I first discovered pattern glare when wooden slats became increasingly popular in modern interior design. The wooden slats gave me headaches and it hurt my eyes to look at them. I thought this was normal, but Vlad, my partner and also optometrist did not have the same objection and experience with wooden slats.
I was also finding it harder to see words on my laptop at home. The words on the screens would flicker and blur out into a shadow. I started to get headaches at the end of the work day.
What Is Pattern Glare?
After having these symptoms for a while, I decided it would be a good idea to get my eyes tested. The results showed I have a relatively low glasses prescription with a slight difference between the two eyes which can cause a few of my symptoms. However, it did not explain the strong dislike I had for wooden slats and light sensitivity. This is when I discovered pattern glare.
Pattern glare occurs when certain repetitive or high-contrast visual patterns overload the brain’s ability to process what the eyes see. This can cause symptoms like:
- Increased sensitivity to bright lights, especially fluorescent lighting or bright computer screens
- Visual distortions like shimmering or flickering text
- Headaches and sometimes migraine aura triggered by patterned visual environments
How Rose-Tinted Lenses Help
FL-41 is a rose-coloured tint that filters out specific wavelengths of light known to cause visual stress and migraines.
FL-41 stands for Fluorescent-41 and it was first created in the 1980s to help with symptoms of headaches and eyestrain that people attributed to fluorescent lighting.
FL-41 lenses can help with the following:
- Reduce glare from screens and indoor lighting
- Calm brain’s response to repetitive patterns and flickering light
- Minimise the frequency of headaches and migraine auras
Since wearing FL-41 lenses, I can work on the computer for longer periods without discomfort, and my overall visual experience feels much calmer. While these lenses don’t cure pattern glare, they make living with it more manageable.
Contact us to find out more, we’re here to help!
Jocelyn Cheng
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