How to Get Rid of Screen Glare

Glare on your computer monitor is more than just an annoyance. It can leave you with eyestrain and a headache. Taking the shine off your screen should be an ergonomic priority.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-glare Screen
• Black Cardboard
• Cellophane Or Masking Tape
• Desk Lamp
• Flat Wall Paint
• Window Covering

Instructions

1. Evaluate your computer setup to determine whether the monitor is optimally positioned. You don't want the screen to be facing a window, nor do you want to be facing a window yourself--a position that can cause eyestrain from too much light contrast. The ideal screen-to-window angle is 90 degrees.

2. Reduce the amount of bright sunlight in your workplace. Shades, blinds and draperies all help block sunlight. Even switching to a flat rather than glossy wall paint can help.

3. If you have a bright light source directly above your screen--the worst possible place and typical of many offices--try turning it off and placing a small desk lamp to one side of your computer instead.

4. If you can't avoid overhead light, you can construct an anti-glare hood for your monitor by taping together several sheets of black cardboard and using them to frame your monitor screen.

5. If you can't avoid bright light from a window (or if you think a hood looks too goofy), purchase an anti-glare screen to place over your monitor. Generally, the best ones are polarized or have a purplish optical coating.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes just adjusting the brightness and contrast on your monitor is enough to make the display more comfortable to view.

• Polarized screens are not effective when used over a monitor with frosted or etched glass.