Do any of you have recommendations for preventing glare on the computer monitor?

In fact, do you have a favorite monitor? In the past I've used 2 monitors, but right now I'm using 1 fairly large one. At one time I used a HUGE one, but found that wasn't that helpful and took up too much space.

Anyone have a point of view on this one?

I have a LCD flat screen, and have adjusted it for maximal glare prevention. I also have changed the window background (WordPerfect/Word, etc.) to a light blue -- and that helps a lot.

Information from the CDC (your tax dollars at work):

MONITOR

Once the chair and work surface height are properly adjusted, the computer monitor should be placed so the top of the screen is at or just below eye level when seated in an upright position. The following suggestions can help prevent the development of eye strain, neck pain and shoulder fatigue while using your computer workstation:

Make sure the surface of the viewing screen is clean.

Adjust brightness and contrast to optimum comfort.

Position the monitor directly in front of the user to avoid excessive twisting of the neck.

User must position the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance, approximately 18-30 inches from the user.

Position monitors at right angles from windows to reduce glare. Close window blinds as needed to reduce glare from sunlight.

Position monitors away from direct lighting which creates excessive glare or use a glare filter over the monitor to reduce glare.

Adjust the monitor tilt so that ceiling lights do not reflect on your screen.

If a document holder is used, it should be placed at approximately the same height as the monitor and at the same distance from the eyes to prevent frequent eye shifts between the monitor screen and reference materials.

Get regular eye check-ups.

Adjust as needed for larger screens. You may need to sit farther away and increase the font size to take full advantage of the larger screen. (This one's for Linda.)

Bifocal and trifocal wearers have to pay particular attention to the placement of their monitor. Wearers of bifocals and trifocals often unknowingly tilt their heads backwards so they can read the screen through the lower portion of their glasses. This can sometimes lead to neck, shoulder, and back discomfort. Potential solutions include either lowering the computer monitor or purchasing glasses designed specifically for working at the computer. From personal experience, I would add that lenses can often be treated with an anti-glare coating which is helpful, particularly if you have high-index lenses. Glare on these lenses can make everything look blue if not treated.

LIGHTING

Lighting not suited to working with a computer is a major contributing factor in visual discomforts including eyestrain, burning or itching eyes, and blurred or double vision.

The lighting in most office environments is too bright for optimal VDT screen viewing. The illumination may be reduced by removing 2 bulbs in a 4-bulb fluorescent fixture, removing the bulbs in every other fixture, or turning off overhead lights altogether. Supplemental desk lighting is better than overhead lighting for reading or printed copy.

Use the following recommendations to reduce eyestrain and eye fatigue:

Close drapes/blinds to reduce glare.

Adjust lighting to avoid glare on screen (light source should come at a 90 degree angle, with low watt lights rather than high).

Avoid intense or uneven lighting in your field of vision.

Place monitor at 90 degree angle to windows (where possible).

Reduce overhead lighting (where possible).

Use indirect or shielded lighting where possible.

Walls should not be painted with a reflective finish.

Use a glare screen or monitor shield to reduce glare from overhead lighting.

Another site mentioned that you can easily find sources of glare by sitting at your computer while it is off and holding a small mirror up in front of your monitor screen. Troublesome light sources in your environment will reflect back at you.

Personally, I'd rather try to use these tips - and it's easier to do so when working at home - then to use a glare filter. I have poor vision to begin with. I found that when I had to use a glare filter at work, I also had to turn brightness all the way up in order to be able to see what was on the screen. Management wondered why I burned out so many monitors.

I'm a big multiple monitor fan--at least two, preferably three (because I do some typing from copy). It's much more efficient to have your references, including your browser for searches, always displayed to one side as you work instead of having to flip windows back and forth (I'm a big fan of digital references, too). As for the monitor itself--I absolutively, posolutely have to have a rotating monitor that can be put in portrait (rather than the usual landscape) mode. Being able to see your document displayed as the entire 8-1/2 x 11-inch page in true size makes a world of difference. You won't realize how much time you waste scrolling every day until you don't have to. I'd go for a big landscape monitor only if it were big enough to display two full-sized 8-1/2 x 11 pages side by side. Nothing that big is remotely affordable at the moment.

I agree with changing lighting and positioning to remove any reflected glare, and one of the very first things I do on any new computer is go into display properties and change the background for all windows to a very pale gray-green in my color scheme, which changes document background in Word to that color as well. You need to create a custom color for that, but it only takes a second to do. I find good ol' Eye-Ease steno pad green is much more restful to the eyes than the classic WP white on blue, let alone the glaring Word black on white.

Wow! Glory1863, that is a lot of useful information on a topic that I have not before considered. Thanks for posting. I will be looking at how my desk is set up and how to reduce glare. Thanks,

Leanne

You're welcome, SB. I had been looking at optometic and ophthalmologic sites for info, but most of those seemed to focus on children. I was pleasantly surprised to find how much information the Centers for Disease Control had. Like I said, our tax dollars paid for it, so we might as well use it.

Don't overlook the excellent advice by Tonks and others to set your screen colors to your liking if possible. I don't agree with Tonks about WP's white on blue being unappealing, but everybody's eyes are different. I rather like the winter color scheme on this board, but the Christmas scheme on the "dead" board (dark red/green - I don't remember if the text was white or black) was a bit difficult for me.