[BUG] Accessibility Issue: Excessive UI Blinking/Flickering Causes Eye Strain

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Description:

Claude Code's UI continuously
blinks/flickers during operation,
causing significant eye strain and
making it difficult to use for extended
periods.

What's blinking:

• Input area where user types
• Status line
• Lines that change color when thinking

mode toggles

• Tips section
• "ESC to interrupt" message
• Status messages about what Claude is

doing

Impact:
This is an accessibility issue that
prevents comfortable usage and causes
eye fatigue.

Expected behavior:
UI updates should be smooth without
excessive flickering/blinking, or there
should be a setting to reduce visual
refresh rate.

Environment:

• Terminal: xfce4-terminal
• OS: Debian Linux
• TERM: xterm-256color

Requested features:

1. Setting to disable/reduce UI refresh

rate

1. Option for static UI mode with

minimal updates

1. Disable color changes and animations

What Should Happen?

flickering on updating text should be completely stops somehow
the updating of text in tthe UI should no cause it to flicker.. on vps i think the issue is the flicker is much slower causing the eye strain but im not sure it just needs to stop asap

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

I am also using it with remote desktop on a remote vps which makes it 10 times worse..
is there someway to stop the flickering ??

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.0.10

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_