Well ma'am I am not really sure about a "safe" distance but i am about 2.5-3 feet away from it, sometimes less out of habit to have to lean into my 19" I do not have any noticable eyestrain or anything,but i try to make a consious decission to not run it in the dark. I can actually feel the heat coming from it. So maybe i am a bit close:D

"Many are willing to suffer for their art. Few are willing to learn to draw."