The boy is reading a book with an e-ink e-reader in the park.
In the digital age, reading on electronic devices is becoming increasingly common. Let's explore e-ink technology and see how it actually affects the eyes.
e-ink display technology
E-ink technology, or electronic ink , developed from research at MIT in the late 20th century, uses millions of tiny ink particles filled with positively and negatively charged particles, encased in a transparent gel between two electrode layers.
When an electric field is applied, the ink particles move; specifically, white particles rise to the surface, creating a bright background, while black particles sink to form letters or images. This process creates a stable image that doesn't require a continuous power source to maintain, just like ink on real paper.
In addition, e-ink screens reflect ambient light instead of emitting light from within, reducing glare and allowing for comfortable reading in direct sunlight without blurring. Furthermore, it only consumes energy when changing content, resulting in battery life lasting for weeks or months.
According to Tuoi Tre Online 's research, the latest improvements in e-ink displays, such as the Carta 1200 or ComfortGaze, incorporate backlighting with adjustable color temperature from warm to cool, reducing blue light while maintaining natural reflection. Resolutions typically reach 300 ppi, delivering sharp text without flickering, helping to relax the eyes during prolonged use.
Furthermore, e-ink technology also supports features such as enhanced anti-glare and more gradual color display in newer models, making it suitable not only for reading but also for note-taking or viewing documents, all while prioritizing eye comfort.
With the Carta 1300 launching in 2025, the refresh rate is increased by 25% compared to the Carta 1200, ghosting is reduced, and contrast is improved to 20:1, providing a smoother experience for both reading and handwriting.
Comparison with phone screens and their impact on eye health.
Phone screens primarily use LCD or OLED technology, emitting light directly from pixels to create images. This exposes the eyes to constant artificial light, especially blue light, which can disrupt sleep and increase eye strain.
The major difference is that LCD/OLED require a high refresh rate for smooth images, creating micro-flickers that the eye can perceive, contributing to computer vision syndromes such as dry eyes or headaches.
Research from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2023, still confirmed by new analyses in 2025, shows that e-ink causes three times less stress to retinal cells than LCDs, thanks to its natural light reflection rather than light emission.
While OLEDs offer vibrant colors and high contrast, they are still more prone to causing dry eyes than e-ink, because the screen's light emission reduces blinking frequency – a 2025 study from Université Paris highlighted that e-ink reduces eye surface disturbances in both dark and bright environments .
Overall, e-ink offers a closer experience to paper books, reducing long-term eye strain, although some argue that both types can cause irritation if used incorrectly.
Furthermore, according to 2025 reports from E Ink, the use of e-ink significantly reduces the amount of ROS (reactive oxygen species) that are harmful to eye cells, especially when compared to LCDs in low-light conditions, where the warm backlight of e-ink emits only the minimum necessary light.
Additionally, ComfortGaze in e-ink reduces blue light levels by up to 60% and harmful elements by 24%, providing better eye protection compared to the settings on phone screens.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/may-doc-sach-e-ink-thuc-su-tot-cho-mat-hon-dien-thoai-20250912180210597.htm
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