This UX.SE question about the use of bright pink in graphic design prompted an answer that says it should not be used because “it hurts the eyes.” It cites a Color Matters website about this, and quotes the following:
Certain colors and color relationships can be eye irritants, cause headaches, and wreak havoc with human vision.
Yellow, pure bright lemon yellow is the most fatiguing color. Why? The answer comes from the physics of light and optics. More light is reflected by bright colors, resulting in excessive stimulation of the eyes. Therefore, yellow is an eye irritant.
The 83,000 cones that are used to decode red became fatigued and over stimulated when you focused on the red rectangle.
The operation of the eye is largely muscular and any excessive activity will tire it out.
I had been under the impression that much of this “wear out your eyes” stuff was little more than old wives’ tales, largely debunked by modern science—but I don’t remember where I got that notion, or how authoritative it was or wasn’t. Further, since this is a complex subject with a lot of research, no doubt, I imagine our understanding of the eye is updated rather frequently with new research.
Thus, does modern science indicate that eyes are fatigued noticeably more by bright colors than other colors?
