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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

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.

[NuShieldguy]

on 10/16/2008 NuShield manufactures both antiglare and antireflective screen protectors that can be placed over the screen. The film blocks up to 99% of UV rays coming from the monitor and also helps to block sunglare from outside coming in.

[ejsimmons]

on 1/7/2007 Great suggestions, only try being a musician with a music notepad, 13.3" by 9.90", and no glare screens available yet. I wear contacts, and after 15 minutes, my eyes are ready for the Sahara Desert. Also, I have a very expensive "piano light", luminated just for sheet music, but I'm going to try to take your suggestion somehow, and try to move it a little over to the side. (It's made to be overhead). I understand more task lighting, and less overhead lighting is best. If you hear of any screen available to fit my music notepad, write me at [e-mail] or call at 239-839-4650. Thank You,
Elizabeth Simmons