Tag / light ergonomics

by Uroš Bole

How to pick the best blue filter for your light sensitivity problem

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… Continue reading →

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by Uroš Bole

10 blue light filters to relieve computer eye strain, help you sleep better, etc.

Computer eye strain (eye fatigue, computer vision syndrome) has also been associated with blue light emitted by digital display devices. Computer eye strain is a big problem if you are blue light sensitive and you need to stare at screens a lot (my case). Moreover, emerging research suggests that there are other longer term health hazards, e.g. retina damage, sleep disorder, depression, etc. Blue light filters are a possible solution to blue light induced computer eye strain. This post attempts to answer the following questions: How does blue light cause computer eye strain? What blue light filter options are there? How effectively do they filter blue light? Where can you get them? Continue reading →

by Uroš Bole

How to prevent eye strain: 10 anti Repetitive Strain Injury apps

how to prevent eye strain and repetitive strain injuries from computer workWhen 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.

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by Uroš Bole

How to reduce screen brightness: 3 free light filter apps

How to reduce screen brigthness_3 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. Continue reading →

by Uroš Bole

How to sleep better at night: Bluelight filter apps

how to sleep better at night - bluelight filter app

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.

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by Uroš Bole

f.lux software: reduce glare on computer screen, sleep better, and …

  f.lux software - How to reduce glare on computer

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. Continue reading →

by Uroš Bole

How to reduce glare on computer screen: Natural light, no direct sun

How to reduce glare on computer screen No sun Natural light

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. Continue reading →