Is reading eBooks safe?

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Ok, so I recently found that my local library offers some books in .pdf formats. So I "checked out" 3 of them. They are all about 250 pages long, and I've been reading them on my laptops 15" LCD monitor.

My question is: Is it safe for my eyes to read that much off of a computer screen? So far today, I have read about 20 pages, and my eyes are very lightly bloodshot. Are there any long term effects of eye strain, and could this make my crummy vision even worse?

 

What's the lighting in the room? Brightly lit, there should be no effects. If your monitor is the only light, you've got problems.

 

As safe as staring any screen for hours. Just make sure the room is brightly lit and that you take a break when your eyes start aching. It's also a good idea to remove your eye-glasses if your are near-sighted, since they cause extra work to your muscles when viewing near objects.

 

I've been reading those eBooks on my smartphone(s) for the last 3 years...my eyes are fine. I bet its a helluva lot easier reading them on the computer screen (which I've been doing voraciously for the last 5+ years) ... so yeah, I think its safe.

Just take general precautions with regards to reading like lighting and taking breaks and all of that, and you will be fine.

 

Ummm...If I do that, I'll have to be closer than 6-7 inches from the screen for standard 12pt font to be readable. Yes, I know my eyes suck.

As for lightning, it's not as bright as an office filled with fluorescent lights, but I do have a light fixture with two 75 Watt bulbs hidden by a diffuser. In addition to that, I have a small fluorescent desk lamp that's positioned just right so is lights up the white wall behind my screen as well as slightly illuminating the keyboard.

I've also cranked the brightness of my screen down a bit since at it's highest setting (which I use for browsing the web and playing games) makes the text feel like it’s being burned into my retinas.

 

I downloaded a bunch of books from the Baen free library and I read them on airflights. So far I have never had any problems with eye strain and you have to figure that the lighting on a plane is far from optimal.

On the other hand, I am one of those guys who can sit and read a book for five hours straight without any eye strain so it could just be that I am weird.

 

Either that or you have waaaay too much time on your hands.

Actually, I read for almost 4 hours straigt a few days before I posted this topic. And let me tell you, after 4 hours straight, my eyes weren't feeling too good.

 

@ Kitrax: Well, you could use weaker glasses. That's what I do. Strongest glasses for viewing far, when outdoors, and weaker ones for computer-use, when indoors.

 

I can't even imagine trying to read a book electronically. Paper all the way for me.

You said it, not me.

 

The only time I read an e-book is at work (obviously once I have completed my duties *ahem*) and the office is well lit, I've never felt any side effects - so far!

 

Here's an interesting Straight Dope article on eye damage, including computer screens.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_105.html

It seems to not cause permanent damage, just eye fatigue.