Lighting and Your Eyesight – Tips and Sources

Posted on | September 28, 2009 | No Comments

Ambient lighting and task lighting are created with a combination of recessed light fixtures, pendant lights and an over-sized skylight. Most nights, the starlight and moonlight through the skylight illuminate the kitchen with cool blue light.

Light reflected from a surface into our eyes (then sorted out by our brain) is what we perceive as color. Without the proper indoor light fixtures and lighting design, color perception is compromised. Here are some tips and links to get you started on your home lighting design plan:

Dr. Susan MacDonald’s Tips for Better Vision at Home

• Increase the wattage or lumens (in the case of fluorescent bulbs) of the light bulbs in task areas as needed.
• Hire a lighting expert to assess the lighting design of your home, paying extra attention to task areas and lighting for safety (stairs, etc).
• Get an eye exam every two years with an ophthalmologist to ensure your eyes are healthy.

When Darkness Leads to Depression it’s Time for Light Therapy

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a serious type of depression that happens to some people with the changing of the seasons from Summer to Fall/Winter. Sometimes light therapy using specifically designed light boxes or fixtures will successfully manage this type of depression. The Mayo Clinic website has great information about this disorder.

Save Energy One Bulb at a Time

One energy saving compact fluorescent light bulb can save up to $30 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb. The down side is that these bulbs contain mercury and need to be carefully removed and recycled when they break. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages you to educate yourself about these bulbs. Check out the www.EnergyStar.gov site for details. When you’re ready to trash a bulb with mercury, call your local recycler to learn where to recycle the bulbs. The consumer page of the American Lighting Association website details how to safely remove a broken bulb.

Lighting and Eyesight Sources & Helpful Links:

Dr. Susan MacDonald, www.LaheyClinic.org
www.AmericanLightingAssociation.com
www.MayoClinic.com
www.EnergyStar.gov

www.CristinaAcosta.com

Comments