Low Vision: Color Filters

We talk about the importance of good lighting a lot in our workshops. But what about those times when there’s a little too much light? Like the time you were out in the yard pulling weeds and the sunlight was so bright, you could barely see what you were doing.

Well, that’s when wearing color filters or tinted glasses can come in real handy. They help improve color contrast, make people and objects appear clearer, and can reduce eyestrain. Depending on your vision and what you’re trying to do, there are various color shades of tints that can be helpful. For instance, during the winter months, color tints reduce the glare that shines off the snow.

Grey tints are good for outdoor activities like fishing or nature walks. And they can be worn on both sunny and cloudy days to reduce glare and eye fatigue.

And green is an all-around good tint in any weather. Green tints can filter blue light and provide high contrast, making dark colored items stand out and light-colored items brighter. They can also reduce eye strain in bright light.

Amber tints are good for enhancing color contrast and eye comfort on sunny days.

And, when you’re in front of a computer screen or using a tablet or smartphone, yellow tints or sunglasses reduce blue light and eye strain.

Brown tints help with depth perception. For instance, judging how far away something may be from you.

Sometimes, even an umbrella can help limit the amount of light. And let’s not forget about sunglasses. They can be pretty useful no matter what your level of vision, especially ones with shields on the top and sides. If you can, opt for sunglasses that block 99% of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

And if you can wear the sunglasses with a hat or visor with a broad, dark colored brim, all the better. The underside of the brim needs to be dark to work the best.

Even when you’re indoors, wearing sunglasses with light colored lens or color filters can help reduce bright light and glare in environments you can’t control, like a dining area or activity room in a community or senior center.

If you haven’t already, talk with your eye doctor about putting light filters in your prescription glasses or about the ones that can be worn over your glasses. You may also want to ask about polarized lenses or sunglasses. They’re designed to prevent glare from the light that bounces off smooth, shiny surfaces, like water and snow. And they also come as wraparounds.

When it comes down to it, a low vision specialist can help you find the products that fit your unique needs much better than the generic products you find at a drugstore. As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share.