How Far Should The Screen Be? The Screen Distance vs Font Size Paradox

How far should your screen be from your eyes?
You better know, otherwise you can have serious issues such as forward head posture, neck pain and migraines.
In this video I will tell you about 3 approaches to choosing the right distance to the screen, which is part of the ideal desk setup:
00:00 INTRO
00:40 THE SCREEN SIZE METHOD
this is based on the monitor width, or the width of the active window (careful: we're not talking about the diagonal size of the monitor)
03:38 THE FONT SIZE METHOD
this is based on the eye's ability to view small signs (angular resolution of the eye)
05:03 THE POSTURE METHOD
this is what I use on the field to help office workers setup their workstation
06:09 THE MYTHS
this is my take on placing the screen at arm distance
06:37 SUMMARY & BREAKS
remember that your eyes need to have regular breaks! This is the 20 20 20 rule... ---
Pain in the back, shoulder, arms or any other musculoskeletal pain should not govern your life.
A lot of the pain you feel is caused or aggravated by wrong posture, poor ergonomics and a lack of specific exercises for your muscles and joints. Giving you the tools to resolve these issues is the reason why I created this self care channel.
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Medical Disclaimer
All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
Full disclaimer:
oliviergirard.ch/en/ytdisclai...

[@9PoLkovNik9]

This is really clear explanation. Thanks!

[@Dw_Rinku]

7:32 putting the secondary screen on the side of the dominant eyes is such a good advice I didn't think of !

[@adb5032]

Thank you 🎉 for your information...my eyes n neck will be grateful to your knowledge

[@naabaabaan7695]

Informative video again!

[@bellpeace]

Thank you, great video

[@charlesjoshi5154]

Thank you 🫡

[@Anusia81]

I can see my screen fully. I either look to the right or left and straining neck. Screen it's more than distance away. Is it still too close? The more info i get the more confused i am :(

[@grotta13]

Hi Oliver, Congrats for your videos. I would like to ask you one question. You 're so ergonomic on your workstation, i don't know how, for me it's impossible to find a comfortable position at home and at work.We are egual height (around 181 cm) so i would like to take you like exemple 1) Could i know how inches and resolution is your monitor? 2) which is the distance in centimetre from your chair and the up of your desk? 3) i would like to know also how is tall your monitor from your desk in centimetre. Thank you in advice for your feedback my friend

[@ImZyker]

mecri pour cette video!

[@OlivierGirard]

Avec plaisir!!

[@katadromeasgr]

Hello Olivier. Is it possible to do a video on transverse abdomen and hip rotation dysfunction? It is about pelvic floor dysfunction but it is more complicated than the classic anterior/posterior tilt. I am talking about the inability to actually rotate the hips and thus introducing the bad habit of rotating / moving the spine instead.

[@OlivierGirard]

Hello dear! It's a really great request, thank you for this! I just need some more info to see how I can help you... could you have a look at this (very old!) video, and tell me if you manage to go through some of the 4 steps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqa6cnl7gc16aJY ?

[@grafzwerg]

Did I understood right, that you need to divide the half of your screen (the half that lays in the monitors middle) by tan 15? Or other way round: i am planning to buy a 27" Monitor with 1440 x 2560 as size, i tested with only the first equation and as result there was 50.3826859 (need to stress it was only the monitors half divided by tan 15!)

[@---ct5tm]

Thank you for this video. I have one question: Can it damage my eyes (or make me short-sighted) if the screen is to close? On the other side, can increasing the monitor distance help to cure short-sightedness? (So the eyes are getting used to that distance)

[@OlivierGirard]

That's more a question you should ask an optometrist... As far as I'm informed, screens are well documented to cause visual fatigue but there's no clear evidence that they impact visual acuity in adults. In children, I read several times that they can increase the risk of myopia. One thing I know for sure is that working on screen hasn't corrected my farsightedness 😅

[@mircoporetti874]

Hi, which chair are you using here? And do you recommend to use head rest?

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey! Here is the link to my chair & its review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PaqJ9sj9Sbgsk. Reg. headrest, I explain it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XQpnmYm5tgrq8

[@advaittrasy4522]

So a smaller monitor will be better? (my monitor is the same size too) a larger screen will need more eye and neck movement. Am I correct?

[@OlivierGirard]

You partially right, my friend. A smaller monitor fits better in your visual field, but you have to beware font size. If it's too small, it pushes your head forward. I work on a single 24'', 16/10 ratio, and I'm very happy with it.

[@fatihkocyigit9402]

Hi Oliver. I am planning to buy a 24” monitor and I work heavily on excel spreadsheets that cover the entire screen. My distance from the screen will be around 65 cm. Would it be too big of a screen for me?

[@OlivierGirard]

Hi dear! If you do so, you'll have exactly the same setup as I have. I don't know how tall you are, but I don't expect any bad surprise provided that you buy a screen on a height-adjustable foot :)

[@vishalyadav067]

So brother what screen size you buy and is it good are large 24 inch with 24 inch viewing distance?

[@fatihkocyigit9402]

Hello my friend. I bought an HD 27” and viewing from around 70 cm distance. It is a little less than suggested distance but I am using it mostly for work so that’s not bothering me. I am mostly focusing on what i am working on without so much head movement.

[@gargantuan6241]

How do you divide a value by tan angle 15 degrees on a scientific calculator on Windows 10? My monitor is 24 inches, so how many inches should it be from my head?

[@OlivierGirard]

it's tan 30°: 60° in total is your visual field. 0,57735026918962576450914878050196 😂

[@user-lb1yq2xy9g]

there is a problem of font size distance evaluation method. If two different size screen(same ppi) display same size font, then their distance should be equal. I think it's not reasonable.

[@OlivierGirard]

I'm not sure I understand your point... what's unreasonable about linking the displayed size of a font and the viewing distance? Anyway, this isn't from me... it's an official German recommendation: medien.bgetem.de/medienportal/artikel/MjE1LTQxMA-- (page 38)

[@shemseddine7547]

There is a more surfire method. 1st buy a good chair that will support your back. 2nd buy a back-straightner strap from amazon it costs around 16 dollars. 3rd do planks regularly, i'm not telling you workout, i'm telling you to just do planks it doesn't matter if you train or not, planks alone will help with your posture. If you do these then you will never slouch again in your life.

[@andynonimuss6298]

The depth of the desk and the computer monitor base stand can dictate how far away you can place a larger monitor away from your eyes.

[@OlivierGirard]

Indeed. That's why there has to be a coordination between all the choices (desk, monitor, interface, job), which is NEVER the case...