431,541

October 15 2015

Image of 431,541

Picture: AHN

That's the number of people who have read AHN since it began in 2011. I've just managed to access my Google Analytics for the first time in a couple of years. It's nice to see how many of you have stuck with the site since the early days, and also how many new readers continue to take a look. I'm so enormously grateful to you all for your interest and support - thank you. We now have on average over 5,000 individual readers a week. And since we began we've had over 3m 'page views' (whatever they are).

I should also probably apologise for the rather erratic posting there has been over the last few months. Apart from being busy setting up a new company (plus a new baby), I've been struggling to find a solution to various eyesight problems.

It's nothing serious, and I mention it here not to elicit any sympathy - but because I'm not sure we all realise quite how bad things like computer screens and smartphones are for our eyes. The kind of light modern screens emit has been proven to be degenerative to our eyes. And because we tend to stare at these screens we blink one third as much as we would normally. This can lead very quickly to having dry eyes, and other such things, because we don't blink and lubricate the surface of the eye. The front of our eyes are covered with thousands of nerve endings, and if these become too dry it's amazing how odd you can feel as a result.

So, as a result I've not been as diligent at putting stories up every day or so, as I used to. I've also not been as diligent at getting back to emails - for which further apologies, or putting up reader's comments - sorry again.

But fear not AHNers, for the solution is at hand. I've an array of new spectacles; some for reading screens, some for looking at pictures, some for looking afar, some for reading books, and so on. And a smart new 'manbag' to lug them all around in. It means I'm able to scour the world's auction houses for pictures (which must come first in my tasks of the day) without feeling too ropey to tend to AHN.

I'm also something of an evangelist about this new 21st century problem. Did you know there's a new type of spectacle lens you can get for screen use, called 'blue protect'? It filters out some of the degenerative light, and I highly recommend it. I'd urge all of you, whether you use glasses or not, to take extra care when looking at screens, especially things like reading text on smartphones, and to try and limit the amount of screen time in your day. Except when reading Art History News of course.

Update - a reader writes;

I was interested about your comments about the damage computer and I pad screens do to your eyes. I sit every night before I go to sleep and look at auction sites, mainly paintings. I had laser treatment on my eyes by Dr David Gartry at Moorfields eye hospital some years ago. My eyes were perfect until recently and I am sure it's the I pad. Too many auctions to look at and that habit has taken its toll on my eyes. I totally agree with your comments.

Another reader has this suggestion;

I'm in no way affiliated with it but I use a neat little tool called f.lux you might like to try alongside all the new spectacles. It essentially links your screen's 'blueness' to the day's natural cycle - in the day you'll see no change but as the sun sets in your time zone the screen's light becomes warmer in tone to compensate for it, should you be using your computer at sunrise you'll see it gradually shift from the warm tones to a cooler, daylight one. Which probably sounds rather odd but the software is free, the link is https://justgetflux.com/ and the site has a 'f.luxometer' which gives a demonstration of how it alters the night-time screen colour for various models of computers and devices. 

You can switch it on and off if you're viewing art and need an unfiltered sense of the colours in a piece but its warmer evening shades are fantastic at reducing eye strain when writing or reading late into the night.

As a contact lens wearer who works with screens and a laptop everyday and reads entirely too much, I suspect f.lux might be the sole reason my vision has remained stable over the last two years and I stopped having migraines. Anyway, I hope you find it of interest and/or use.

Update II - another reader, inspired by AHN, has been shopping:

Sorry to hear about the eye problems Bendor, as a photographer, I know how the eyes tire somewhat. Even getting on a bit things change ! 

Just to let you know I read AHN everyday, and have learnt a lot from you wise musings.. and have found a sleeper awhile back at my bootfair..by Richard Ansdell..though as it was waterlogged [ a sixth of the painting was missing..]

Update III - another reader wonders:

Read your updates today. Congratulations on your impressive viewing figures; surely there must be a way for you to financially benefit on these!

Alas not, and I've always resisted the temptation to take adverts. That said, I do every now and then plug something else I'm involved with. 

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