Causes Of Eye Fatigue

When you use a computer your eyes can become fatigued and after researching the problem, these are the problems EIZO found to cause the most problems for people.

1. LED Backlight

According to EIZO's research, the number of people who report eye fatigue which is caused by flickering has increased since LED backlights grew in popularity. The flickering which some people have reported is caused by the LED backlight flashing at a high speed.

How Does Flicker Work?
Dimming (brightness control) are separated into two categories - PWM and DC.

DC controls brightness through an electric current which means there's no flicker but the circuit design is complicated and it can cause problems when trying to control the colour in dark images.

PWM controls brightness by regulating the flicker intervals and this method is often used in LED monitors. This method offers a wide brightness adjustment range and features a simple circuit design (making it easy to mass produce). The problem this method has is that on a LED, the high speed of the flashing light could cause flickering. Plus, as the brightness of a LED screen is lowered, more flickering occurs.

For those looking for a monitor which combines the pros of DC and PWM dimming, EIZO has developed the FlexScan EV Series. Visit the EIZO website for more information. 

2. Bright Screen

A bright screen may appear clear and easy to use but as EIZO found out, a screen that's too bright can cause eye fatigue. This doesn't mean you should make the display too dark, though, as this will make it difficult to view and can add to eyestrain problems. All monitors are equipped with brightness controls so you can make adjustments which suit you. It can help if you try and match the brightness of your screen to your surroundings and don't forget to also adjust the contrast. Taking the time to change the text size may also ease eye strain problems.

If you own an EIZO monitor you may find that it comes equipped with Auto EcoView, a brightness sensor. This feature is found on most of EIZO's general-purpose monitors and it will automatically adjust the screen's brightness to an appropriate level that's right for the space you are working in. 

3. Blue Light

Blue light isn't kind on the eyes and some believe this is because of its short-wavelength. Hues such as orange or red have longer-wavelengths and these are said to not cause as many problems. Adjusting your monitor's colour temperature can help combat this problem as too can reducing the amount of blue colours on your screen.  You may find that lowering the brightness, which can reduce the overall energy use, also results in a reduction of the effects blue light has.