SEVEN LIGHTING TIPS FOR BETTER VISION
by Elaine Kitchel
Research Scientist
American Printing House for the Blind
1. Consider using natural light, incandescent light, or a mix of lighting technologies as employed by the Vivid Vision lamp whenever possible for task lighting. This light should be directed below eye level. For those who are light sensitive, bright or direct natural light should be filtered through UV blocking film or tinted glass, usually of a clear, amber, or pink color.
2. Avoid fluorescent light when possible. If it cannot be avoided, then use warm white tubes (F32SPX27) or the Vivid Vision lamp. Try to avoid cool white or blue-white tubes. Avoid lamps which claim to be “full spectrum light. The ultra-violet and blue light produced by these often causes photostress and headache in persons with low vision, which results in diminished endurance and capacity to work.
3. If you have normal vision and must work under cool fluorescent light and suffer from late-day headache or eye strain, then it could be helpful to wear UV filter glasses to filter out the harmful ultraviolet, violet and blue light waves emitted by the tubes overhead. For indoor use most people prefer clear or light yellow glasses of the type made by NoIR, Corning or SolarShield. The light plum or new filter color "topaz" is helpful for persons with retinal problems. It is also helpful in many cases to supplement your fluorescent light with a soft pink incandescent bulb and fixture, to reduce glare and harshness, or you can use the Vivid Vision Lamp which offers new technology in fluorescent lighting that is very friendly to persons with vision problems. This lamp will be available from APH in July, 2008.
4. For visual comfort and glare reduction, avoid white or blue walls. The best wall colors are salmon, pink, peach, and warm beige. Textured walls are better than smooth, shiny ones. Put up posters or wall hangings to soften highly-reflective wall areas.
5. Desk lamps, spot lamps, track lighting fitted with warm white, pink (Sylvania or GE), or peach (Phillip's) bulbs are all good choices for office or decorator lighting. Though the bulbs are painted pink or peach and they put out light from the part of the spectrum which is long-wavelength light and is much easier on the eyes.
6. Computer users may benefit from the use of glare filters (sunglasses). Effort to eliminate blue or white monitor work screens whenever possible should prove helpful. These screen colors emit quantities of ultra-violet rays which cause the retinas to work very hard. This light produces glare and strain. If possible, screens should be adjusted to black, or pastels backgrounds, with contrasting letters or graphics. Low vision users usually benefit from a black screen with bright yellow or pink letters or graphics. Computer users who are visually impaired, even those who use UV screen filters, are advised to wear clear or light yellow filter glasses when working at the computer.
7. For best results, print memos and letters on pink or other pastel paper. This reduces glare and makes your document more readable. Studies have also shown that people are more receptive to information printed on paper of warm colors.
8. Make sure flooring is not shiny, not blue or white, and has no glare. Wood, carpet (other than blue), cork, bamboo, terra cotta are all good floor covering products provided they are not shiny.
9. Use Peracube, or egg-crate style parabolic lenses with overhead lighting. These parabolic lenses direct the light directly onto the surface below, rather than bouncing it around the room as clear or translucent polycarbonate lenses do. The constant bouncing of light, works eyes much harder than is needed and causes photostress in many persons with visual impairments. Studies at Indiana Blind and Visually Impaired Services have shown that persons with low vision perform better and have less stress when parabolic lenses are used.