it hurts my eyes, what ebook reader advice do you recommend?

bcgirl · 03-02-2011, 08:59 PM

I read a lot on my iPhone and I have to admit, it hurts my eyes after reading for hours. Blinking every time and so.....How is reading on an iPad? Same? Are ebook readers with e-ink much better?
If so, I just prefer color but does that mean that these color devices do not have e-ink?

Tamara · 03-02-2011, 09:35 PM

E-ink is grey scale. Color is LCD. Reading for hours on any device is going to hurt your eyes because eyes aren't designed to focus at one distance for hours at a time.

With the phone, try lowering the brightness, going with the sepia background, etc.

I've been reading on the iPad since last summer and do not have any issues but I'm in the habit of getting up once an hour, stretching and doing some distance stuff with my eyes to give them a rest from close up focus.

forkyfork · 03-03-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamara

E-ink is grey scale. Color is LCD. Reading for hours on any device is going to hurt your eyes because eyes aren't designed to focus at one distance for hours at a time.

With the phone, try lowering the brightness, going with the sepia background, etc.

I've been reading on the iPad since last summer and do not have any issues but I'm in the habit of getting up once an hour, stretching and doing some distance stuff with my eyes to give them a rest from close up focus.

I was told raising the brightness actually helps, and lowering the brightness is bad because it make you squint.

bcgirl · 03-03-2011, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamara

E-ink is grey scale. Color is LCD. Reading for hours on any device is going to hurt your eyes because eyes aren't designed to focus at one distance for hours at a time.

With the phone, try lowering the brightness, going with the sepia background, etc.

I've been reading on the iPad since last summer and do not have any issues but I'm in the habit of getting up once an hour, stretching and doing some distance stuff with my eyes to give them a rest from close up focus.

Yeah I did take some breaks too. Would you think that e-ink would be better? I just love the backlight, reading in dark spot, in bed etc.

Belle2Be · 03-03-2011, 01:17 AM

I can't read on LCD screens(Like my Nook Color), I get major eye strain. I can read on my Kindle (eInk) for hours on end though without problems.

vonCZ · 03-03-2011, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcgirl

Yeah I did take some breaks too. Would you think that e-ink would be better? I just love the backlight, reading in dark spot, in bed etc.

I do 95% of my reading in low/no light conditions, so the backlight is great. I've an iPad and iPhone, and though I read on both fine, it is a bit easier reading on the iPad (because I can increase the text size). The eInk might work better for you... but perhaps you just need a larger device, in which case the iPad would satisfy. One thing's for sure: you'll find no consensus here. Some folks' eyes tire from the backlight; others' don't. And some folks' eyes tire from reading on tiny screens; others' don't. Personally, I'm glad the backlight doesn't bother me, as it seems silly to crawl in bed, turn on a 21st-century electronic reading device... and then activate a light bulb to illuminate text.

tubemonkey · 03-03-2011, 04:52 AM

I have both types (Kindle 3 & Nook Color) and definitely prefer the eInk device. I rarely read books on my Nook Color.

dwig · 03-03-2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forkyfork

I was told raising the brightness actually helps, and lowering the brightness is bad because it make you squint.

If lowering the brightness makes you squint then you need to see an eye doctor. You obviously need glasses, at least reading glasses.

The lower brightness causes your eyes to dilate which reduced "depth of field", meaning you eyes need to focus more precisely. When your eye's iris closes in bright light it can mask small focusing errors.

leebase · 03-03-2011, 12:01 PM

Have you tried enlarging the font? This is all a very individual thing. No one else's testimony is going to change your own experience. I read for hours on my iPhone with no problem. I read just fine on my iPad as well. I cannot stand to read long form on my computer -- which also has an lcd screen.

Maybe eInk will be better for you, maybe not. There is no universal truth about these things.

Lee

bcgirl · 03-03-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonCZ

I do 95% of my reading in low/no light conditions, so the backlight is great. I've an iPad and iPhone, and though I read on both fine, it is a bit easier reading on the iPad (because I can increase the text size). The eInk might work better for you... but perhaps you just need a larger device, in which case the iPad would satisfy. One thing's for sure: you'll find no consensus here. Some folks' eyes tire from the backlight; others' don't. And some folks' eyes tire from reading on tiny screens; others' don't. Personally, I'm glad the backlight doesn't bother me, as it seems silly to crawl in bed, turn on a 21st-century electronic reading device... and then activate a light bulb to illuminate text.

I used to read A LOT! On my iPhone usually some samples/previews of books or nonfiction, so certain chapters but not a complete book in one run. But last weekend I did. I was so taken by this book that I could not stop. And then I found out it hurt my eyes. What could be a problem is the fact that I wear contact lenses. Sure enough I will try reading my iPhone again without them, since I don't need them for reading but distance.
I totally agree with you, I find it completely SILLY to use a reading light on an ebook reader device. When I found out that those don't have a backlight but need a reading light to read in the dark, I decided never ever to get those devices. Thats what I like so much about iPhone (or probably next step iPad!). Really can't get myself to buy a black/white ereader device that I cannot use in dark spots. Also, I just love colored covers, photos or other images.

pshrynk · 03-03-2011, 01:44 PM

Unless you have bifocal contacts, there is no close up correction. As you age, the eye's ability to compensate for close work deteriorates. Therefore, your secondary focus mechanisms are over-working, leading to eye strain. I would recommend either getting reading glasses (cheap) or bifocal lenses (less cheap). If that doesn't work, then eink may be your best option, in spite of no on board lighting.

