The Effect of Lighting on Eyesight

950 Words2 Pages

Project 3-4 Chapter 3, pp. 114 Poor or high lighting can have various effects on the eyes. Such effects include eyestrain, dry burning eyes, eye irritation, blurred vision, and even headaches. However, the effects do not stop there. Other collateral effects of poor lighting can include stiff necks, sore shoulders, and sometimes even back pain due to people compensating (by taking on poor body posture) for the poor light when trying to read something under undesirable conditions. Standard lighting, fluorescent lighting, and full-spectrum lighting all have different effects. Studies have been carried out by the Light Right Consortium, who was managed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. They were contracted by the Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center and the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Research in Construction. (Shadesbreath) Their analysis came to three conclusions. First, OSHA has minimum standard for office environment and lower standards for individual workstations. Secondly, there is no uniform lighting level that can optimize productivity. Lastly, non-daylight type lighting can have potentially negative effects on businesses in areas such as emotional/psychological issues in the employees; financially due to heat generation and overall energy consumption; and productivity and profits. OSHA has a standard of thirty foot-candles minimum for office lighting. Guidelines for workstations with monitors should have lighting that ranges from 20 foot-candles to 50 foot candles. However, if LCD monitors are being used, OSHA regulations call for up to 73 foot-candles of lighting. Washout of the screen due to bright lights, can lead to eye fatigue. To combat this, it is recomme... ... middle of paper ... ...June 29, 2010, from Mercola.com: Take Control of Your Health: http://products.mercola.com/light-bulbs/ Occupational Safety & Health Administration: Workstation Environment. (2010, May 18). Retrieved June 29, 2010, from United States Department of Labor: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/wkstation_enviro.html#lighting Phase-out of incandescent light bulbs. (2010, June 28). Retrieved June 2010, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs Shadesbreath. (n.d.). Workplace Lighting - Office Lighting: Policy and People. Retrieved June 29, 2010, from HubPages: http://hubpages.com/hub/Workplace-Lighting---Office-Lighting UV Light & Vision. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2010, from The Eye Digest: Published by Unversity of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary: http://www.agingeye.net/visionbasics/uvlightandvision.php

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