A head-mounted display for displaying out of focus notification. The head-mounted display includes a display projector, a lens system, and an eye tracking assembly capable of tracking a direction of an eye. The head-mounted display further includes an electronic processor that controls the display projector based on received data from the eye tracking assembly. The electronic processor determines, based on received data from the eye tracking assembly, at least one of a first focal distance, a second focal distance, and a third focal distance. The electronic processor controls the display projector to display an icon associated with a notification at the second focal distance. The second focal distance is out of focus with respect to the first focal distance. The electronic processor further controls the display projector to display information associated with the notification in response to changes in focal distance determined by the electronic processor.