Screen glare isn’t just annoying – it’s the digital equivalent of staring into the sun while trying to read your emails. It strains your eyes, interrupts your focus and can even mess with your circadian rhythm. Whether you’re hustling from your home office, deep into a gaming marathon, or just doomscrolling past bedtime, glare is the silent saboteur of your screen time.
The bright side? A few clever tweaks can save your eyes (and your sanity).
Here are 6 glare-busting tricks that we recommend:
1. Consider a Blue Light Filter
Blue light poses no direct threat to your health, but can definitely mess with your sleep patterns on those late-nights. Consider a blue-light filter to reduce the strain on your eyes – especially if you are wearing glasses for the computer already!
2. Adjust Screen Brightness
Too bright? Your eyes will struggle. Too dim? Same issue. Your screen should be just a bit brighter than the surrounding light. Consider auto-brightness if you are tired of tinkering with it every few hours.
Bonus: Combine this with the night-mode setting in your PC in the evening to provide a natural adjustment for your eyes come night-time.
3. Control Natural Light with Curtains or Blinds
Windows behind or beside your screen cause unnecessary glare. Modify your workspace to avoid direct sunlight on the monitor and consider using curtains or other means to reduce the amount of light on the screens.
4. Reposition Your Monitor
Keep your screen at eye level and tilt it slightly down. This helps avoid overhead reflections. Also, maintain at least an arm’s length between you and the screen to reduce strain.
Rule of thumb: The screen’s center should be about 15–20 degrees below eye level.
5. Switch to Matte Screen Monitors
Glossy monitors may look sharp, but they reflect light like a mirror! If you are in the market for a new monitor, consider having a look at a matte screen. These are significantly less reflective
Already own a glossy screen? Use an anti-reflective film or consider our other tips!
6. The 20-20-20 Rule
We’ve said it 100 times, you’ve heard it 100 times, the 20-20-20 rule is inevitable. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds. This will help relax your eye muscles and give them a break. Sometimes, the issue may not necessarily be the glare but with how strong your eyes are focusing on the screen!
Final Thoughts
Strain from glare or increased screen-time is common. Small changes in lighting and position of your screen setup can go a long way in reducing your symptoms!
Want expert help? Book an eye exam with our optometrists and get personalized screen-use recommendations.
For other reference, you may visit this website https://www.iapb.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6-Ways-to-reduce-eyestrain.pdf.