Anti-Glare Screens

Anti-Glare Screens Before you go out and purchase an anti-glare screen to reduce eye strain, consider that you can reduce the glare on your computer monitor by adjusting your work station environment:

Reduce glare from windows (and other light sources) by positioning your monitor screen at a 90 degree to them. Note: While glare is reduced if you directly face the light source (with the light source thereby behind the screen), the high contrast of light could result in eye strain.
Cover the window with curtains or blinds. You can then open the curtains/blinds for natural lighting when the sun is no longer shining directly through the window.
Use wall paint with a non-reflective surface. Avoid using bright whites and other colors that reflect high amounts of light.
Install light fixtures on the sides of a computer workstation or directly parallel to the workstation. Do not have your light directly behind you.

Of course, you may not always have control over the abovementioned “fixes.” In such a case, an anti-glare screen can be very beneficial. Anti-glare screens can reduce both bright spots and washout caused by ambient light. Anti-glare screens can help reduce symptoms of eye strain, including double vision, headaches, difficulty focusing, and the inability to perceive colors properly.

When choosing an anti-glare monitor for your computer, consider these features:

Anti-reflective coating – you want the filter to reduce the glare reduction by at least 95 percent.
Anti-static – the less static, the less dust, the better the legibility of the text on your screen.
Easy-to-clean – although anti-reflective coating is good, fingerprints can be difficult to remove from it. Look for an anti-glare screen that needs only a soft cloth and a bit of water to clean it.
Optical glass, plastic, or micromesh – A good optical glass is better than the latter two options.
Transmission – if you have a great amount of glare in your work area, you need a low level of transmission to reduce the glare. A low amount of ambient light glare needs a higher level of transmission.
Privacy anti-glare screens – these make it difficult for anyone to read what is on the screen unless he or she is directly in front of it.
Polarizing – these can provide a very high level of glare reduction and contrast improvement.
Types of anti-glare filters – there are even glare filters for laptops. Also, note that you can find filters in both flat and wrap-around designs.

Also realize that eye strain can be caused by other factors besides light:

Over-use – the eye muscles are like any other muscle in that they can become strained and fatigued if they are not rested.
Lighting – lighting that is either too bright or too dark is not good for your eyes.
Focus shift – shifting your focus from a computer screen to papers and back again can strain your eyes. Use a clip to directly attach the papers you are copying to your monitor or a copy stand.
Dry air – lubricating your eyes can lead to relief from dry air in your workplace.

There are many things that you can do to reduce the problems associated with eye strain. Buying and using an anti-glare screen is only one of many options.