Desktop computer monitors and eye care
Being at university implies many hours of screen time and we often neglect eye care. You may experience watery eyes, headaches, fatigue due to eye strain. If you look out for the following monitor features you will ensure that you have the best monitor possible for your sensitive eyes. Many of these factors are relevant to desktop monitors but also pertain to your laptop monitor.
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Full HD resolution 1,920×1,080 (1080p) is a standard today. There are tradeoffs with going to higher and lower resolutions from 1080p.
Higher resolution notes
- If you decide that you are ready for 4k that is 3840 × 2160 (2160p) then you have to realize the text will become smaller increasing your eye strain
- text becomes sharper due to the increased resolution easing eye strain
- Higher resolution monitors give you some options because you have the flexibility to adjust font sizes and scaling settings without sacrificing clarity.
- Requires better graphics capabilities
- You can sit farther away from your screen without losing clarity that can also give your eyes a break
Converse is true for lower resolution monitors. Ultimately, it’s your personal preference here due to your particular eyes, how you intend to use the monitor and your budget.
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This world-renowned standard makes sure that:
- Flicker Free technology – refresh rate is high enough so that it does not add strain to your eyes
- Low Blue Light – standard that minimizes the harmful effects of blue light
Look for this certification when you purchase your next monitor.
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If your monitors colour gamut is poor then it can have negative effects:
- Increased eye strain trying to distinguish colours
- Difficulty reading text
- Inaccurate Color Representation
DCI-P3 is becoming increasingly popular in PC monitors, especially in those designed for multimedia and entertainment purposes and is a recommended monitor feature.
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Ambient light sensor is a niche option that allows the monitor to measure ambient light and dynamically adjust monitor brightness to their optimal settings. Say your room is dark at night it will automatically adjust the brightness, that should equate to easing eye-strain. This is an excellent feature but it comes at a price.
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Some monitor manufacturers sell matching light bars with the monitor. This is a good idea so that you minimise monitor glare and can see and read things on your table. The light bar can decreases the brightness contrast between the computer screen and the surroundings to aid in eye protection.
Ant-glare coating – good or bad?
An anti-glare coating seems like a good idea because no one likes glare. The issue is that this feature comes at a cost. Anti-glare monitors can have a negative impact on image quality by making the image appear fuzzier or grainier in certain instances, such as when displaying the color white and other light colors.
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- ePaper mode – ePaper is a technology that reflect light rather than emits light which makes it easier to see under different lighting conditions and less harsh on your eyes. Some monitors can have ePaper mode that can replicate the black and white look which makes reading easier.
- Eye Reminder – Software to help you track screen time and set break reminders
- Screen dimming – software gradually reduces the brightness of your monitor over time
- Brightness presets – switch to a less bright preset when needed
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- Monitor panel type – The common monitor panel types are twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA) and in-plane switching (IPS), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and Quantum-Dot Organic Light-Emitting Diode (QD-OLED). There is no clear winner here but the IPS and QD-OLED are great because of their flicker-free operation, high contrast ratios and colour accuracy.
- Monitor stand – needs to be adjustable and tiltable for the best ergonomic position
- Curved monitors – the same physics that limit curved-screen distortion also make their use more comfortable.
- Size – Common desktop computers screen sizes are 24”-32″ you probably don’t want to go smaller than that. Larger screen sizes are not better necessarily. For ergonomics you want to have the top of your monitor at eye level and that is said to give your eyes and neck the best position. If you have a 48” monitor that position may not be possible. If you reach your hand out you should be able to touch your monitor, now what size monitor is most comfortable for you at that distance?
Summary
Your eyes are important so it goes without saying that your monitor is crucial in minimising eye strain.
- Resolution – Full HD (1080p) is baseline find the resolution that best suits you. Try a higher resolution monitor and see if that works for you?
- TÜV Rheinland-certification is a standard that makes sure the refresh rate is adequate as well as minimising blue light emissions
- DCI-P3 standard will gives you an excellent colour gamut
- Ambient light sensor is a great feature
- Matching light bar that mounts on your monitor can give you better ambient lighting
- Nice software features are ePaper mode, eye reminder, screen dimming, and brightness presets
- IPS or QD-OLED panels are excellent
- Make sure your stand is adjustable and can tilt and curved monitors can be beneficial to your eyes
- Recommended desktop monitor sizes are 24” – 32”
Author: Andrew Miles, Sr System Administrator, School of Computer Science, Carleton University