Screen and light guide
Set screen position and lighting as one system.
Screen position affects where the light can go, and light placement affects where the screen can sit. Tune them together instead of buying each component in isolation.
Start with a neutral screen position
Place the primary screen directly in front of the position you use most. A practical starting point is roughly an arm’s length away, with the top area of the display near eye level; then adjust for screen size, prescription lenses, and comfortable reading distance.
For two screens used equally, center the join between them. If one screen is primary, keep it centered and angle the secondary screen inward rather than twisting the chair toward it.
Control glare before adding brightness
Turn the screen so windows sit to the side rather than directly behind it or reflected in it. Check the setup at the actual hours you work because the glare path changes during the day.
Use ambient light for the room and a separate task light for paper or detailed work. Aim the task light across the work surface and away from the display. Camera lighting can be softer and closer to the face without becoming the room’s main light.
- Check reflections on a dark screen
- Keep bright bare lamps outside the direct field of view
- Match screen brightness to the room instead of maximizing it
- Recheck after seasonal daylight changes
Validate the setup during real work
Test reading, writing, video calls, and any side-by-side reference work. Note repeated leaning, squinting, or turning as signals to adjust the layout, not as a diagnosis.
This guide is general setup education and has not been reviewed by a medical or ergonomics expert. Persistent discomfort or vision concerns belong with an appropriately qualified professional.