As we age, our eyesight changes. It means that many people will need to buy reading glasses to be able to read small print such as menus, newspapers, or other printed material. According to the American Lighting Association(ALA) Changing your lighting environment can improve reading comprehension and comfort.
“Often, the first thing people notice as they get older is their loss of ability to see distance,” notes Terry McGowan, director of engineering & technology for ALA and owner of Lighting Ideas in Cleveland. “That happens around age 45 and is called presbyopia. By 60, most people have a ‘fixed focus’ optical system and need glasses. After age 60, eye and visual system changes accelerate, so that less light reaches the eye. Therefore,” McGowan says, “people need more light to see details as they age.”
Paul Eusterbrock (President of Holk?tter International), a lighting manufacturer who has advocated for lighting products and developments to aid aging eyes, is in agreement. “The main issue is the quality of light,”He says. “Research shows that a 60-year-old needs twice as much light as a 30-year-old. Most of the commonly found lighting guidelines are written with the 30-year-old user in mind,” Eusterbrock explains.
Is there an all-purpose light bulb? McGowan, Eusterbrock and others say no. “This may sound strange, but the perfect bulb is whichever one the user finds works best for them,” McGowan says. “Individual vision varies so much — especially as people age — that it’s difficult to develop lighting recipes that are one-size-fits-all,”He says.
No matter your age, good lighting is essential. You need sufficient lighting with low or no glare and diffused lighting to reduce shadows. McGowan recommends choosing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and LED bulbs in warm tones (look out for 2700-3000K and a high index of color rendering of 90 or greater) if energy efficiency is a concern.
Stop by an ALA member lighting showroom to get expert advice from a certified lighting consultant or accredited lighting specialist (LS). They can help you save time and frustration, as well as money. Go to www.americanlightingassoc.com.
