Discomfort Glare and Visual Performance

Abstract

An experimental study was carried out to determine whether glare which had been scaled for discomfort would produce a decrement in visual performance. Three levels of glare and a no glare condition based on the IES glare index classification were established in a carefully controlled visual environment. The complex Landolt rings designed by Weston et al. were used as a task and measures of speed and accuracy were taken from sixteen subjects in all glare conditions. An analysis of the results showed no difference in performance between any of the levels of discomfort glare studied and it was concluded that this experimental evidence supports the view that the origin of the discomfort is unlikely to be found in the retinal receptors.