Ask HN: Does anyone else with astigmatism not like dark-mode?
It looks like dark-mode themes have finally taken off in the mainstream and become the default in many new apps and websites. The bright white text on a black background also feels like my eyes are being stabbed when reading it. Am I alone in this? Are all trendy designers kids with good vision?
17 comments
I don't have astigmatism, but I also find dark mode unpleasant.
My memory is that it became a thing not so much because of eye comfort but because OLED displays use less power when displaying black. I could be misremembering, though.
My memory is that it became a thing not so much because of eye comfort but because OLED displays use less power when displaying black. I could be misremembering, though.
Im have bad eyes and use https://www.nordtheme.com/ on everything I can.
But things like SaaS products, banking app, anything official or business related, I kind of prefer regular light mode. Most dark modes are bad. I prefer github and gitlab in light mode. Linear does darkmode well enough to use.
But things like SaaS products, banking app, anything official or business related, I kind of prefer regular light mode. Most dark modes are bad. I prefer github and gitlab in light mode. Linear does darkmode well enough to use.
I have astigmatism and prefer dark mode. I decrease my monitor brightness and contrast when sitting in low light, though, to avoid the stabby feeling. It’s uncomfortable enough in dark mode but headache-inducing in light mode.
It’s a well known fact that some types of astigmatism (the kind I have too) causes light text on dark bg to look blurry i.e. the text to be somewhat doubled.
I got a pair of glasses made that only fix my astigmatism to use with computers.
I got a pair of glasses made that only fix my astigmatism to use with computers.
Same. My myopia is minimal but the astigmatism bad enough that I have to squint super hard to read non-giant text without glasses and even then it’s 30% guesswork. So the computer glasses correct only for astigmatism. But it’s almost equally bad in light mode and dark mode.
I have separate distance glasses (also with astigmatism correction) for driving and such, but they give me headaches if worn indoors.
I have separate distance glasses (also with astigmatism correction) for driving and such, but they give me headaches if worn indoors.
Most dark modes are unpleasant for me. I prefer light mode -- white background if you can give it, but off-white is also fine. I prefer code on light backgrounds as well, as the colors pop better. If the editor uses bold, italics or a mix for keywords that is much more readable than dark mode.
I used to love dark mode, but in the summer months, I came to feel that it's overly depressive, possibly affecting my mood.
In the winter months, it's slightly more usable because of association with lower lighting, darkness and even coziness. However, I think it can affect mood irrespective of the time of year.
Nowadays, I'm often experimenting with the idea of displays which are backlit with colours other than pure white or pure black.
In the winter months, it's slightly more usable because of association with lower lighting, darkness and even coziness. However, I think it can affect mood irrespective of the time of year.
Nowadays, I'm often experimenting with the idea of displays which are backlit with colours other than pure white or pure black.
I have astigmatism and prefer dark themes as (for me) it's way less eye strain (and battery usage). Not sure if it's related or more a taste thing
I have astigmatism and have not found any issues with glares in white-on-black, I think you should use themes with dark/light grey/blue/etc. anyways and not directly white and black.
However I do find light themes more pleasant, obviously at night I tend to switch to a dark theme but during the day I prefer to keep them light, I find them more pleasant and aesthetic.
However I do find light themes more pleasant, obviously at night I tend to switch to a dark theme but during the day I prefer to keep them light, I find them more pleasant and aesthetic.
I have astigmatism and light theme is way less tiring than dark ones. I've switched everything to light. Even terminals.
Now the next item on my list is to eliminate colors from CLI applications. The only time I ever find them useful enough is added/removed from diff.
Now the next item on my list is to eliminate colors from CLI applications. The only time I ever find them useful enough is added/removed from diff.
Astigmatic and find it difficult to concentrate on dark mode. Light mode burns my eyes so I go with themes like Cobalt 2 on VS Code that are less harsh yet provide enough contrast to allow me to identify what I am scanning for.
I have no astigmatism. If something is on dark mode with no easily discovered option to switch it at the top of the screen I am more than likely to close the website or remove the app.
Fwiw I don’t have astigmatism and hate dark mode with a passion.
imo, the main reason why people like dark mode is that it makes them feel like hackers.
Back in the day of crt monitors, sure, but now, it doesn’t make any sense.
imo, the main reason why people like dark mode is that it makes them feel like hackers.
Back in the day of crt monitors, sure, but now, it doesn’t make any sense.
In short, it is the worst fad the is plaguing the internet nowadays.
I don't know about the worst, but it's up there.
And it's not as if this question hadn't been definitively settled by human-factors researchers in the last century. Light text on a dark background is harder to read on a screen. No room for debate, the studies have been done and replicated. There's a reason why computing left "dark mode" in a junk heap full of green- and amber-phosphor CRT monitors.
And it's not as if this question hadn't been definitively settled by human-factors researchers in the last century. Light text on a dark background is harder to read on a screen. No room for debate, the studies have been done and replicated. There's a reason why computing left "dark mode" in a junk heap full of green- and amber-phosphor CRT monitors.
Worst in the context of ergonomy as it is dictated by the websites/mobile applications and not the user, like the choice of computer screen hardware and settings or choice of chair, desk, mouse...
Exactly. There's no reason why an individual user shouldn't prefer dark mode, and there's no reason why a site shouldn't offer it. But if you run a popular site, it's an asshole move to force it on your users, as so many sites are doing these days.