Blue light filter selection is complicated. A blue filter may help you with many problems: computer eye strain (computer vision syndrome), LED & fluorescent light sensitivity, sleep disorder, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), light sensitivity (discomfort glare), visual acuity… But not every blue filter will produce optimal results given the specifics of your blue light sensitivity problem. The chaos of hype marketing terminology often hides more than it reveals which further complicates the selection process. Read on to find out: which wavelengths your blue filter should absorb/block, by how much, how to compare bluelight filters…
light ergonomics
How to prevent eye strain: 10 anti Repetitive Strain Injury apps
When you have light sensitive eyes glare and brightness are the most important issue to tackle when figuring out how to prevent eye strain from computer work. But you also have to make sure to prevent against other sources of eye strain. Otherwise you run the risk of the negative effects of computer work summing up. To that end, there are several computer programs that can help you prevent eye strain and other computer related Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). In this post I first answer the questions what is repetitive strain injury and what is computer eye strain. Then I suggest 10 anti repetitive strain injury apps.
How to reduce screen brightness: 3 free light filter apps
How to reduce screen brightness: 3 free filter apps
How to reduce screen brightness below the device’s settings has always been a problem for me, and, I suspect, for anyone who is glare/light sensitive. In this post I propose 3 free filter apps with different characteristics and provide a link to some more screen filter apps, for those who love more options.
How to sleep better at night: Bluelight filter apps
How to sleep better at night: Bluelight filter apps
There are good reasons for insisting (here is the first post) on bluelight filter apps (in addition to being one important factor to figuring out How to sleep better at night):
- photophobia researchers have found that blue light induces pain in light-sensitive people (on a personal note: we had red and blue lights on our Christmas tree – the blue ones caused pain in my eyes immediately, I could not stand looking at them, vs. no problem at all with the red ones!)
- the question how to sleep at night in relation to blue light exposure may be even more relevant for people with photophobia – some years ago (before coming across bluelight filter apps) I had serious problems with night sleep – a terrible vicious cycle
- bluelight filter apps may be used to decrease brightness and reduce glare of your computer screen (or other electronic display devices)
- I just run across a new bluelight filter app: PC SunScreen – free only until March 5! So I had to hurry.
f.lux software: reduce glare on computer screen, sleep better, and …
Free f.lux software helps reduce glare on computer screen
f.lux software is another, excellent way to reduce glare on computer screen. There are excellent reviews (for example here, here, and here) along with simple instructions of how to use and personalize this user friendly software. If you do computer work at night, or under artificial lights only, f.lux software may help you sleep better and reduce computer eye strain. I have been using f.lux software for about half a year now and I’ve been thrilled to discover that people with light sensitivity (photophobia) can benefit from f.lux software in some unexpected ways.
How to reduce glare on computer screen: Natural light, no direct sun
How to reduce glare on computer screen: Natural light but no direct sun glare
Having reduced direct sun glare from your computer screen (and workstation) you now discover new glare you hadn’t noticed before. Being subtler this glare is more difficult to detect. You might not even notice the glare itself (depending on the level of your light sensitivity) but you do feel its effects after prolonged viewing of your computer screen: eye strain, general fatigue, tension around the eyes, headaches, etc.
How to reduce glare on computer screen: Direct sun glare
How to reduce glare on computer screen: Direct sun
I have a long history of trying to figure out how to reduce glare on computer screen. For a light sensitive person, this is a difficult and complex task of cutting out glare and reflections one after another. You start with the glare that bothers you most and once you tame that one you discover another disturbing glare. So you continue until you find a tolerable solution. My intention with the next several posts is to revisit the process of reducing glare on computer screen (indoors). I hope the articles will help you find good solutions to your specific situation faster. This post is on what to do if the sun shines into your office.
How to reduce glare on computer screen: what is the problem?
How to reduce glare on computer screen
You are probably familiar with the sight above … and subsequent eyestrain, general fatigue, headache, … – computer vision syndrome (CVS). Glare on computer screen need not be as strong to cause these effects and make you wonder How to reduce glare on computer screen. It’s not easy, particularly if you have lower tolerance to light.
Reduce brightness to reduce glare in your home or office
In the post Increase brightness to reduce glare in your home or office only half the story of how to reduce glare was told. To reduce glare you may also reduce brightness (or do a combination of both – specific solutions to reduce glare depend on how it’s being produced). Here are a few examples of when and how you might reduce brightness to reduce glare in your home or office.
Increase brightness to reduce glare in your home or office
Light sensitivity forces us to look for ways to reduce glare. To increase brightness and/or to reduce brightness answers to the question How to reduce glare. Increase brightness to reduce glare!?!? Yes, in some cases this is the way to go. Here are a few ideas of when and how you might increase brightness to reduce glare in your home or work.
GLARminY 