how text size affect our eyes?

[pizda]

I just wonder wheather text size has anything to do with our eyes as long as we can read the text.

Well, I have a little eye problems. I got it working in the old days with cheap CRT screens. Probably that was the time when I have been told about ergonomic text size i.e. that certain size is optimal for the eyes - no smaller, no bigger.

Nowadays we have far better displays and I think that the ergonoimc text size is really no longer true. The ergonoimc text size was probably a measure of text size which was keeping you at the safe distance from the screen - the CRT screen tend to be full of static which was throwing all the dust at your eyes.

I used to wrok on 24" screen with resolution 1440x900 but I just bought a notebook with 10" scereen utilizing the same resolution and I just have great reading experience on it. Now I think of buying portable reading device and it is hard to decide which size I should go for.

Can you please share:
1. what text size are you using on modern LCD screen or eInk?
2. have you used smaller text size but on prolonged period it had negative impact on your eyes?
3. of course any comments on reserarch which you have done or read about

I just googled interesting aritcle about font faces http://www.wilsonweb.com/wmt6/html-e...medium=twitter

I must say it is really true. I switched to Verdana on my notebook and its great!

[Solitaire1]

I can only answer the first two questions:

1. what text size are you using on modern LCD screen or eInk?

I format my ebooks so that they display on my ebook reader in the actual size, and currently I use a 13 point base font size. The rest of the text, such as headings, are increased in size relative to that base size.

For readablity, I use the Georgia typeface for serif text and Calibri typeface for san-serif text. Both are very legible on my ereader, and I like the way they look.

2. have you used smaller text size but on prolonged period it had negative impact on your eyes?

I have to wear reading glasses for any type of lengthy reading. I've found that a 13 point font size allows me to comfortably read for long periods of time. I can read smaller text without too much difficulty, but a 13 point font size is the most comfortable for me. I haven't noticed a negative impact of reading smaller text.

[astra]

All my ebooks have 10 point base font size.
If lighting is good and I am still, that is how I read.

[Maggie Leung]

I can comfortably read 8pt type in print, e-ink or LCD for leisure.

I usually read at 10pt if on computer at work. I have preferences in fonts, but they're just preferences.

I've edited for about 20 years, starting out on amber screens. No eye problems.

I adjust backlighting appropriately, no matter the type of monitor.

[neilmarr]

At least twelve hours 7X7 working on a 22" screen at whatever font size comes my way. I've used multi-focal glasses for years, but never any eye strain or headaches. For recreational reading, I use a 6" eink Sony and have no problems with standard font size in broad daylight but tend to increase by a single zoom level in dim artificial light (bedside lamp, etc) for comfort. Good luck and best wishes. Neil

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

One thing to keep in mind here is that it's not simply the font or size that impacts eyes and can create eyestrain. When you read, your eyes go back and forth on a page, minutely examining words and lines of text. If your eye has trouble discerning text or words, it will spend more time examining them, jumping back and forth over every word, every letter. This is muscle movement, and too much of it causes strain.

Lack of contrast, and even too much contrast, can cause eyes to work overtime as well. Eyes sometimes have to examine a view, then shift slightly to check its first findings against another sample. Overly-small fonts of any type can also cause that.

Basically, any combination of font size, background color, brightness and contrast that allows your eyes to read while minimizing movement, will minimize eyestrain. And since everyone's eyes are different, everyone needs different combinations to reach their optimum viewing state. Overall, the more you can control these things, the better off you'll be.

[Penforhire]

I like 10 point base myself on my Sony E-ink reader. Make sure you have proper reading lighting if you are concerned about eye strain. I like the Ott-style (Verilux and other brands have similar products) fluorescent reading lamps.

[sabredog]

On my 5" PRS-300, I prefer a medium setting whilst on my 6" Kobo, the small font setting is fine.

[pizda]

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

One thing to keep in mind here is that it's not simply the font or size that impacts eyes and can create eyestrain. When you read, your eyes go back and forth on a page, minutely examining words and lines of text. If your eye has trouble discerning text or words, it will spend more time examining them, jumping back and forth over every word, every letter. This is muscle movement, and too much of it causes strain.

That's interesting. Yes, I think that it is somewhat true. When I have to read text with difficult words (foregin or scifi neologisms) I tend to get sore eyes.

[astra]

Originally Posted by pizda

That's interesting. Yes, I think that it is somewhat true. When I have to read text with difficult words (foregin or scifi neologisms) I tend to get sore eyes.

Do you think your nick is an easy one?

[dwig]

Originally Posted by pizda

...
Can you please share:
1. what text size are you using on modern LCD screen or eInk?
2. have you used smaller text size but on prolonged period it had negative impact on your eyes?
3. of course any comments on reserarch which you have done or read about
...

#1: I use a K3 with its "regular" font set to its 3rd from the smallest size (when the ebook doesn't force something different, rare in MOBI format), line spacing "large", and Words per Line set to default. This works out to about 10pt type with an additional 3-3.5pt leading (total line to line space 13-13.5pt. This yields a decent text height and a proper number of characters per line (see #3)

#2: Using a smaller type size should have no impact on your eyes, only on readability. If you have eye difficulty (eyestrain, tiredness, ...) you need to have an Optometrist check your eyes. You probably need corrective lenses.

#3: It has been proven through extensive testing that columns of text (read: classic book page layout) are the most readable when the line length is somewhere between 35 and 45 characters, depending somewhat of the characteristics of the font. Longer lines make it much harder for your eye/brain combo to follow the line and to correctly return to the beginning of the next line when you've finished with the first line. Overly short lines reduce readability due to the overly frequent need to change lines. Increasing the line spacing can somewhat mitigate the problem of overly long lines, but doesn't cure the problem. Also, fonts with a smaller x-height (height of the common lower case letters that don't have an asender or decender relative to the point size) require less line spacing. The Kindle's "regular" font has a modestly large x-height and, in my opinion, benifits from slightly increased line spacing.