This is a problem for me - I took the afternoon flight HKG-LHR last year (repeating it in three weeks), and after they served the meal, they dimmed the lights and asked for the shades to be lowered. I like to look out the window and watch Siberia go by, but when you've got the only open shade in the cabin, it's like a searchlight next to your face, even if it's not really blazing outside.

It's hard to see anything at all, really - your eyes get accustomed to the gloom inside.