Reading a bedtime story

When I was a child, I could read under any lighting conditions. The light could be dim; it didn’t matter to me. I would just curl up on a chair and enjoy books.  My mom would walk by and click on a light, commenting that she couldn’t believe that I could still see.

Poor lighting causes eye strain

Now that I’m a mom, I understand what she meant! As we get older, proper lighting becomes more important. Dim lighting can cause eye strain as we try to focus on the words on the page. Eyes can get dry and irritated, too, because we tend to blink less in dimly lit conditions.

The jury is still out as to whether or not poor lighting causes increased near sightedness, but many people experience negative short term effects from reading in less than ideal conditions. If you experience headaches, eye strain, or blurry vision after reading, take a look at your lighting.

How to Improve Your Lighting

The best light for reading is natural light, but that often isn’t an option. Here are some tips:

• Position your light source so it doesn’t cast a shadow across your book or, conversely, cause a glare.
• Use a lamp if overhead lighting isn’t adequate.
• Try different light bulbs. Florescent lighting doesn’t work for me, and neither do high-intensity bulbs. Experiment to see what works best for you.
• Position the light source behind you.

Correcting the lighting in your favorite reading spot might take some trial and error, but the time spent is worth it. Here’s to enjoying your next read-aloud to your children without eye strain!