Does Reading in the Dark Damage a Child's Eyes?
The Influence of Light Levels on Eye Function
Basically, the eyes have the ability to adapt to the conditions or amount of light in their surroundings. When the light is dim, the pupils will dilate so that the retina can absorb more of the available light to send images of what you see to the brain.
When there is enough light, the pupils will constrict so that the retina absorbs only the amount of light needed. This movement or change of the pupils in response to the amount of light is what can make a person feel dazzled when suddenly looking at bright light after being in a dark area, because the pupils need time to adjust.
The Impact of Reading in Dim Light

So, what if a child often reads in dim light conditions? Is it true that it can cause nearsightedness?
As it turns out, there is not enough research to prove this. So, it can be said that this is just a myth that does not need to be believed. However, that does not mean there are no negative impacts from this habit, and here are some of them:
1. Eye Strain
The eyes can work to adjust to the amount of light available, but this habit will force the eyes to work harder. The result can be eye fatigue or tired eyes, which will certainly make the child uncomfortable.
2. Difficulty Focusing
Dim light combined with a lot of text and small font sizes will reduce the eye's focus when reading. One of the causes is the dilation of the pupils, which makes the images captured by the eyes appear blurry.
3. Headaches
If the above condition is forced to continue, it can lead to headaches as the brain is forced to work harder.
4. Dry Eyes
When reading in dim light, a child is likely to blink less often compared to reading in normal conditions. The reason is that the child will try to focus their gaze on the book to read more clearly rather than blinking.
From the explanation above, there is indeed no research that directly shows long-term adverse effects on children's eye health due to this habit. However, dim light conditions will certainly make reading activities less comfortable. That is why this habit should be stopped as early as possible so that it does not carry over into the child's adult life.
Safe Reading Tips for Eye Health

To help you create an atmosphere and conditions that are safe for your child's eye health while reading, you can follow these tips:
1. Pay Attention to Room Lighting
Ensure that the light in the room is bright enough so that the child can read smoothly without struggling to focus on the text.
2. Adjust the Book Distance
The ideal distance between the text being read (the book) and the eyes is 25-30 cm. If it is too close, it is not good for the child's eyes.
3. Give Time to Rest
Reading is good, but the eyes also need time to rest. It is better to rest the eyes for a moment if the child has been reading for a long time by looking in another direction or doing eye exercises.
In addition to applying the methods above, you can also help improve your child's eye health by giving them a children's supplement, namely the Anak Sehat herbal supplement from Sido Muncul. This herbal supplement contains carrots, which are good for children's eye health. Furthermore, 7 selected natural ingredients, such as turmeric, curcuma aeruginosa, ginger, licorice, carrots, cogon grass, and honey, can also be beneficial for improving the child's immune system and appetite.
Getting this product is not difficult; you can find it at drugstores, pharmacies, modern outlets, or buy it online via www.sidomunculstore.com or Sido Muncul's Official Stores on Tokopedia, Shopee, Bukalapak, Blibli, Lazada, and JD.id.
By improving your child's reading habits to be healthier and combining them with the consumption of these herbal vitamins, you can optimize the protection of your child's eye health.