Is IPS LCD Display Better for Eyes?

If we observe carefully, we will find that many monitors will introduce the anti-blue light function of the monitor on the product promotion page. The various product introductions have put many consumers in a difficult choice. There are usually LCD monitors and AMOLED monitors on the market. Which monitor is better for the eyes? This article will give the answer from an objective perspective.

What is blue light?

Blue light is also called high-energy visible light (abbreviated as: HEV light) or high-energy short-wave blue light (blue laser). Blue light is usually visible light with a wavelength of 400-500nm. Due to its high energy, the color appears as blue or blue-purple under the spectrometer①.

① Note: The color of light seen by the naked eye is not correct. Light that looks white may also contain blue light.

Where does blue light appear?

As the light with the strongest energy in visible light, blue light is almost everywhere. In addition to the electronic devices we are familiar with, such as mobile phone screens and computer screens, items such as LED lights and the sun will emit a certain amount of blue light.

What are the hazards of blue light to the eyes?

The blue light emitted by nature usually does not cause problems to the human body. What we need to pay attention to is the impact from electronic devices such as mobile phone screens and computer screens.

When the eyes stare at the screen for a long time, blue light will gather in the eyes. When the eyes are slightly stimulated by blue light, it can cause eye soreness, dry itching, blurred vision, etc. After a period of rest, the eyes can usually return to normal. However, if the eyes are stimulated by blue light for a long time, it will cause irreversible photochemical damage to the retina and cause retinal macular degeneration.

Which monitor is better for eyes?

Our daily work is basically inseparable from monitors. The quality of the monitor is different, and the damage to the eyes is also different. Choosing a good monitor can often better prevent the impact of blue light on the eyes. At present, the mainstream monitors are mainly IPS LCD and AMOLED. So, which of these two monitors with different display technologies is better for the eyes?

Advantages of IPS LCD display

The biggest advantage of IPS technology is that it can well retain color and contrast, and it will not be like TN or VA LCD monitors. If the viewing angle is wrong, the image will be obviously distorted. Therefore, it is widely used on display devices such as mobile phones and computers.

Eye health and IPS LCD monitors

Back to the topic of whether IPS LCD monitors are good for the eyes. We can see from its display performance that it is good for the eyes. This is thanks to the anti-blue light filter added to the IPS LCD display.

Most LCD monitors on the market will have an anti-blue light filter attached to the screen. Different anti-blue light filters have different blue light filtering effects. The better quality anti-blue light filter uses the energy level structure of nano cobalt oxide, which can absorb about 60% of the energy of the blue light band, thereby reducing the harm of blue light; while the poor quality anti-blue light filter, by filtering light, has a minimal effect, so we try to choose well-known brands.

In addition, the IPS LCD display can flexibly adjust the brightness, and users can adjust the most appropriate brightness according to their own feelings. For people with some eye diseases, this function can better reduce eye fatigue.

Eye health and AMOLED monitors

AMOLED is a display technology led by Samsung. It not only integrates the advantages of OLED, but also reduces manufacturing costs, so it is expected to replace LCD screens and become mainstream in the future. So, how effective is AMOLED display in preventing blue light?

Unlike LCD technology, which requires a blue LED mixed with yellow phosphor to make a white backlight, AMOLED emits light through red, blue and green organic materials, so it is also impossible to avoid the emission of harmful blue light, and can only limit it technically.

In addition, the brightness and contrast of AMOLED are much higher than LCD. Therefore, when using AMOLED in a dark environment, the brightness may be higher than LCD, so the damage to the eyes is also higher.

Summary

It is well known that blue light is the culprit for eye fatigue. From the above introduction, we can find that compared with AMOLED technology, IPS LCD displays emit less harmful blue light, are more beneficial to the eyes, and minimize the damage to the eyes caused by the display.

Finally, let’s talk about the blue light glasses that many readers are most concerned about, and some ways to reduce eye fatigue.

Are blue light blocking glasses useful?

Dr. Khurana of the American Academy of Ophthalmology told us that there is no correct evidence that blue light blocking glasses can block blue light. And the quality of blue light blocking glasses is uneven, so it is not recommended to buy them. Instead of wasting money on blue light blocking glasses, it is better not to overuse your eyes in daily life and work. The following are some tips for reducing eye fatigue, which are recommended for collection and use.

Tips for reducing eye fatigue

1. First, keep a distance of about 0.6 meters from the computer screen, and the viewing angle between the eyes and the monitor is not less than 15 degrees.
2. Second, you can consider sticking a layer of high-quality blue light filter on the screen to reduce glare and the impact of blue light on the eyes.
3. Third, reduce the time of using mobile phones or computers. Every 20 minutes or so, you should stand up and move around.
4. Fourth, keep hydrated to avoid dry eyes.
5. Fifth, go to an ophthalmologist every once in a while (3-6 months) for a comprehensive eye examination to rule out any potential eye diseases, and also get the correct ophthalmology knowledge under the guidance of a professional doctor.