VisionAware

Glare is caused by light that is too bright, making it harder to see, rather than easier. Glare also happens when certain types of vision problems cause the light entering the eye to bounce around instead of coming to focus. Reflective surfaces are another cause of glare, such as highly polished floors, metal objects, mirrors, and tiled or enameled floors and walls.

	Glare can make it difficult to see things like your TV screen.
	If you move your TV, or adjust blinds or curtains, to avoid glare, the TV screen becomes easier to see.

In many homes, the bathroom is “Glare Central.” The problem is particularly acute when you enter a brightly lit bathroom from a dark hallway or other dim environment. There are some simple steps you can take to reduce glare in any room:

• Install dimmer switches.
  
  
• Clean but do not polish floors and other surfaces; avoid using wax on the floor; use a flat finish.
  
  
• Consider replacing harsh-glare surfaces with softer ones—carpet instead of tile, wallpaper instead of enamel, etc.
  
  
• In places where glare is unavoidable, use sunglasses, large brimmed hats, umbrellas or visors.
  
  
• White sheet paper can produce a harsh glare—to make reading easier, try placing transparent yellow acetate sheets over white pages.
  
  
• Sunlight can fill a room with light without producing glare.
  
  
• Mini blinds are excellent window coverings because they can be adjusted during the course of the day to eliminate glare.
  
  
• To make the television easier to see, simply turn the screen away from the sun or a lamp so the light source is behind the screen.