case of using more than one computer screen or a monitor at the same time, which is to sit on a movable seat or rotate around a fixed axis so that the user moves with his whole body to face the desired screen when needed instead of repeatedly turning the neck.

 

It is also recommended to avoid staring at the computer screen. If you find your eyes staring at the screen of the device, and not blinking enough, try moving the upper eyelid to close and open your eyes frequently to moisturize and protect them from drying out. Also, make sure to keep the computer screen at a slightly lower level and not exactly at eye level, which increases the field of vision, relaxes the eyes, and reduces the feeling of squinting and opening your eyes wide.

 

But take care that the screen does not become so low that it forces you to bend forward so that you can read and see, as this may cause you a pain in the neck, but the level of the first line of text displayed on the screen should be approximately at the level of your eyes.

 

Second, in the case of the laptop

 

Second, in the case of the laptop

The situation for laptops or laptops is different from the previous situation. In the case of the laptop, the keyboard is connected to the screen of the device so that the user has to stay close to the screen of the device in order to be able to use the keyboard and the tactile device indicator, and this mode does not allow the previous distance to be adhered to, But there is an alternative solution so that the user can sit 50-70 centimeters away from the screen.

 

This alternative solution is to connect an external keyboard and an external mouse to the laptop using USB cables and control the device from an appropriate distance, which is the arm distance as previously while maintaining a safe distance that protects the safety of the user's eyes without having to approach the device screen too much.

 

Summary | It is difficult to accurately determine the optimal distance that should separate the user from his desktop, laptop, or tablet screen, as this distance depends on several factors such as visual strength, which varies from one user to another, the type and size of the device screen in inches, the resolution and quality of the screen display in pixels, as well as The type of activity the user engages in while using the device.

 

However, if we assume a conventional standard desktop computer screen with a 16:9 height-to-width ratio, which is not ultra-high-resolution, and we assume a standard user whose visual acuity is an ideal 6/6, then in this case we can assume that the ideal distance that the user must be away from the screen in order to keep his eyes safe and comfortable is the arm distance, i.e. between 50-70 centimeters, and this does not apply, of course, to laptops where the keyboard is not separated from the screen of the device.

 

Therefore, in the event of observance of the aforementioned safe distance, it should be taken into account to connect the device to an external keyboard and mouse through USB cables so that the user can control the device while maintaining a safe and comfortable distance between the user’s eyes and the device screen. 

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