The Terminator · 03-12-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcgirl

I used to read A LOT! On my iPhone usually some samples/previews of books or nonfiction, so certain chapters but not a complete book in one run. But last weekend I did. I was so taken by this book that I could not stop. And then I found out it hurt my eyes. What could be a problem is the fact that I wear contact lenses. Sure enough I will try reading my iPhone again without them, since I don't need them for reading but distance.
I totally agree with you, I find it completely SILLY to use a reading light on an ebook reader device. When I found out that those don't have a backlight but need a reading light to read in the dark, I decided never ever to get those devices. Thats what I like so much about iPhone (or probably next step iPad!). Really can't get myself to buy a black/white ereader device that I cannot use in dark spots. Also, I just love colored covers, photos or other images.

Why do you have an Iphone and a itouch?

bcgirl · 03-12-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TERMINATOR

Why do you have an Iphone and a itouch?

Because I got an iPod Touch for my birthday a few years ago, and last year I changed cell phones and preferred a iPhone :-)
Now my hubby uses the iPod Touch. Time for an iPad now?

spaze · 03-13-2011, 03:13 AM

I just discovered iPod Touch's capabilities as ereader. I am saving up money to get ereader but for now I have to settle for iPod.

iBooks is great application and even though I don't see much of the text in one page it doesn't matter since I don't need to see text in advance.

I work as a programmer so I do 8 hours computer work a day. LCD doesn't really hurt my eyes at all but still I would prefer e-ink reader.

bcgirl · 03-14-2011, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaze

I just discovered iPod Touch's capabilities as ereader. I am saving up money to get ereader but for now I have to settle for iPod.

iBooks is great application and even though I don't see much of the text in one page it doesn't matter since I don't need to see text in advance.

I work as a programmer so I do 8 hours computer work a day. LCD doesn't really hurt my eyes at all but still I would prefer e-ink reader.

I don't think it was the LCD screen. I was reading a paperback (!!) and had to blink a few times while reading (appt is made with optometrist for eye test again).
I prefer LCD, since I love reading on my iPhone, always have back light, I love to read in bed and anywhere so no worries about lights or so, books look more valuable than in black/white. Also when I read nonfiction books, am a photographer, then also prefer photos in colour.
Probably going to save money for the iPad2.

BTW you're right, don't need text in advance, you can only read one sentence at a time ;-)

03-02-2011, 08:59 PM	#1
bcgirl Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 996872 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Device: iPad2-64gb, Sony PRS-T1, KOBO mini	it hurts my eyes, what ebook reader advice do you recommend? I read a lot on my iPhone and I have to admit, it hurts my eyes after reading for hours. Blinking every time and so.....How is reading on an iPad? Same? Are ebook readers with e-ink much better? If so, I just prefer color but does that mean that these color devices do not have e-ink?

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03-02-2011, 09:35 PM	#2
Tamara Evangelist Posts: 446 Karma: 1812 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: iPhone	E-ink is grey scale. Color is LCD. Reading for hours on any device is going to hurt your eyes because eyes aren't designed to focus at one distance for hours at a time. With the phone, try lowering the brightness, going with the sepia background, etc. I've been reading on the iPad since last summer and do not have any issues but I'm in the habit of getting up once an hour, stretching and doing some distance stuff with my eyes to give them a rest from close up focus.

03-03-2011, 01:17 AM	#5
Belle2Be Peace, Love, and Books Posts: 355 Karma: 1242738 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3(3g), NookColor	I can't read on LCD screens(Like my Nook Color), I get major eye strain. I can read on my Kindle (eInk) for hours on end though without problems.

03-03-2011, 04:52 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I have both types (Kindle 3 & Nook Color) and definitely prefer the eInk device. I rarely read books on my Nook Color.

03-03-2011, 12:01 PM	#9
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,934 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Have you tried enlarging the font? This is all a very individual thing. No one else's testimony is going to change your own experience. I read for hours on my iPhone with no problem. I read just fine on my iPad as well. I cannot stand to read long form on my computer -- which also has an lcd screen. Maybe eInk will be better for you, maybe not. There is no universal truth about these things. Lee

03-03-2011, 01:44 PM	#11
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Unless you have bifocal contacts, there is no close up correction. As you age, the eye's ability to compensate for close work deteriorates. Therefore, your secondary focus mechanisms are over-working, leading to eye strain. I would recommend either getting reading glasses (cheap) or bifocal lenses (less cheap). If that doesn't work, then eink may be your best option, in spite of no on board lighting.

03-13-2011, 03:13 AM	#14
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	I just discovered iPod Touch's capabilities as ereader. I am saving up money to get ereader but for now I have to settle for iPod. iBooks is great application and even though I don't see much of the text in one page it doesn't matter since I don't need to see text in advance. I work as a programmer so I do 8 hours computer work a day. LCD doesn't really hurt my eyes at all but still I would prefer e-ink reader.