Even though I wear tinted glasses and am sensitive to bright lights, learning about how to choose lighting with low vision and learning how lighting affects my usable vision has helped me tremendously with adapting my living space and workspaces so I can make the most of my vision and minimize the effects of eyestrain. Vision loss and blindness is not a binary or as simple as having a light be turned on or off with no in-between, rather it is a spectrum where every person living with visual impairment has different needs and preferences for lighting in their space, and how light affects their residual or usable vision. Here is an introductory guide to lighting and low vision, and how I personally use various types of lighting in different spaces that I encounter.
Types of lighting for low vision
Before learning about how light placement and arrangements can affect visual impairment, it helps to learn about the different types of lighting for low vision, and what effects they can have on residual or usable vision. Most people will use a combination of multiple types of lighting for a space to illuminate it fully, or turn off/cover lights to accommodate fluctuations in usable vision or availability of other light sources.
Natural lighting
Whether it comes from a window or a skylight, natural lighting comes from the sun and other outdoor spaces, and can fluctuate throughout the day. Relying exclusively on natural light can be challenging, since it can create glare on some surfaces and is not available at all times of day, but a sunny day can provide lots of bright, high-quality light to illuminate a space.
Incandescent
Incandescent lights are typically warm in tone and mimic sunlight, creating a bright, highly concentrated light that may be adjusted with a dimmer switch. However, incandescent lights can also create glare and shadows, and their brightness may be disorienting or painful for someone with light sensitivity, so they are generally not recommended for low vision lighting.
Halogen
Halogen lightbulbs are also very bright, creating more concentrated light than incandescent bulbs. However, this also means more glare and shadows, so halogen lights are also not generally recommended for low vision lighting.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent lights evenly illuminate a space with fewer glare spots and shadows, and come in full spectrum or warm options that can be used in ceiling fixtures or as lightbulbs. These are commonly used in office spaces, grocery stores, and dorm rooms/college classrooms because they provide consistent lighting. However, they also can have a flickering/strobe effect if they are not covered fully or maintained, which can aggravate photosensitivity or photophobia as well as contribute to headaches or eye strain.
LED
LED lights are bright, long-lasting, and come in a variety of colors and temperatures for use with different light fixtures. Smart LED bulbs can be controlled with a smart speaker or phone application to adjust their brightness or color, as well as turned on/off without having to use a switch or knob. Some people may find an entire room with LED lights to be too bright, and may prefer to use them for task lighting or smaller areas.
Other lighting terms to know
When choosing lighting options for low vision, it’s helpful to understand what different lighting terms mean and how they affect low vision. Some good terms to know include:
- Lux- intensity of light, or how much it illuminates a room
- Lumen- how much light is emitted; the higher the lumen, the brighter the light
- Wattage- the amount of energy consumed by the light
- Color Rendering Index/CRI- how colors look with the lighting compared to natural sunlight
- Temperature- the color of the light that is emitted, measured in Kelvin (K). Soft/warm lighting is around 2700 K, while a bright white is around 4100 K. Daylight is considered to be about 5000 K, and people with low vision are strongly recommended to not purchase lights that are over 5000 K as they are unlikely to provide good contrast.
Related links
- Learning To Explain Usable Vision
- How To Make A Dorm Room Completely Dark
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
How low vision can influence lighting preferences
As mentioned before, vision loss is a spectrum and not a binary, so individuals will often develop their own preferences for lighting and what lights work best for them (or alternatively, which types of lights do not work for them at all). Some factors that can influence lighting preferences include:
Time of day
Bright lights may be preferred at night when there is less natural light compared to during the day. Night blindness is a characteristic of several conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa, which manifests as difficulty with seeing at night or in poorly lit spaces.
Eye fatigue levels
Someone who has been working in a space with bright lights all day may want to have less intense lights in their home. Alternatively, someone who has trouble focusing their eyes in low lighting may want to have bright task lighting so they can view details more easily.
Availability of light covers
Light covers or shades can reduce the brightness or intensity of certain lights in a positive way, making it more comfortable to work with these spaces. I was able to use the fluorescent lights in an office space I worked in when they were covered to reduce flickering effects.
Location of space or tasks performed
The kitchen will likely need to have more lighting due to the highly visual nature of food preparation tasks, compared to a living room with a TV where people aren’t moving around as much.
Access to natural light, such as windows
While relying exclusively on natural light is not ideal, having access to it can influence the need for combination lighting. When natural light is not available or is disorienting, tools like blackout curtains or shades can block out outside light in favor of indoor artificial lighting, or make a room completely dark.
