In recent years, curved monitors have emerged as an attractive alternative to traditional flat screens. Aimed at gamers and professionals alike, as well as users wishing to maximize their comfort, these screens make a simple promise: to offer a more immersive and natural visual experience.
Why choose a curved PC monitor?
The main advantage of a curved screen is its ability to follow the natural curvature of the human field of vision. Unlike a flat screen, whose edges tend to move further away from the viewer the bigger it is, a curved screen maintains a more even distance between the different parts of the picture and the user’s eyes. This reduces accommodation effort and eye strain, especially during prolonged use.
Immersion is also enhanced by this design. By encompassing peripheral vision to a greater extent, the curved screen provides a more natural, enveloping perception of the displayed content. This is just as true for video games, where it enhances concentration and depth perception, as it is for more conventional uses such as multitasking or watching films.
According to a study, it’s better to use a curved screen
A study conducted by Dr. Gang Luo’s team, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, investigated the impact of screen curvature on visual fatigue. Twenty-seven participants were subjected to intensive visual search tasks on two types of screen: one flat, the other curved (34″ diagonal with a 3000R curvature). After each session, subjects completed a detailed questionnaire covering 22 symptoms of visual discomfort.
The results show that while overall fatigue was equivalent between the two configurations, symptoms directly related to the eye (e.g. eye fatigue, difficulty focusing, blurred vision) were significantly less frequent with the curved screen. Participants also showed greater stability in eye movements on this type of screen, with horizontal saccade speed less affected than on flat screens.
The study emphasizes, however, that the benefits of curvature alone are not enough to improve visual search performance. The time required to complete tasks remained similar regardless of the type of screen used. Nevertheless, these results support the idea that a curved monitor can help limit some symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), particularly in users with accommodative anomalies.
🗒️ Expert's note
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a condition associated with prolonged screen use, caused by the continuous strain on the eye muscles to maintain focus. Symptoms include eye fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, neck pain and dry or irritated eyes. Solutions exist, such as the 20-20-20 rule (looking into the distance every 20 minutes, at a distance of 20 feet (6 meters) for 20 seconds) or the use of eye drops. Adjusting monitor lighting and brightness, as well as taking regular breaks, can also help limit the effects of CVS, which affects up to 90% of regular screen users.
What is screen curvature?
When applied to monitors, the term “curvature” refers to the radius of the arc formed by its screen if it were extended to form a complete circle. This radius is expressed in millimeters, followed by the letter “R”. For example, a 1000R screen represents an imaginary circle with a radius of 1000mm (or 1 meter), 1500R to a radius of 1.5 meters, and so on.
The lower the number, the more pronounced the curvature. A 1000R monitor has a more pronounced curvature than an 1800R model. This radius approximates that of the natural human field of vision, which explains why manufacturers now favor it for screens intended for gaming or immersive environments. As a guide, a 1000R screen is said to offer an optimal viewing experience from a distance of around 1 meter.
The curvature of monitors is not simply a stylistic effect, but a technical response to the limitations of large flat screens. By better adapting to the human eye, curved screens offer increased comfort, reduce certain symptoms of eye strain, and improve immersion, particularly for gaming activities. The choice of a suitable curvature (1000R, 1500R, 1800R…) will depend above all on the size of the screen and the distance at which it is used. For those who spend long hours in front of their screen, these models are a relevant solution to consider.
