Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
Can sitting too close to the TV damage your eyes?

Answer:
Contrary to the popular myth, sitting too close to a TV will not damage your eyes but it may cause eyestrain. Children can focus at close distance without eyestrain better than adults. Therefore children often develop the habit of holding reading materials close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the television. There is no evidence that this damages the eyes either in children or adults. With children, this habit usually diminishes as they grow older.

Answered by: Lee Duffner, MDDr. Lee Duffner

Categories: Eye Conditions, General Eye Health

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