Visual Comfort: Lighting design for health

Created By RISC | 4 years ago

Last modified date : 2 years ago

Did you know how lighting design takes account of visual comfort?

We perceive things in the world through our retinas. Brightness can help us do activities effectively and affects how we feel.

Age is a significant factor in how much light we need for each activity. As we get older, less light reaches the eye lens because of changes in pupil size. How light reaches our eyes from an object changes, affecting vision and resolution. Our eye lenses also yellow, which is why older adults need up to 6 times as much light for activities and become more sensitive to glare than younger people.

Good lighting design needs to take account of activities in each location. But it should also consider the age of users, as each generation might require a different light level for each activity.

Writer/editor: Vasuta Chan, Senior Sustainable Designer, RISC