Instrument Panel Eyestrain

[Gurm42]

I am probably the only person in the world with this problem, but figured I'd post here just in case I'm not.

 

I just took ownership of a 2014 Fusion Hybrid SE that the local dealer had discounted substantially.

 

It rides great, looks great... but hurts my eyes.

 

A little background - I have terrible eyes. My vision isn't bad but I'm sensitive to bad lighting. The new super bright fluorescents and LED area lighting are especially bad.

 

So when I sit in the Fusion and drive it, my eyes immediately start to ache. It's far worse at night, but still happens during the day.

 

At first I thought it was just the ridiculously bright LCD screens to either side of the speedometer. They are CRAZY bright and can only be turned down in combination with all the other controls... at which point they are STILL too bright at night. I really wish Ford had made a way to either turn them off or turn them down without dimming the other controls to the point of being unusable.

 

But I covered them over with cardboard and my eyes still ache. Possible culprits are the general preponderance of BLUE lighting (which is bad for human eyes in general) or perhaps the glowing blue speedometer needle, or just the fact that every light in this car is an LED.

 

I'm negotiating with the dealer on exchanging it for a 2015 non-hybrid (around the same money) but just wondered if anyone else had run into this problem and/or worked past it? I don't expect to have a lot of luck here, but figured I'd share/ask.

 

I've made the car MOSTLY livable by completely covering the two large LCD's, and putting some dimming film over the speedometer. But none of that is really a solution, long-term.

 

I could put some dark film over just the LCD screens if I could solve the rest of the lighting issues... does anyone know if the ambient lighting option from MyFord Touch is available on this car? Mine doesn't have MyFord Touch but I could get it installed if it lets me change the internal lighting...

[BoatDrinksQ5]

It is a lot of 'light' for night driving in rural areas, at the dimmest setting things seem fine to me.

 

Too take it a step further, I would think some tinting film would do the trick (for car windows) otherwise on the DIY/cheap.... could easily use some peel/stick window tint (for blocking sun for babies) or another option would be tint available at big box stores in the window covering area for blocking sun/UV/glare in home windows. Would be pretty simple i would think.

 

A pro window tinter could probably knock it out with scrap material in a couple minutes! Call around, likely would be very cheap.

[Texasota]

I could put some dark film over just the LCD screens if I could solve the rest of the lighting issues... does anyone know if the ambient lighting option from MyFord Touch is available on this car? Mine doesn't have MyFord Touch but I could get it installed if it lets me change the internal lighting...

Unfortunately, I think converting a car from non-MFT to MFT would be very difficult or possibly impossible. At best It would likely be so expensive that it would not be practical.

[corncobs]

The idea with the tinted film is great and even DIY should give you an idea if it helps to reduce the glare. I think better then cardboard for sure.

 

On a side note I'm also sensitive to light but I guess it's more sunlight since I never had an issue with the FFH interior / cluster lighting. Actually I receive it as very calming much better than some of dash with a lot red.

[murphy]

The anbient lighting option put lights in the footwells and the doors that can be adjusted to seven colors. It has no effect on the dash. I have to ask. Do you have glasses thare are specifically cut to work with your dash. I wear trifocals that have the middle lens set to the distance that works with my computer screen and the dash in the car. I just had my cataracts removed. For several years I have been looking at everything through a yellow filter. I have been extremely sensitive to bright light all of my life but have not had a problem with the Fusion dash.

[hybridbear]

I'm negotiating with the dealer on exchanging it for a 2015 non-hybrid (around the same money) but just wondered if anyone else had run into this problem and/or worked past it? I don't expect to have a lot of luck here, but figured I'd share/ask.

What good would that do? They largely have the same dash & lighting. How would getting a non-hybrid Fusion make things better?

[corncobs]

What good would that do? They largely have the same dash & lighting. How would getting a non-hybrid Fusion make things better?

I wondered the same thing but doesn't the gas Fusion have a different dash layout without the two screen left and right?

[hybridbear]

I wondered the same thing but doesn't the gas Fusion have a different dash layout without the two screen left and right?

I think the gas Fusion Titanium has the same dash setup at the FFH/FFE with the two LED screens. I believe the cheaper gas Fusions have only one LED screen, located in the center.