troubleshooting tips

Glare Solutions

Glare occurs when a luminance in the visual field is greater than the illumination to which the eyes are adapted, leading to impaired visual performance and ocular discomfort.

Glare may result from direct or reflected light and varies in severity. It is generally measured by its effects on contrast sensitivity.

Glare types fall into one of four categories: distracting, discomforting, disabling, and blinding.

■ Distracting glare is in the range of 1,400 to 3,000 lumens (optimal lighting is 1,000 to 1,400 lumens) and may produce reflections and halos around bright lights.

■ Discomforting glare (3,000 to 10,000 lumens) is a common cause of asthenopic symptoms and frequently leads to squinting.

■ Disabling glare (greater than 10,000 lumens) can actually interfere with or block vision.

■ Blinding glare results from incident light reflecting from smooth, shiny surfaces (such as water or snow) and becoming plane polarized, seriously compromising vision.

Anti-reflection (AR) used with photochromic lenses is a simple, effective way to minimize the effects of everyday glare.

Photochromic, tinted, or polarized lenses reduce disabling glare and help alleviate its adverse effect on the quality of vision. In extreme conditions, polarized lenses help reduce blinding glare, promoting satisfactory visual experiences. Below is a further explanation of glare and its effects. EB