Doctors Explain How Nighttime Phone Use Affects Eyes

Looking at a bright phone in a dark room can make your eyes work harder.

You may blink less when you stare at the screen.

This can make your eyes feel dry, tired, red or blurry for a short time.

The bright screen can also feel uncomfortable because the room around you is dark.

Using a phone late at night may make it harder to sleep because evening light can affect melatonin.

Current guidance does not show that normal phone blue light permanently damages the retina.

In rare cases, one eye covered while looking at a bright screen can cause temporary difficulty seeing when the phone is turned off.

Using a small light, lowering brightness and taking breaks can help, while sudden or persistent vision problems should be checked by an eye doctor.