Individual eye conditions
Some eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration rely on bright lights to aid with visual perception or tasks, and have much more difficulty in darker environments. Conversely, some eye conditions may be negatively affected by bright lights, which can make it more difficult to navigate or focus. Some eye conditions may also benefit from specific colors or temperatures for light.
Related links
- Assistive Technology For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- Walking In The Snow: College O&M
- How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity
Choosing ambient lighting for low vision
Ambient lighting, sometimes referred to as general lighting, serves as the primary source of light for a room, with light fixtures being attached to the wall or ceiling. Ambient lighting is typically controlled with a light switch, or optionally with a dimmer switch, and is designed to illuminate pathways and high-traffic areas. Things to consider when choosing ambient lighting include:
Glare
Does the lighting create glare on the floor or other reflective surfaces? Adding a rug or nonslip mat to absorb glare can reduce glare in a space.
Location
In my current bedroom and previous dorm rooms, ambient lighting was located in the center of the room and directly above my bed. The two fixtures could be controlled independently from each other, which was helpful for adjusting light in the space when needed.
Placement of furniture
Some people may find it helpful to place furniture directly under ambient light sources, while others may prefer an offset so they aren’t directly under bright lights.
Switch operation
Since most ambient lights are controlled by a light switch, ensure the switch can be located and operated independently. Outlining a light switch with high-contrast tape or paint, or adding a switch extender can make it easier to operate lights.
Another option to consider is a smart lightbulb that can be turned on/off with a smart speaker or application on the phone. These LED bulbs can also have their brightness or color adjusted, which can be helpful for people who are still trying to figure out lighting preferences. I have an Amazon Basics LED bulb in my current space that is compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Related links
- Reduce Glare In The Classroom For Low Vision Students
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smart Speakers
- How I Decorate My Dorm Room With Low Vision
Choosing task lighting for low vision
Task lighting is designed to illuminate a small area such as a desk or couch, and typically comes in the form of a lamp or smaller lights. Task lighting is often brighter than ambient lighting and is important for people with low vision, as it can help with completing different activities or reading with less eye strain. Things to consider when choosing task lighting include:
Spaces that need more lighting
The inside of a drawer, hard-to-see shelf, or dark area of a closet can benefit from additional task lighting, which can be implemented in multiple ways. One example is puck lights, which can be attached to a flat surface like the underside of a shelf or a ceiling to add more light to a space and controlled via remote. Another option is motion sensor lights that respond to movement and automatically turn on/off.
Adjustment options
Task lighting comes in all shapes and sizes, and can be repositioned to aid with highly visual tasks, such as drawing, reading, and writing. Task lighting that has an adjustable neck can be repositioned over or around a page/canvas to provide additional illumination.
Location
Experiment with the location of task lighting to figure out the best location to place it. In one example, I had previously had a lamp on the left side of my desk, but discovered that my left eye was more sensitive to light and had trouble focusing, and that it wasn’t particularly helpful when working at my desk since most of the light hit the bookshelf next to it. Moving the lamp to the right side was much better, and provided the additional light I needed.
Use with ambient lighting
Task lighting can be used in lieu of or in addition to ambient lighting. At night when I am reading or relaxing, I prefer to turn on the task lighting (lamps) and turn off ambient lighting, especially when I’m not walking around a space very much.
Some of my friends used ambient lighting in their dorms and avoided ambient lighting entirely, and controlled the lights with a remote-controlled outlet that had a simple on/off button that could be used anywhere in the room.
Related links
Choosing accent lighting with low vision
Accent lighting is meant to highlight something like a piece of furniture or art, and can be a helpful tool for decorating with low vision. Some examples of ways I’ve seen accent lighting used in low vision spaces include:
- Track lighting around furniture, such as a desk
- Lights lining shelves or the underside of a table
- Additional lights alongside stairs
- Lights around a toilet or bathroom fixtures
- Lights added to art or other decorations in a space
- Christmas lights or fairy lights used as decoration
- Night light or light timer, such as the Amazon Echo Glow
Related links
More resources for low vision lighting
- Another type of light to consider is portable lighting, such as a flashlight, which can help with shining light in a concentrated area or just when the power goes out. Test the flashlight before buying it, and if needed choose a model without a strobe/flashing option.
- I don’t always have control over lighting or glare in a space, so strategies like wearing tinted glasses really help. Learn more in How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity and How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- For those who experience photophobia or a sensitivity to strobe/flashing lights, check out my posts on Flashing Lights and Photosensitivity in the Classroom and How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
- When I was working in an office, I primarily used task lighting instead of overhead ambient lighting, because I found it to be more comfortable than the bright lights I could not control.
- Want to learn more about decorating with low vision and creating accessible spaces? Browse Closet Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com) and Interior Design Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published April 17, 2020. Updated June 2024