Watching tv in a dark room

[shaunvdb]

Is it bad for your eyes, to watch tv in a dark room?

[Ethel]

Apparently it is not good to watch tv in a dark room:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/0 60425015643.htm

[babybombo]

I dont know if its bad for your eyes but my young cousin took a fit and the doctor said it was because he was playing his video games with all the lights turned off.
He has no history of epilepsy or taking fits and nothing like that had ever happened before.

[heathfield]

Ethel's link is another instance of history repeating itself. It seems we never learn. Back in the 1950s, when more and more people were buying TV sets for the first time, the newspapers were full of advice about not watching TV in a dark room. The use of something like a small table lamp to illuminate the wall behind the TV was invariably recommended.
Incidentally, TV screens had rounded corners in those days. It was said that this allowed more eye movement, and helped prevent eye strain caused by the viewer's eyes becoming locked to the screen. Where are such screens today?

[jno]

people don't feel they're getting value for money - eg they can't see all of a movie as the director shot it - if they don't get all the screen they can. That means rectangular rather than with rounded corners

http://www.geocities.com/perry_peterson_1999/o ld-philco-tv.jpg

[chakka35]

Hasn't anyone noticed that films are shown in a dark room?