diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
index fdb4c45..2d3eb5b 100644
--- a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.test.tsx
@@ -176,17 +176,11 @@ describe('GradientBlinds', () => {
     unmount();
     expect(removeEventListenerSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pointermove', expect.any(Function));
   });
+
   it('minimizes getBoundingClientRect calls during pointer move', () => {
     const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
 
-    // Spy on getBoundingClientRect
-    // Note: In jsdom, canvas is an HTMLCanvasElement which inherits from HTMLElement
     const spy = vi.spyOn(HTMLElement.prototype, 'getBoundingClientRect');
-
-    // Trigger pointer move to clear any initial calls or verify baseline
-    // The initial render calls resize(), which calls getBoundingClientRect on container
-
-    // Clear spy history from initial render
     spy.mockClear();
 
     act(() => {
@@ -198,9 +192,37 @@ describe('GradientBlinds', () => {
       window.dispatchEvent(event);
     });
 
-    // EXPECTATION: It should NOT be called because the listener shouldn't be attached (not visible)
     expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
     unmount();
   });
+
+  it('avoids expensive DOM reads (scrollX/Y) in pointermove handler when visible', () => {
+    const { unmount } = render(<GradientBlinds />);
+
+    // Spy on scrollX/scrollY getters
+    // Note: In jsdom, these are properties on window.
+    const scrollSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'scrollX', 'get');
+
+    // Make visible to attach listener
+    act(() => {
+      if (ioCallback) {
+        ioCallback([{ isIntersecting: true } as IntersectionObserverEntry]);
+      }
+    });
+
+    scrollSpy.mockClear();
+
+    // Trigger pointer move
+    act(() => {
+       window.dispatchEvent(new PointerEvent('pointermove', { clientX: 100, clientY: 100 }));
+    });
+
+    // With the optimization (moving to RAF loop), this should be 0.
+    // Without optimization, this will be > 0.
+    // Since we are mocking RAF and not running the loop, if it's in the loop, it won't be called.
+    expect(scrollSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    unmount();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
index 48c0a71..f53da04 100644
--- a/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
+++ b/src/components/effects/GradientBlinds.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ const GradientBlinds: React.FC<GradientBlindsProps> = ({
   const geometryRef = useRef<Geometry | null>(null);
   const rendererRef = useRef<Renderer | null>(null);
   const mouseTargetRef = useRef<[number, number]>([0, 0]);
+  // Optimization: store raw pointer position (viewport coords) to decouple event handling from calculation
+  const pointerPosRef = useRef<{ x: number; y: number } | null>(null);
   const lastTimeRef = useRef<number>(0);
   const firstResizeRef = useRef<boolean>(true);
   const rectRef = useRef<DOMRect | null>(null);
@@ -309,31 +311,34 @@ void main() {
     ro.observe(container);
 
     const onPointerMove = (e: PointerEvent) => {
-      const scale = (renderer as unknown as { dpr?: number }).dpr || 1;
-      let x, y;
-
-      if (rectRef.current) {
-        const dx = window.scrollX - scrollPosRef.current.x;
-        const dy = window.scrollY - scrollPosRef.current.y;
-        const rectLeft = rectRef.current.left - dx;
-        const rectTop = rectRef.current.top - dy;
-        x = (e.clientX - rectLeft) * scale;
-        y = (rectRef.current.height - (e.clientY - rectTop)) * scale;
-      } else {
-        const rect = canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
-        x = (e.clientX - rect.left) * scale;
-        y = (rect.height - (e.clientY - rect.top)) * scale;
-      }
-
-      mouseTargetRef.current = [x, y];
-      if (mouseDampening <= 0) {
-        uniforms.iMouse.value = [x, y];
-      }
+      pointerPosRef.current = { x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY };
     };
 
     const loop = (t: number) => {
       rafRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(loop);
       uniforms.iTime.value = t * 0.001;
+
+      // Update target based on pointer position and scroll offset
+      if (pointerPosRef.current) {
+        const scale = (renderer as unknown as { dpr?: number }).dpr || 1;
+        let x, y;
+
+        if (rectRef.current) {
+          const dx = window.scrollX - scrollPosRef.current.x;
+          const dy = window.scrollY - scrollPosRef.current.y;
+          const rectLeft = rectRef.current.left - dx;
+          const rectTop = rectRef.current.top - dy;
+          x = (pointerPosRef.current.x - rectLeft) * scale;
+          y = (rectRef.current.height - (pointerPosRef.current.y - rectTop)) * scale;
+        } else {
+           // Fallback if rectRef missing
+           const rect = canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
+           x = (pointerPosRef.current.x - rect.left) * scale;
+           y = (rect.height - (pointerPosRef.current.y - rect.top)) * scale;
+        }
+        mouseTargetRef.current = [x, y];
+      }
+
       if (mouseDampening > 0) {
         if (!lastTimeRef.current) lastTimeRef.current = t;
         const dt = (t - lastTimeRef.current) / 1000;
@@ -346,6 +351,9 @@ void main() {
         cur[0] += (target[0] - cur[0]) * factor;
         cur[1] += (target[1] - cur[1]) * factor;
       } else {
+        if (pointerPosRef.current) {
+          uniforms.iMouse.value = mouseTargetRef.current;
+        }
         lastTimeRef.current = t;
       }
       if (!paused && programRef.current && meshRef.current) {