Really?
The Claim: Reading in the Dark Does not Damage your eyes
By: Emma Griffith
THE FACTS: Many people believe that reading in the dark damages your eyesight, but the truth is that it does not permanently damage your eyes. The rumor ‘reading in the dark damages your eyes` has been around for hundreds of years. And to think that people still believe that!
People may argue that after reading in the dark a few times, their eyes were damaged for a few weeks, but the truth is that they already have bad eyes. The effects of straining your eyes overlapped with the effects of nearsightedness may cause people to think that reading in the dark damages your eyes.
What is straining your eyes? When you are in the dark, your pupils relax, making them larger to take in as much light as possible. This is called straining your eyes. Reading in the dark can strain the eyes, making them sore and your vision would be blurry shortly afterwards, although it never permanently damages your eyes.
In conclusion, unless you read in the dark every night for a few months, reading in the dark does not damage your eyes. Now you know not to believe all the rumors you hear. Yet, if these temporary symptoms are not going away I would go to an eye doctor and get your eyes checked for nearsightedness.
BOTTOM LINE: Reading in the dark does not damage your eyes.