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“OLED screens are more straining on the eyes”
The claim that “OLED screens are more straining on the eyes” is widely circulated online, with many believing that LCD screens are better and that OLED screens cause significant eye damage, making them unsuitable for use in smartphones.
Analysis
of the Rumor
This claim is somewhat unfair to OLED screens. OLED screens are thin, have a wide viewing angle, display colors realistically, and consume less power, and have now become mainstream in electronic devices such as smartphones. Some users may feel discomfort while using them, which could be due to the flickering that occurs under certain conditions in the dimming mode of OLED screens, leading to eye fatigue in sensitive individuals, resulting in misunderstandings. In fact, this can be avoided through proper eye usage.
The viewpoint that “OLED screen smartphones are harmful to the eyes” often appears on social media. Whenever a new smartphone is released, there are always comments in some tech forums saying things like “the screen is harsh on the eyes,” “blindness screen,” “LCD will never be a slave,” etc. Are OLED screens really that terrifying?
Netizen comments. Image source: Internet
What is an OLED Screen?
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), is a display technology that differs from traditional LCD displays, as it does not require a backlight and uses a very thin organic material coating and glass substrate (or flexible organic substrate), which emits light when an electric current passes through. Currently, OLED screens are gradually becoming the mainstream choice for displays in smartphones, tablets, monitors, and televisions. This is because OLED screens can be made thinner, have a larger viewing angle, display colors more realistically, and consume less power. Compared to traditional LCD technology, the thickness of OLED screens can be controlled to under 1mm (LCD screens typically have a thickness of around 3mm), and they are lighter, allowing for the implementation of under-screen fingerprint unlocking features. OLED screens have a wide viewing angle that avoids color distortion issues that can occur at certain angles with LCDs. OLEDs have high luminous efficiency, low energy consumption, and can be made into curved screens, making them more suitable for mobile forms. OLED screens display colors that are vibrant, fuller, and more realistic. The lower power consumption of OLED screens can extend the battery life of smartphones without compromising display quality. These factors have led to mid-to-high-end smartphones increasingly adopting OLED screens, making them the mainstream choice for smartphone displays.
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Why do some people feel
that OLED screens are more straining on the eyes?
Having discussed the advantages of OLED screens, why do some people feel that using smartphones with OLED screens is more straining on the eyes?This mainly involves the dimming issues of OLED screens. LCD screens typically use backlighting to achieve screen illumination, with flicker frequencies reaching several thousand hertz (Hz), which generally do not encounter flicker issues.OLED screens are self-emissive at the pixel level, and their low power limits their flicker frequency. There are two main dimming methods for OLED screens: one is DC dimming (Direct Current, supported by a few OLEDs), which adjusts the screen brightness by changing the voltage or current, i.e., altering the power. The advantage of DC dimming is that it does not flicker, but it may cause color uniformity issues at low brightness. The other method is PWM dimming (Pulse Width Modulation), which controls the screen brightness by adjusting the ratio of time the screen is bright versus dark within a unit cycle. PWM dimming screens flicker between “bright → dark → bright → dark” to control the amount of light emitted.However, due to its high frequency, the human eye perceives a residual image, so the screen appears continuously bright.However, as the screen brightness decreases, the frequency of PWM begins to drop, making it perceptible to the human eye, which is why some people say “PWM dimming has flicker issues”, which is also the reason some individuals feel eye fatigue and dryness after prolonged exposure to screens at low brightness.
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However, this is just a subjective feeling for some individuals. Zexuan Wu and others studied the impact of the dimming frequency of OLED smartphone displays on visual fatigue. The experimental results showed that in a dark environment, after a short viewing period (about 35 minutes), there were no statistically significant differences in subjective ratings or objective measures of visual fatigue, regardless of the test dimming frequencies ranging from 360Hz to 1920Hz, or the DC dimming mode.
As for the impact of OLED screens versus LCD screens on the eyes, both have their pros and cons, and which is more eye-friendly depends on the usage scenario, individual sensitivity, and the dimming method of the screen.
In terms of brightness and contrast:
OLED: High contrast, pure black background (self-emissive pixels), reducing the eye’s adjustment burden, suitable for low-light environments. However, static images for extended periods may cause burn-in, indirectly increasing eye strain (requiring frequent content adjustment).
LCD: Better backlight uniformity, but lower contrast may make it more straining on the eyes (especially for reading text). Additionally, backlight leakage may cause visual interference.
In summary, sensitive users/long hours of office work should choose DC dimming LCD or high-frequency PWM OLED. For color needs/low-light usage, opt for high-quality OLED (DC/high-frequency PWM).
Develop Good Eye Habits
Rather than obsessing over which type of smartphone screen is more eye-friendly, it is better to change poor eye habits.
1
Adhere to the “20-20-20” rule
After 20 minutes of close-up work, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The “20-20-20” rule can effectively alleviate digital eye strain and dry eye symptoms. Many people need to face computer screens for work; it is crucial not to work intensely for long periods in front of a computer and then relax the eyes by scrolling through a smartphone. While the brain may feel relaxed, the eyes remain tense and fatigued, which is not advisable. The simplest and most effective method is to look at something 20 feet away, which is much more cost-effective than various “eye care supplements” or using various “massagers and eye patches”.
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2
Avoid facing smartphone screens
for long periods in dark environments
Many people have the habit of scrolling through their smartphones before bed, which is understandable. However, many people turn off the lights to avoid getting up to turn them off and then look at their phones, which is a bad habit.Facing a bright smartphone screen in complete darkness can lead to greater eye fatigue. Firstly, the brightness of the smartphone screen is relatively glaring in a completely dark environment, especially with rapidly changing video content. Secondly, the previously mentioned flickering caused by OLED screen PWM dimming in dark environments can exacerbate fatigue in sensitive individuals. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on a light source, such as a desk lamp or dim the ceiling light, to make viewing the smartphone more comfortable. However, after a short while, go to sleep quickly; do not scroll for one or two hours before sleeping, as this will make your eyes feel worse the next day. The Healthy China Initiative states: Everyone is the first responsible person for their own health. In summary, rather than debating the merits of screens, it is better to change poor eye habits. Using eyes healthily and reasonably allows us to enjoy the visual feast brought by technological advancements while keeping our eyes bright and healthy.
Reflecting on the “Rumor”
Both OLED and LCD screens have their advantages and disadvantages, and it cannot be simply concluded that OLED screens are more straining on the eyes than LCD screens. When purchasing such electronic products, one can refer to evaluation reports from professional technology assessment organizations. It is also advisable to keep up with the latest developments in technology and relevant industry standards and certifications. Additionally, one should remain cautious of overly absolute statements, as they are often inaccurate.
References
[1] ZEXUAN WU, LILI WANG, YAN TU, et al. Effect of PWM Dimming Frequency of OLED Smartphones on Visual Fatigue[C]//2023 International Display Technology Conference Proceedings. 2023:1-1.
[2] Talens-Estarelles C, Cerviño A, García-Lázaro S, Fogelton A, Sheppard A, Wolffsohn JS. The effects of breaks on digital eye strain, dry eye and binocular vision: Testing the 20-20-20 rule. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2023 Apr;46(2):101744.
Planning and Production
Author: Liu Gang, Associate Chief Physician of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Qingdao Campus
Review: Jin Xiuming, Deputy Director of the Ophthalmology Center, Zhejiang University Second Hospital
Chen Qian, Professor, School of Software, Beihang University
Li Ming, Researcher, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Planning: Yang Yaping
Editor: Yang Yaping
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