A method for controlling a mixed reality system having a variable-focus functionality to reduce user discomfort, comprising: obtaining, by tracking a gaze of a user or by predicting a future gaze of the user, a vergence depth of the gaze of the user; determining that a variable-focus lens for providing focus on virtual content viewed by the user is currently configured to provide focus at a focus distance that differs from the vergence depth; determining that an adjustment is to be made to the variable-focus lens to bring the focus distance into conformity with the vergence depth; detecting that a triggering condition is present; determine whether to dampen the adjustment based on the determination of whether the triggering condition is present, wherein determining whether to dampen the adjustment includes: in response to detecting that the triggering condition is present, selectively dampening the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens, the dampening causing the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens to reconfigure the variable-focus lens to provide focus at a focus distance that differs from the vergence depth, wherein selectively dampening the adjustment comprises selecting a degree to which the adjustment is dampened based on the triggering condition; and in response to detecting that the triggering condition is no longer present, refraining from dampening the adjustment made to the variable focus lens to cause the focus distance to bring the focus distance into conformity with the vergence depth. obtaining, by tracking a gaze of a user or by predicting a future gaze of the user, a vergence depth of the gaze of the user; determining that a variable-focus lens for providing focus on virtual content viewed by the user is currently configured to provide focus at a focus distance that differs from the vergence depth; determining that an adjustment is to be made to the variable-focus lens to bring the focus distance into conformity with the vergence depth; detecting that a triggering condition is present; determine whether to dampen the adjustment based on the determination of whether the triggering condition is present, wherein determining whether to dampen the adjustment includes: in response to detecting that the triggering condition is present, selectively dampening the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens, the dampening causing the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens to reconfigure the variable-focus lens to provide focus at a focus distance that differs from the vergence depth, wherein selectively dampening the adjustment comprises selecting a degree to which the adjustment is dampened based on the triggering condition; and in response to detecting that the triggering condition is no longer present, refraining from dampening the adjustment made to the variable focus lens to cause the focus distance to bring the focus distance into conformity with the vergence depth. in response to detecting that the triggering condition is present, selectively dampening the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens, the dampening causing the adjustment made to the variable-focus lens to reconfigure the variable-focus lens to provide focus at a focus distance that differs from the vergence depth, wherein selectively dampening the adjustment comprises selecting a degree to which the adjustment is dampened based on the triggering condition; and in response to detecting that the triggering condition is no longer present, refraining from dampening the adjustment made to the variable focus lens to cause the focus distance to bring the focus distance into conformity with the vergence depth.