Protect your eyes from television

Watching television is not that important to me because I spend most of the time before a computer/laptop.But I think people should maintain a distance 6feet from the screen for a 17inch screen television.

I usually watch TV for like 2-3 hours daily, but I tried to place my TV as far as possible from my couch. Besides the TV, the computer can do just as much harm as the big screen. Many of us, including myself tend to do long time surfing online, and look at the screen for a long time is really uncomfortable. The TV should be placed in a bright room, as you said too much glare will make your eyes strain even more. Is better to move your eyes away from the screen at times, specially around commerical times in between your favourite programs. With a well controled watching habit, you can minimize the eye strain, and still able to enjoy your shows.

Hey careguarden! I did not hear that about LCD Tv's! I have one now for about six months now! It doesn't bother me anymore than my other tv does! I don't sit close to the screen because it is at the foot of the bed and kind of on the diagnal! I don't watch tv until late at night before I am ready to go to sleep or try to go to sleep anyway! I'm not worried about eye fatigue from the tv because I spend more time online then I do watching the tv so if I'm getting eye fatigue it will be from mylotting!

Most of the time my back is to the television, or I'm a good four to six feet from it. I've had eyestrain and headachs before, but usually not from television. I don't get that close to it. I can't really see much on it so getting closer won't do me any good. But, for those of you that can, its strongly advised that you don't get too close. just because you have yet to have a problem doesn't mean it can't or won't happen to you.

Hi careguarden, Thanks for posting this helpful discussion. I actually experienced this firsthand, when I was a child, I love watching close to the television set coz it makes me feel I'm really part of the show, and I'm very intent on watching. Aside from that, I read books lying down or even in dim light. I noticed I'm having this eye strain, and when I went to an ophthalmologist, I was diagnosed to be nearsighted and have a high grade and will be needing eyeglasses for everyday wear. It's too late to regain my 20/20 vision and I'm only at my teens that time. So it was a lesson learned for me not to watch closely to a monitor or tv screen. Even now, when I am using the computer, I frequently experience "eye strain" so I made it a point to have distance between my face and the screen and rest my eyes once in a while.

It is much worse on your eyes to use a computer monitor because you are much closer reading small text, and because your eyes never stop growing they adapt fast and become worse on length.