Abstract
Purpose.
The use of handheld smart phones for written communication is becoming ubiquitous in modern society. The relatively small screens found in these devices may necessitate close working distances and small text sizes, which can increase the demands placed on accommodation and vergence.
Methods.
Font size and viewing distance were measured while subjects used handheld electronic devices in two separate trials. In the first study (n = 129), subjects were asked to show a typical text message on their own personal phone and to hold the device “as if they were about to read a text message.” A second trial was conducted in a similar manner except subjects (n = 100) were asked to view a specific web page from the internet.
Results.
For text messages and internet viewing, the mean font size was 1.1 M (range, 0.7 to 2.1 M) and 0.8 M (range, 0.3 to 1.4 M), respectively. The mean working distance for text messages and internet viewing was 36.2 cm (range, 17.5 to 58.0 cm) and 32.2 cm (range, 19 to 60 cm), respectively.
Conclusions.
The mean font size for both conditions was comparable with newspaper print, although some subjects viewed text that was considerably smaller. However, the mean working distances were closer than the typical near working distance of 40 cm for adults when viewing hardcopy text. These close distances place increased demands on both accommodation and vergence, which could exacerbate symptoms. Practitioners need to consider the closer distances adopted while viewing material on smart phones when examining patients and prescribing refractive corrections for use at near, as well as when treating patients presenting with asthenopia associated with nearwork.
Author Information
Bababekova, Yuliya*; Rosenfield, Mark†; Hue, Jennifer E.*; Huang, Rae R.‡Author Information
*BS
†MCOptom, PhD, FAAO
‡BA
State University of New York, SUNY State College of Optometry, New York, New York.
Received January 18, 2011; accepted February 11, 2011.
SUNY College of Optometry 33 West 42nd Street New York, New York 10036 e-mail: mrosenfield@sunyopt.edu
Good article
Thank you!!
So would you conclude that bigger for people with smaller phones using larger text is better or moving the phone closer to our eyes is better?
I would conclude that for the elderly people with smaller phones, using the large font-size is better. We know that, the smaller devices have maximum font size, which may not be enough. In that case, bringing smartphone closer to the eyes for adjustment is only the way.