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What monitor brightness is best for the eyes?

How bright is too bright when it comes to your monitor?

Updated: Feb 27, 2023 2:44 pm
What monitor brightness is best for the eyes?

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The brightness level of your screen affects not only the clarity of the image but also the health of your eyes. In today’s world where we spend a lot of time in front of screens, taking care of our eyes is essential. Many ask, what is the best monitor brightness for the eyes? So, that’s what we will precisely answer here.

Monitor brightness

Firstly, you have to understand what monitor brightness is and how it works. Brightness is the intensity of the light emitted by your monitor, and it’s measured in units called candelas per square meter (cd/m²), popularly called “nit” (coming from the Latin word “nitere”, meaning “to shine”). The higher the number, the brighter the screen. Most monitors have a maximum brightness of around 250-300 nits, but some can go as high as 1000, or even 2000 nits.

What brightness is best?

The answer to the question is not straightforward, as you might’ve thought. It heavily depends on the surrounding lighting conditions, the type of work you’re doing, and your personal preference/predispositions.

In general, it’s recommended to use a brightness level of around 200 nits for normal office work. This is bright enough to see the text and images clearly, but not so bright that it strains your eyes. However, if you work in a brightly lit environment, you will probably need to increase the brightness to compensate for the glare.

For tasks that require a high level of detail, such as video editing, you will find yourself compelled to use a higher brightness level of around 300-400 nits. This will give you the most optimal help to see the fine details in your work and make accurate adjustments.

When we talk about gaming, the ideal brightness level varies depending on the game and personal preference. Some gamers prefer a brighter screen to enhance the contrast and make the vibrance pop, while others prefer a dimmer screen to reduce eye strain during their long, exhaustive gaming hours. The best idea for you would be to experiment with different brightness levels until you find the one that works best for you.

Blue light filters and flicker free technology

We have to note, though, that brightness alone is not the only factor that affects our eyesight. Other factors such as contrast, color temperature, and blue light emission can also contribute to eye fatigue. Many monitors now come with features such as low blue light filters and flicker-free technology – make the best use of them.


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