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Write Longer, See Clearer: Reduce Eye Strain with Eye Comfort Mode in Word

Author: Zhoumandy Last Modified: 2025-08-06

Bright white Word documents may look clean—but after hours of writing or editing, they can leave your eyes dry, tired, and strained. That’s where Kutools for Word comes in. With its Eye Comfort Mode, you can instantly soften the document background, reduce harsh screen glare, and create a calmer writing environment. It’s a simple change that makes a big difference—especially for late-night work or long writing sessions.

Eye Comfort Mode of Kutools for Word

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Why You Need Eye Comfort Mode

🧿 Reduce Eye Fatigue
The default bright-white page background in Word may look clean, but it can cause significant eye strain during prolonged use — especially under low-light conditions. Eye Comfort Mode replaces it with a softer tone, helping to prevent dryness, discomfort, and visual fatigue throughout your writing sessions.
🎯 Improve Focus and Productivity
Bright glare and harsh contrast in the interface can be mentally tiring. By softening the overall visual experience, Eye Comfort Mode minimizes distractions and supports a calmer, more focused environment — ideal for editing, writing, or reviewing documents for hours.
🌙 Ideal for Night Work or Dark Environments
Whether you're burning the midnight oil or working in a dim room, Eye Comfort Mode gently tones down your document's appearance to reduce irritation and avoid overstimulating your eyes. It also helps support your natural circadian rhythm by limiting sudden exposure to intense white light.
🎨 Personalize Your Writing Environment
In addition to built-in soothing themes, Eye Comfort Mode lets you define up to three custom colors — so you can tailor the document background to your exact visual comfort and aesthetic preference. It’s a simple way to make your workspace feel more “you.”

How to Enable and Use Eye Comfort Mode

Here’s how to turn on Eye Comfort Mode and choose a theme that suits your eyes:

Step 1: Enable the Eye Comfort Mode

Go to the Kutools tab in the Word ribbon, then click Eye Comfort Mode in the Popular group.

Eye Comfort Mode in the Popular group

📝 Note: When enabling Eye Comfort Mode for the first time, a confirmation dialog will appear with the following reminders:

  • The background color will be saved with the document. It’s recommended to turn off Eye Comfort Mode before sharing.
  • If the Print background colors and images option is enabled (under Options → Display), the background color will appear in printed output. This setting is off by default.

You can check Do not remind again within 30 days to skip this prompt in the future. Then click OK to enable the mode, or Cancel to abort the action.

Step 2: Select a Comfort Theme

Once Eye Comfort Mode is enabled, click the drop-down arrow next to the Eye Comfort Mode button.
In the menu that appears, select one of the three built-in themes to apply it instantly.

  • Brown
  • Black
  • Green
the three built-in themes

At this point, the page color of your Word document will change immediately. You're done!

Step 3 (Optional): Customize Your Own Color

If you prefer a personalized theme, follow these steps:

  1. Click Custom Color 1, 2, or 3, then choose Set Color.
    Custom Color 1, 2, or 3
  2. In the Color dialog, select your preferred color and click OK.
    the Color dialog
  3. Click the corresponding Custom Color to apply it.
    select the Custom Color 1, 2, or 3

📝 Note: You can define up to three custom theme colors and switch between them at any time using the Custom Color 1/2/3 buttons.

Result

The page background color in your Word document updates instantly — no restart required.

Page background color in Word document updates instantly

⚠️ Important Note: If the current document already has a custom page color, Eye Comfort Mode will not be enabled.


Built-in Modes & Custom Theme

Kutools offers three soothing presets and a Custom Theme where you can define up to three personalized background colors. Each card below reflects its actual theme style:

☀️ Brown

Applies a warm-toned brown background to soften glare and reduce eye strain.

Best for: General daytime use

🌑 Black

Uses a dark interface designed for comfortable viewing in low-light spaces.

Best for: Nighttime or dark rooms

💚 Green

Applies a subtle green tint to relax the eyes during extended editing sessions.

Best for: Afternoon or evening sessions

🎨 Custom Theme

Lets you define up to three custom background colors for your preferred viewing style.

Best for: Users with visual preferences or special needs


Bonus Tips for Comfortable Writing

  • Enable Focus Mode in Word to hide toolbars and reduce distractions while using Eye Comfort Mode.
  • Use Print Layout or Web Layout view to ensure Eye Comfort Mode is fully applied.
  • Adjust your Zoom level to a comfortable size that complements your selected background theme.

⚠️ Important Reminder:

Eye Comfort Mode cannot be enabled under the following conditions:

  • The current document has a custom page background set via Design > Page Color.
  • The document is in a non-editable state (such as read-only or restricted editing).

If either condition is met, Kutools for Word will display a warning message. To enable Eye Comfort Mode, please reset the background color to default and ensure the document is editable.

Kutools warning when custom color exists

👉 Experience better clarity and comfort while writing. Try Eye Comfort Mode for free and take care of your eyes.

Free Download – Kutools for Word

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