Dark Websites and Senior Eye Strain

[Faye Fox]

A dark website, one with a black background and white lettering, is a marketing ploy. It attracts attention since the old standard, the reverse, was the normal and it doesn't attract the same attention. To make this marketing ploy saleable, many tout benefits of the dark background. A dark background doesn't reduce strain, it increases it, especially in seniors. That is opposite of what you will read on multiple internet sites. The promoters of the darkness, makes claims that I can't find any medical studies to back up.

I have talked with several seniors and they report as I do that the new fad of dark background is much harder to read and in ones, such as myself, cause blurring due to the weaker aged eye. I can see no benefit for the senior reader and I think in time, younger folks will suffer eye strain, not just from too much screen time, but the choice of the dark mode.

Many seniors find night driving difficult and on coming headlights blur. This is what the new fad and alluring use of dark screens is comparable. Our aged eyes find it much easier to see a light background and focus on dark lettering, than the dark with lights the focus.

The dark screen has found favor, because of the youth that sit in dark rooms. In that scenario, it may cause less strain, but I purpose that more time reading screens is done in a lightened situation, especially with seniors.

What is your preference, dark or light backgrounds?

 

[Beth Gallagher]

I prefer the dark background; it is much easier for me to see. I struggle with screen brightness especially at night.

If you prefer a light background on this forum, scoll to the very bottom of the main page and look for a little "half moon" icon in the lowest left-hand corner. Click on that and you'll get a popup menu to choose light or dark display. Hope that helps someone who prefers a light background.

Edit to add: I just noticed that if you have a light background, when you scroll to the bottom you won't see the "half moon" icon, but you'll see a little gear icon instead. There is also a System choice that uses settings preferred by the user's operating system. These settings are on a PC or Mac, so I'm not sure what tablet users will see.

 

[Faye Fox]

I prefer the dark background; it is much easier for me to see. I struggle with screen brightness especially at night.

If you prefer a light background on this forum, scoll to the very bottom of the main page and look for a little "half moon" icon in the lowest left-hand corner. Click on that and you'll get a popup menu to choose light or dark display. Hope that helps someone who prefers a light background.

Thanks! That helps like night and day. Is there any way to enlarge print?

 

[Beth Gallagher]

Thanks! That helps like night and day. Is there any way to enlarge print?

To quickly enlarge your Windows screen, use the Magnifier tool by pressing the Windows key and plus sign (+) to zoom in, and Windows key and minus sign (-) to zoom out. To turn it off, press Windows key + Esc. For permanent scaling, go to Settings > System > Display and adjust the Scale

 

[Faye Fox]

To quickly enlarge your Windows screen, use the Magnifier tool by pressing the Windows key and plus sign (+) to zoom in, and Windows key and minus sign (-) to zoom out. To turn it off, press Windows key + Esc. For permanent scaling, go to Settings > System > Display and adjust the Scale

I know that, but it would be nice to have larger or maybe bolder print that didn't require the magnifier. The magnifier makes the page larger and sometimes that is a problem. I suspect Ken could enlarge the print, but that might consume a lot of extra space.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I hate the dark background screens, too ! I am glad that this forum has the plain white background and black text. I liked the old forum software that had the background colors that could change, but as long as it has a white background and black text, I can fine with the rest of it .

I sometimes have to enlarge the print size, too, @Faye Fox ; but with the iPad, it is simple to do that when I need to see it better. Some days my eyes focus better than other days.

 

[Krystal Shay]

I like the dark background when I am reading on my kindle. It seems to be easier for me to read. I have my phone to change to dark mode at night too.