Why Do Brightness Matter?

With the advancement of modern technology, monitors have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Whether for work, study, or entertainment, screen time is continually increasing. However, prolonged screen use has led to a growing issue of eye fatigue for many. Often, we hear the advice to reduce monitor brightness to alleviate eye strain, but does this method really work? In fact, high-brightness displays with 1000 nits of brightness may be the key to ensuring visual comfort.

The Importance of High Brightness Displays

Numerous studies have shown that low-light reading is significantly linked to the onset of myopia. When reading in low-light conditions, the eyes constantly adjust to the insufficient light, which causes the ciliary muscles to remain in a state of continuous tension. Over time, this can lead to the development and worsening of myopia. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Ophthalmology pointed out that insufficient lighting is one of the leading causes of myopia in children. Therefore, maintaining appropriate brightness while reading or using electronic devices is crucial in reducing the pressure on the ciliary muscles and lowering the risk of myopia.

Causes of Myopia

Myopia is a common vision problem that is influenced by various factors. In recent years, the high incidence of myopia has drawn widespread attention, and one key factor is prolonged exposure to low-light conditions while reading or using electronic devices. In such conditions, the eyes must work harder to focus and recognize text and images, which causes the ciliary muscles to remain contracted for long periods, resulting in eye fatigue and an increased risk of myopia.

Inadequate lighting can also hinder proper eye development, particularly in children and adolescents, whose eyes are still developing and are more sensitive to changes in light conditions. Research shows that outdoor activities and sufficient natural light can help prevent myopia because bright environments stimulate the retina to produce dopamine, which inhibits excessive eye growth and reduces the likelihood of myopia.

Moreover, prolonged near-eye usage is another important cause of myopia. Focusing on nearby objects for extended periods causes the ciliary muscles to remain tense, increasing the strain on the eyes. If this occurs in a low-light environment, the negative effects are even more severe. Therefore, maintaining appropriate lighting conditions and adopting proper eye habits are key to reducing the onset of myopia.

Many people mistakenly believe that lowering monitor brightness can protect their eyes from discomfort caused by excessive light. In reality, when the monitor brightness is too low, the eyes have to work harder to discern the content on the screen, which often leads to faster fatigue. This is especially true in environments with stronger ambient lighting, where a dim display not only makes the screen content hard to see but also puts extra strain on the eyes.

A monitor with 1000 nits of brightness offers the advantage of maintaining good readability and contrast in various lighting environments. When the display brightness is high enough, text and images on the screen appear clearer and sharper, allowing the eyes to capture the needed information more easily. This effect is crucial in reducing visual fatigue. High brightness is especially noticeable in indoor environments with strong natural light, as it avoids visual adjustments like squinting or blinking caused by dim screen content.

Matching Display Brightness with Natural Light

The human eye is highly adaptable to natural light. During the day, the brightness of natural light is often much higher than that of any standard display device. Outside, sunlight can reach several hundred thousand nits, while indoor natural light typically reaches thousands of nits. Therefore, selecting a monitor with a higher brightness to match the ambient lighting is a more natural approach. When the monitor brightness matches the surrounding light, the eye doesn't need to constantly adjust its pupil size, reducing eye strain and fatigue.

In contrast, if the monitor brightness is too low, especially in bright environments, the eyes are forced to constantly adjust due to the contrast between the screen's brightness and the ambient light. This prolonged visual adjustment is one of the key causes of myopia. In low-brightness environments, the constant tension in the ciliary muscles adds to the strain on the eyes, increasing the risk of myopia. Over time, this can lead to eye fatigue and even vision deterioration. Therefore, maintaining proper screen brightness in daily use is essential. A monitor with 1000 nits of brightness can help us better adapt to different lighting conditions, making reading and viewing easier.

Enhancing Visual Experience with High Brightness Displays

In addition to reducing eye fatigue, high-brightness displays can significantly improve image detail and color performance. When displaying HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, a monitor with 1000 nits of brightness can provide higher contrast and more realistic colors, allowing both bright and dark areas of the image to be clearly displayed. This visual experience is not only more realistic but also aligns better with the way the human eye perceives light, making the viewing experience more natural and comfortable.

Whether you're watching videos, browsing images, or working on high-precision designs, a high-brightness monitor brings every detail to life. The brightness ensures that the eyes can easily capture these details without straining to see the screen. This effortless viewing experience directly enhances visual comfort.

Tips for Healthy Screen Use

How to Determine the Right Brightness

To ensure eye health, it's important to select the appropriate screen brightness. So, what brightness level is optimal? Generally, the screen brightness should match the ambient light to avoid eye strain caused by lighting differences. In darker rooms, the screen brightness can be set to 100-300 nits, while in brighter daytime environments, a brightness level of at least 500-1000 nits is recommended to ensure content is clearly visible. Many modern monitors come with an automatic brightness adjustment function, which adjusts the brightness according to the surrounding light, helping reduce eye strain.

Although high-brightness monitors with 1000 nits can significantly improve comfort, reducing eye fatigue requires considering other factors as well. First, maintain an appropriate distance between the screen and your eyes, typically recommended at 50-70 cm. Second, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds, allowing your eye muscles to relax. Additionally, adjust the monitor's brightness to match the surrounding light—neither too high nor too low.

A 1000-nit high-brightness monitor provides clear, readable screen content in different lighting environments, reducing the strain on the eyes. This is essential for enhancing the visual comfort of long screen use. Therefore, high-brightness displays are not a burden on the eyes. On the contrary, they are key to maintaining eye health and reducing visual fatigue. Especially during reading and studying, adequate light can effectively prevent the onset of myopia, helping us maintain good vision.