Vision Pro lens glare using zeiss inserts

I have the same issue, it seems like you’re looking through a light fog or something. At first I though it was light leakage too, but like you I was an able to rule that out. My next thought was the Zeiss lenses, so I took them out and recalibrated the Vision Pro without the lenses being in, but it didn’t seem to fix the issue. I was wondering if all the units are this way or was it just mine?! I want to go into Apple to try one of their units to see if there’s does the same thing.

This is pretty normal. I think photographers and cinematographers call this "lens flaring". Bright lights bounce a lot of rays off surfaces of lenses and they begin to scatter. Plugging light gaps in your light seal (I've taken to adding small patches of sticky-back felt pads, purchases at an office supply shop,) has taken care of that source, but bright lights in a movie scene while watching in a nighttime environment (theater, or nighttime environments) are just a fact of life for lenses, especially multi-layered lenses.

Now, Astronomers use special coatings to reduce this flaring when taking photos of planets and moons and stars, but I strongly suspect that these "anti-reflective/anti-glare" coatings might interfere with the beams used for eye-tracking in the AVP. So I've resigned myself to this and watch movies in bright surroundings to mask the flare. It's just a matter of optical physics and there's no product that can violate laws of physics.

I have a tendency to focus on things. Once I see flaws I can't unsee them. Especially spending $4K for something that is distracting. I have a few more days so I am going to keep trying different things as I really want to keep it.

This glare makes the cinema experience unbearable and honestly could be a dealbreaker. Spending nearly $4K and cannot even watch a movie.

No it has nothing to do with light seal. It’s only when there is absolutely no light outside headset. It’s only in very dark headset environments like cinema. It is the light from screens reflecting off the lenses causing a fog. Once you see it you cannot unsee it. Only way it’s bearable is not to watch anything in a dark headset environment. This hides the effect. I don’t like to watch movies like that.

• I can’t imagine anyone buying Vision Pro primarily to watch movies, in the dark or light.
• $4000 after tax, carrying case, etc... that’s a lot of money for that.
• I love the device and yes I have experienced the same thing and I don’t think it has anything to do with outside light. I experienced it with and without Zeiss inserts. Only in dark immersion.
• But, I a using this devise for so many PROducivity things along with my Mac Pro. And I really think this is why the device is "Vision PRO".
• I have not played ONE GAME in Vision Pro... That's what my PS5 and PSVR2 are for.
• But, that being said... I was wondering if an Anti-Glare coating on the Zeiss inserts would help the experience... or would it throw off eye tracking...

Hi it sounds like you’re having light leakage on the sides. I’m seeing lens flares inside the Vision Pro.

Anyone else with this issue?

I agree with zacmoore. I don't want to watch movies in a nighttime environment, and once you see the "glare" or "reflections" or "fog" you cannot unsee it. Primarily for this reason, I decided to return my Vision Pro. I hope Apple will be able to address this issue in the next generation of Vision Pro.

If you notice light leakage

To check whether you're experiencing light leakage or not, compare your experience using your Vision Pro in both a brightly lit and a dimly lit room. Some light leakage around the nose is normal. For an ideal fit, you want your Light Seal to make contact with the sides of your face to minimize light leakage.

• If your experience improves in the dimly lit room, the issue is light leakage. To address this, you can adjust the fit of your Vision Pro or try a different Light Seal cushion.

See: If your Apple Vision Pro doesn't fit properly - Apple Support

And If you need help with eye setup on Apple Vision Pro - Apple Support

Not even Apple can violate the laws of physics. VR requires lenses to bend the light around for your eyes. Lenses require changing the speed of light at their surface boundaries. Changing the speed of light causes surface reflections. And surface reflections are... lens flares. You won't be seeing VR movies without lens flaring.

I am probably going to return it as well. I am relatively sure this is on all AVP's and most users just have not noticed it. I believe it was in The Verge review. I do find the product amazing and I do find myself using it frequently but I just don't think in a month I will go through the hassle of putting it on if I cannot watch content in near dark headset environment. It's definitely an iPad replacement but if I can't get used to the glare in near dark environments it would ruin one of the only experience that I truly would use the most till some killer app/use comes out.

I wish the return window was a little longer as software updates could improve the experience. I know this is hardware but if they play with the light or dim the screen a little then it might be fixed. I have tried lowering display brightness and I do think it helps a little, it wasn't enough. I even notice it watching Disney + movies in the Disney Theater environment. I will try to find an environment that works and if not then it's going back.

I found taking the brightness slider all the way down helps a little but still have reflection glare that looks like it’s originating with the lenses. Contacted Apple about both problems along with distance blur of anything past about 12-18 inches in pass through. I’m waiting for a call back after development team receives case.

Rangerchiefv- I don’t know if this can be fixed, at least anytime soon. This is a very common issue with pancake lenses. My confidence is a little low as I feel Apple would have done it if possible. I do miss some aspects of AVP after returning it but the poor FOV, glare, and grainy pass through video makes that decision easy. Sure I can go to a bright immersive environment but I don’t want to make compromises. I think I could have gotten past the FOV and grainy pass through but not even being able to enjoy a movie immersed in a dark environment was the last straw. I hold out hope they can address this issue but until then it was a deal breaker.

Yes and I returned to Apple Store to try different size light seals and that wasn’t the problem. You can put a towel etc. over your head and problem still exists. It appears to be lens flare!