Do we need dim lights for our home theaters or should we not have any lights when watching movies at home? My mother told me that our eyes will be damaged if we watch movies in the dark.
Adveser Messages: 434 Registered: July 2009 Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Having bright lights reflected on a screen or any surface for that matter is what will damage your eyes. It's like having a high pitched squeal at all times to your eyes. Since my astigmatism has gotten worse over the years I really notice it now.
The old "reading in the dark" myth is classic, but it's still completely untrue.
The only lights I see when watching a movie inside the theater is exit sign. So I would assume that it would be best to turn off the lights for our home theaters as well.
GoodVibrations Messages: 75 Registered: November 2010 Location: TX
Viscount
We always turn the lights out when watching movies on TV. The brightness of the screen is better of course but it also tends to add to the movie mood environment. I never really thought about this before when comparing to a theater. Guess that's one of the reasons we don't go to the theater as much anymore. We can simulate the movie environment in our own home. Cool $$$$avings.
Adveser Messages: 434 Registered: July 2009 Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Lighting can have a drastic effect on your mood. Use that knowledge to you advantage and play it by ear. As long as there are no glares on the screen, you really can't go wrong.
I can't see why our eyes will get damaged when watching movies in the dark. What may strain the eyes is the sudden flash of a camera in the dark. That hardly describes the way a movie casts images on screen.