A user-wearable display device (60, 250) comprising: a frame configured to mount on the user; an augmented reality display attached to the frame and configured to direct images to an eye (210, 220, 1201) of the user; a sensor configured to obtain information about ambient light conditions in an environment surrounding the user, the sensor comprising an image capture device configured to capture an image of a scene in a field of view of the user; a variable optical material that undergoes a physical and/or a chemical change in response to a stimulus; a source (132, 134, 136, 138) configured to provide the stimulus; and processing electronics configured to: determine based on the information obtained from the sensor that the ambient light conditions on a portion of a display lens are bright or that a bright object is in the field of view of the user and is aligned with a portion of the display, provide the stimulus that can change at least one of: the intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, spectral content of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, or the optical path of the ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens to reduce intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens and/or from the bright object and improve visual experience. a frame configured to mount on the user; an augmented reality display attached to the frame and configured to direct images to an eye (210, 220, 1201) of the user; a sensor configured to obtain information about ambient light conditions in an environment surrounding the user, the sensor comprising an image capture device configured to capture an image of a scene in a field of view of the user; a variable optical material that undergoes a physical and/or a chemical change in response to a stimulus; a source (132, 134, 136, 138) configured to provide the stimulus; and processing electronics configured to: determine based on the information obtained from the sensor that the ambient light conditions on a portion of a display lens are bright or that a bright object is in the field of view of the user and is aligned with a portion of the display, provide the stimulus that can change at least one of: the intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, spectral content of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, or the optical path of the ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens to reduce intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens and/or from the bright object and improve visual experience. determine based on the information obtained from the sensor that the ambient light conditions on a portion of a display lens are bright or that a bright object is in the field of view of the user and is aligned with a portion of the display, provide the stimulus that can change at least one of: the intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, spectral content of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens, or the optical path of the ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens to reduce intensity of ambient light transmitted through that portion of the display lens and/or from the bright object and improve visual experience.