The question is: Are physical books better than E books such as Kindles for your eyes?
Yes, Physical books do not emit blue light however using Ebooks in moderation will cause minimal harm once the steps listed below are enforced.
More information on Physical Books Vs. Kindles
Research shows that books can help people improve their knowledge, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
A healthy love for reading is likely to benefit you in several ways. Why is reading so important? Because it develops the mind and teaches vital social skills like empathy and compassion while broadening your perspective. Dr Seuss puts it perfectly when he says that “reading can take you places you’ve never been before.
But paperbacks can be expensive and difficult to store if you don’t have a lot of space. And while digital books like kindle books can be great for the avid eco-warrior, they’re not always beneficial for good healt
Reading books also enhance memory, cognition, and intelligence. There are numerous benefits of reading physical books.
These include absorbing more information, experiencing fewer distractions, helping you sleep better, and are easier on your eyes.
On the other hand, e-Books, such as those available on Amazon Kindle, are portable and lightweight, meaning you can use your digital device to read them anywhere.
Likewise, Kindle offers updates, shareable content, and read-aloud features. EBooks also have interactive elements, allowing the reader to engage more without getting bored.
Physical Books vs. Kindle – Effects on Your Eyes
The only concern with physical books is lighting. For instance, reading in poor lighting conditions makes it challenging for people to focus on the book’s content, causing eye fatigue.
Reading in dim lighting prevent your eyes from frequently blinking, leading to dry eyes condition.
Other than that, there are no intense symptoms of reading printed books. However, the world moves towards digitization because it offers various benefits to people.
Automation and digitization are the future, which is why many companies focus on developing advanced, innovative technologies, tools, and equipment.
On the other hand, digital books, also known as eBooks, available on Kindle are of grave concern to your eyes. Digital devices, such as computers, laptops, smartphones, etc., emit blue light of shorter wavelengths and higher energy levels.
Remember, the blue light emitted from your digital device when reading an eBook on Kindle can enter your eyes and pass through your cornea and lens.
Thus, blue light can penetrate your retinal cells, causing symptoms like dry eyes, irritation fatigue, , redness, and strain. The condition is known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.
Not taking care of your eyes can turn this condition into macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye disorders.
Blue light from Kindle books can also affect your brain, disrupting your biological clock or circadian rhythm, leading to sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
How to Protect Your Eyes When Reading
If you read a book in a dim lighting condition, you must adequately position the light source.
For example, you should position behind you. That way, you can lit up the book’s page and streamlined your reading activity.
Many people who want to protect their eyes invest in special lights attached to the book, reducing the amount of strain when reading in dim lighting.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Whether you read a physical book or Kindle eBook, it is crucial to take frequent breaks. The 20-20-20 rule is a practical approach to protect your eyes from strain and fatigue.
The 20-20-20 rule protects your eyes when working on a computer or using a smartphone.
It requires you to look at a different object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes during the reading activity.
It enables you to take necessary breaks away from the physical or Kindle eBook, reducing the risk of eye strain.
Adjust the Font Size
Reading from a digital screen requires more work from your eyes because you have to focus on small pixels.
So, it is pretty challenging to read an eBook than a traditional, printed book. However, digital devices come with different features that reduce eyestrain.
For example, you can adjust the font size according to your requirements and adjust the contrast to minimize glare from the screen.
Test Your Eyesight
Regularly testing your eyesight is very important to maintain your eye health.
The purpose is to ensure wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses with the correct prescription.
Testing eyesight is likewise essential for children, especially if they experience symptoms of eye strain when reading a physical book or Kindle eBook.
Protect Yourself from Blue Light
Although digital screens and eBook platforms, such as Kindle, have many benefits, they can strain your eyes.
Ebooks are portable, and platforms like Kindle offers thousands of books, allowing you to use your digital device and read any book at any time.
All forms of digital screens, such as computer screens, smartphones, TVs, and tablets, can harm your eyes. Looking at these screens can cause computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain.
The most common symptoms of this condition are eyestrain, blurred vision, headaches, and migraines.
Different factors affect your eyes, leading to digital eye strain. For example, the most significant factor is the way a digital screen displays images.
Pixels from text and images are tiny pieces that work together to compose a complete picture.
Because these are tiny pixels, your eyes work harder to make up the image when you stare at the screen.
Remember, this can lead to blurred vision due to blue light emitted from the screen. Most tablets, like Samsung tablets and iPads, use digital screens with tiny pixels.
On the other hand, e-readers use different technology. For example, Amazon Kindle uses e-Ink, a type of display that mimics the printed paper. So, it can reduce the risk of developing eye conditions.
Wear Blue Light Glasses
Blue light glasses are specialized accessories with yellow or orange-tinted lenses that protect your eyes from shorter wavelengths of visible light.
Thus, you can prevent the higher energy blue light from penetrating your retinal cells. As a result, you will reduce the risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye conditions.
Blue light glasses also promote your sleep when using Kindle for reading books. The blue light emitted from the e-reader can disrupt your melatonin production in your brain.
Therefore, investing in quality blue light glasses can maintain your health. Make sure you consult with your eye doctor to ensure you are choosing the best quality blue light glasses.
