diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.cpp
index 2be1bc0e8f..dba56f53f7 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.cpp
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ void GlowEffect::prepare() {
     _isEmpty = true;
 }
 
-void GlowEffect::begin(float amount) {
-    glBlendColor(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, amount);
+void GlowEffect::begin(float intensity) {
+    glBlendColor(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, intensity);
     _isEmpty = false;
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.h b/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.h
index cc01ce840f..5e34779c76 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GlowEffect.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 class ProgramObject;
 
+/// A generic full screen glow effect.
 class GlowEffect : public QObject {
     Q_OBJECT
     
@@ -22,11 +23,17 @@ public:
     
     void init();
     
+    /// Prepares the glow effect for rendering the current frame.  To be called before rendering the scene.
     void prepare();
     
-    void begin(float amount = 1.0f);
+    /// Starts using the glow effect.
+    /// \param float intensity the desired glow intensity, from zero to one
+    void begin(float intensity = 1.0f);
+    
+    /// Stops using the glow effect.
     void end();
     
+    /// Renders the glow effect.  To be called after rendering the scene.
     void render();
 
 public slots:
@@ -45,8 +52,8 @@ private:
     ProgramObject* _addSeparateProgram;
     ProgramObject* _diffuseProgram;
     
-    bool _isEmpty;
-    bool _isOddFrame;
+    bool _isEmpty; ///< set when nothing in the scene is currently glowing
+    bool _isOddFrame; ///< controls the alternation between texture targets in diffuse add mode
 };
 
 #endif /* defined(__interface__GlowEffect__) */