For a few years I used dark mode because i thought it was better for your eyes; it isn’t.
When in dark mode, you’re looking at an overall darker screen, your pupils will dilate to let in more light, which makes everything just outside of focus very blurry, and gives the text a halo effect. A few minutes will be fine, but anything longer is going to make your eyes begin to strain.
When in light mode, your pupils contract to accommodate for the light, this is how our eyes are supposed to work, this is going to be less straining on your eyes. In low light environments, simply turn down the brightness and apply a night light filter.
If you’re going to use dark mode regardless, don’t use AMOLED unless it’s for saving battery. The contrast between bright white and pitch black is the worst combination. Consider using a soft grey, your eyes will thank you.
Dark mode actually makes my eyes relax and I feel less prone to headaches and eye fatigue.
Source?
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The source they cite is the AAO and their website has this article which seems to say the opposite.
Edit Wait. No. They cite the AOA which is different? Who comes up with this stuff‽
Ok both groups seem to agree that dark mode is either not bad for your eyes or better. The linked YouTube video isn’t some medical board or anything so I wouldn’t go by them.
What is even more interesting is the little battle between the AAO and the AOA. One being ophthalmologists and the other optometrists.
The former call themselves medical doctors, and outline both terms providing difference between them for easy access.
The latter, optometrists, call themselves doctors as much as possible in the context of medicine but seem to avoid calling themselves medical doctors because they know they arent. The only mention of ophthalmology on the AOA website seems to be in reference to groups that oppose them, which seems biased.
Like optometrists are trying as hard as possible to be considered medical doctors in as many ways as possible without having gone to medical school. Can’t say I care for the AOA or their articles now.
For some, maybe. I’m just generally photosensitive, so dark mode = less light = less problem.
If you’re photosensitive, that’s more reason not to be using dark mode. I challenge you to switch to light mode on a low brightness and nightlight for a week and get back to me on how it feels.
I went from reading for an hour before my eyes got sore, to being able to read for about four. It’s a lifechanger.
No thanks, I get enough migraine potential from just when I’m forced to use apps that don’t have a dark mode.
I’m not using dark everywhere I can because it’s cool or because I read some random paper, but because it’s legitimately the only way I can use technology.
If it works for you, then it works, but some research (which you can find lots on both sides) won’t suddenly stop how my eyes work.
No. This is crap.
We’ve been living a lie…
(Not to be that guy, the post just got me curious about it, so i looked up some more details) (Also, i rant a bit, so feel free to not read this)
Although in the article i checked, the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO) doesn’t specifically mention Dark Mode as something that reduces or increases eye strain, it does mention that lowering the brightness (or setting dark mode in your devices) does lower the amount of blue light that the screen displays, allowing you to sleep better, by not confusing your brain into thinking that it’s still daytime. (Feel free to correct me on this, other places i saw about this mostly cite anecdotes about how well it worked for them, regarding their sleep cycle.)
It does later say that one of the ways to possibly reduce eye strain when using a screen for a long time is by lowering the glare and brightness, by dimming the screen or the like.
So my take would be that maybe a full pitch black/AMOLED theme could start putting more strain into your eyes, the regular dark grey-ish should be right, but eyes differ from person to person so it’d boil down to: Find a middle ground that works for you and doesn’t make your eyes hurt? (Also take some time to let your eyes rest, lookup the 20-20-20 rule in the 2nd article)
(Sorry about the wall of text, i might’ve gotten a bit too into this)
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/is-dark-mode-better-for-your-eyes#about-blue-light https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/digital-devices-your-eyes
Tell me about it… Since changing back to light mode after all these years, my eyes have felt a lot less sore in only a few days, its amazing.
That’s fair, i’ve had used a few apps for long periods of time with light mode and it is pretty nice, although i’m biased towards dark mode. Maybe it also has to do with the enviroment around you? Since a dark theme while outside in a sunny day would surely put some strain in your eyes?
