A head mounted device includes a light sensor configured to generate light data in response to measuring scene light in an external environment of the head mounted device, a display configured to present a virtual image to an eyebox area of the head mounted device, a near-eye dimming element configured to modulate a transmission of the scene light to the eyebox area in response to a transmission command, and processing logic configured to adjust the transmission command of the dimming element in response to a brightness level of the virtual image and the light data generated by the light sensor.