Properties In a 2019 Laptop Screen Which Reduce Eye Strain

Using a laptop is not without its problems as there can be side effects such as eye strain. Due to this side effect, there have been several questions as to which laptop screen can reduce eye strain.

To be frank, there is no specific laptop screen which can reduce eye strain. Instead, what you can look out for in the process of purchasing a system is the components of the laptop screen.

These components include:

  • Screen display
  • Screen finish

But if you have already purchased a laptop, there are some preventive measures you can take during use to prevent eye strain.

How to Prevent Eye Strain When Using a Laptop

Purchasing a laptop without doing proper research on the screen properties can lead to constant eye strain. However, this does not mean you cannot find a way around it. With the following tips, you can reduce the level of discomfort on your eyes during the use of your PC.

Improve Your Posture

The way your body is positioned during the use of a laptop can lead to eye strain. According to an article by the American Occupational Safety and Health Association, the placement of the laptop and the posture of the body can affect the eyes. 

That is, if the display screen is above or below the eye level, this affects how you make use of your laptop and in turn has adverse effects.


..using a table or stack of books to raise the screen to the eye reduces the strain…

Instead of slouching your body or craning your neck use the laptop, using a table or stack of books to raise the screen to the eye reduces the strain. On the other hand, if you have a chair that is lower than the desk, change it for another one that you can increase its height.

20-20-20 Rule

This is basically a rule on how to use your laptop. These are the steps to take:

  • Here, you are meant to look at your screen for only a period of 20 minutes. 
  • After 20 minutes, look for an object at least 20 feet from your screen 
  • Stare at the object for only 20 seconds. 
  • Keep doing this at intervals of 20 minutes and it will help relieve the strain on your eyes. 

However, we know how hard it is to keep track of the 20-minute rule, but if you have an alarm or reminder in place, this can be achieved. Check out this article on how to turn your PC into an alarm clock.

Adjust the Settings of Your PC

Tweaking the settings of your PC is another way to guard against eye strain. Sometimes, the brightness or contrast level of your system can be set too high or too low. Changing them to the optimum setting should help if not totally alleviate the problem.

Check out this article on how to calibrate your laptop monitor and adjust display settings.

Features Of a Laptop Screen That Can Reduce Eye Strain

In order to prevent eye strain, you need to:

  • Know the properties within your laptop that can cause it
  • Ensure that the new laptop you want to purchase has features that guard against it.

Features a Laptop That Cause Eye Strain

The following are the features of a laptop that can cause eye strain:


Glare from the laptop screen can irritate the eyes and also affect your mood. If the light is cast directly at the eyes, it will cause eye strain. Therefore, to prevent it, either purchase a laptop with pre-installed anti-glare or place anti-reflective protectors over the screen.

Flickering Display

A light source is needed to display content on the screen. In most laptops, the type of display panel used is LED. The panel has to maintain light intensity and the only way to achieve that is by switching the light on and off.

The constant flicker of the lights can lead to eye strain. The duration of this flicker is called the refresh rate. A laptop with a high refresh rate is able to diminish the flickers.

Features of a Laptop To Check During Purchase to Guard Against Eye Strain

Display Panel

..Some screen displays can cause discomfort while others make it easier to work with your PC…

The first thing you ought to look out for when purchasing a laptop is the type of display panel. Some screen displays can cause discomfort while others make it easier to work with your PC.

In laptops, the most common panel to find is LCD. LCD is an acronym for liquid crystal display. More often than not, you will see an LCD panel with LED (light-emitting diode) which is a different method of backlighting a PC.

LCD display panels come in various types which each type contributing or reducing eye strain.

S/NLCD Screen TypeProsCons
1TN PanelsFast refresh rateFast response timeGreat for gamingCheapPoor viewing angles which can cause eye strainPoor contrast and color
VA PanelsProduces better color than TN panelsHas better viewing angles than TN panels.More expensive than TN panelsSlow refresh rateSlow response timeNot commonly used in gaming PCs.
3IPS PanelsBetter viewing angles than all LCDsCrystal alignment always lines up the viewer’s eye level thereby reducing eye strainLess brightRefresh rate is slower than TN panelsResponse time is slower than TN panels
4OLED PanelsGreat contrast ratioNo risk of light bleeding through the screenExpensiveSlow refresh rateColor molecules degrade quickly thereby affecting screen brightness over a period of use.

Screen Finish

A screen finish is simply the coating applied to the screen. The most popular screen finishes include matte and gloss.

Matte Screen Finish


A matte screen surface is an applied finish during the manufacturing process that diffuses ambient light rather than reflecting ambient light back to the viewer, resulting in a reduced glare and what is commonly marketed as an ‘Anti-Glare’ screen among best selling laptop computers.

Light scattering and anti-reflective coating help to reduce screen glare.Dull display
It is easier to look at the screen for long intervals without feeling eye strain.Not commonly used in touchscreen laptops 
Coating prevents fingerprint marks
Reduced screen reflections

Glossy Screen Finish

A glossy screen surface is curated to have a smooth outer layer that reflects ambient light directly back to the viewer rather than diffusing it, ultimately resulting in a higher glare.

Some laptop users prefer the glossy surface because the light emitted from the screen creates more vibrant and in depth image viewing capabilities.

Vibrant display qualityConstant screen reflections

Leaves fingerprint marks

No anti glare on screen thereby leading to eye strain

Examples of Laptops That Prevent Eye Strain

They include:

  1. HP EliteBook 840 G5: has a good contrast ratio, matte display and bright backlight display for long periods of use.
  2. Dell XPS 15 9570 (FHD): bright backlight and matte finish make it a good laptop for any lighting environment.
  3. Apple MacBook Pro 15: the only flaw in the display is its glossy finish.

Can the Screen Resolution of a Laptop Cause Eye Strain?

Yes, the screen resolution of a laptop can affect the eyes. This is mostly common when the display screen of the laptop is quite small thereby affecting the alignment of the display with the eye level. Therefore, when possible always opt for a laptop with a larger resolution.


Staring at your laptop screen for long intervals can lead to eye strain. This side effect is easily avoidable if you put in place preventive measures such as the use of anti-glare goggles and screen protectors.

However, you can also prevent it from the onset by ensuring that the laptop you purchase has inherent features which guard against it.

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