Outdoor reading is ‘better for your eyes’, study finds

by

Outdoor reading is ‘better for your eyes’ as contrast levels improve, allowing you to see letters on a clearer page, find a study

  • Researchers measured the response of visual neurons to dark or light squares
  • The results showed that visual contrast increased externally
  • This suggests reading in bright light stimulates your visual brain in a more effective way

By Best Shivali for Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Whether by the pool, on the beach or in a sunny park, many of us enjoy reading outdoors.

Now, a new study has revealed that reading printed pages outdoors is better for your eyes than capturing an indoor book.

Scientists say that outdoor lighting improves contrast levels, making it easier for you to see the letters on the page.

The team hopes the decisions will encourage people to step outside to read if they can.

Scientists say that outdoor lighting improves contrast levels, making it easier for you to see the letters on the page (stock image)

WHY IS CONTRAST SO IMPORTANT?

Comparison is a property of consciousness that makes motivators stand out. Writers, designers, and musicians all use contrast to emphasize dramatic differences in text, visual representations and melodies.

In a scene, light contrast describes the difference in light intensity between a stimulus and its surroundings.

What makes a dark letter easier to read is the gray letter in a white sheet. Vision research has been working for decades with the assumption that light contrast does not change with light intensity.

That is, it is assumed that a dark letter in a white leaf has the same contrast outside under the brightest light than the inside under the lowest light.

If a contrast were not retained over a different depth of light, a black letter inside would turn white on the outside as it reflects much more light.

In the study, researchers from New York State University’s College of Optometry set out to understand the benefits of reading in a variety of light situations.

Dr Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi, who led the study, said: ‘The amount of light is changing in our visual world.

‘Our work shows the brightness of images changing our sensitivity to light and dark contrast to effectively extract information from natural scenes.’

He said: ‘The findings of the study conclude that you can now feel good when you decide to read your favorite book outdoors.

‘You can say that scientifically proven visual acuity increases externally and, therefore, reading under bright light stimulates your visual brain in a more effective way, giving you see the letters better, and help your sight. ‘

In a series of tests on both cats and humans, the team measured the response of visual neurons in response to dark or light squares.

Participants wore an EEG (electroencephalography) skull cap that monitors brain movements.

The results showed that external visual acuity increased, indicating that reading under bright light stimulates your visual brain in a more effective way.

Dr Rahimi-Nasrabadi said: ‘To our surprise we found that the shape of the light response action was altered by both the range and black and white polarity.’

The results show that, as a visual acuity, sensitivity varies greatly depending on the amount of light.

The results show that, as a visual acuity, sensitivity varies greatly depending on the amount of light.

In a scene, light contrast describes the difference in light intensity between a stimulus and its surroundings.

What makes a dark letter easier to read is the gray letter in a white sheet.

However, visual analysis has been working for decades with the assumption that light contrast does not change with light intensity.

That is, it is assumed that a dark letter in a white leaf has the same contrast outside under the brightest light than the inside under the lowest light.

The study shows that the decades-old assumption is wrong and can cause significant measurement errors.

He is influential in basic research, ophthalmic clinic and the many subjects that rely on accurate estimates of visual acuity.

An increase in the amount of light shifts relative sensitivity to darker or lighter stimuli than their surroundings in an opposite direction (stock image)

An increase in the amount of light shifts relative sensitivity to darker or lighter stimuli than their surroundings in an opposite direction (stock image)

For example, it can lead to inaccurate measurements of visual sensitivity in eye disease, differences in medical imaging or architectural design of places for visually impaired and elderly people.

The results show that, as is visual acuity, sensitivity varies greatly depending on the amount of light.

Increased light shifts sensitivity relative to darker or lighter stimuli than those around them in other directions.

It improves the discrimination of the darkest contrasts – making it easier to see subtle differences in the shadow of an eye – while adversely affecting the discrimination of the darkest contrasts.

Dr Rahimi-Nasrabadi said: ‘The opposite movements of dark and light contrast with light intensity can be reflected in neurons of the visual cortex, natural scenes, and appear to be well preserved. across different species of mammals.

The new results can also be used to develop standard image processing algorithms and visual contrast measurements. ‘

THE ISLAND INCLUDING A GARDEN AND ITSELF?

Both short-sightedness and long-sightedness are common conditions that reduce a person’s vision.

People with short-term (myopic) vision have difficulty seeing objects at a distance.

They prefer objects that are closer to them.

Their vision is clear when they look at things very closely, but further afield things will be out of focus or unclear.

Short-sightedness (myopia) occurs when the distance from the front to the back of the cornea curve is too steep.

This causes the light to focus in front of the retina, causing objects on the horizon to appear blurred.

Long-sightedness (hyperopia) is the other side of this and allows people to see things clearly at a distance but finds it difficult to focus on things near them.

This makes everyday activities such as working out, reading or watching TV difficult and can cause eye strain. This in turn leads to muscle weakness and headache.

Prolonged vision occurs when the distance from the front to the back of the cornea curve is too steep.

.Source