Be Good to Your Eyes - Have the Right Light for Reading

In our day to day existence, there are many things that give so much convenience to our lives. These things, however, do not receive much attention from us as days come and go. Take the case, for instance, of electric lights. Without giving so much thought about it, the lighting in our homes (particularly in bedrooms and reading rooms) and offices or work places actually has an impact on our well-being, specifically on the health of our eyes.

The kind of lightbulb that we use for reading should be given importance. It is a fact that fluorescent lights are more energy-efficient and last longer than incandescent lightbulbs. However, our eyes appreciate the light that comes from the latter more. This is because the light that is emitted by an incandescent lightbulb is similar to the afternoon sunlight - a pleasant result of Thomas Alva Edison's invention which heats up a tungsten filament, through electricity, that glows with subdued light. Fluorescent lights, on the other hand, make use of ultraviolet radiation to produce a glow from a luminescent substance coating inside the bulb. The resulting emission is a harsh glare that can strain the eyes. Fluorescent lights are also known to flicker over a hundred times per second. Though our eyes may not notice it, this fluttering movement of the light can lead to eyestrain and can also cause headaches and even migraines.

There is another kind of light that is actually gentler to the eyes than either the incandescent bulb or the fluorescent light - the full-spectrum bulb. This bulb emits light that is very similar to natural sunlight. Studies have shown that people who use this type of bulb in rooms where they spend a lot of time exhibit jovial disposition and are able to work with more yielding results.

It is always advisable to do your reading in bright light rather than in dim light. Numerous studies have concluded that bright light causes the pupils of the eyes to contract. When this happens, the eyes focus much better. And when the eyes focus better, their muscles are prevented from tiring easily, thus enabling you to read longer. As one grows old, the eyes focus less easily. So the older we grow, the brighter the light we need for reading.

The contrast between the bright and the less-bright areas should be given importance, too. When the degree of difference of light in areas within a room is too distinct, the eyes are naturally to suffer as you try to go about doing your reading. As a rule though, reading lights should be approximately thrice as bright as the lighting prevailing in the room. How you use a lamp for this purpose, and what type of lamp shade to use, also make a big difference. Select a lamp shade that is made of linen or silk. These fabrics can scatter light upward and sideways, but they can direct most of the light downward. Place the lamp in front of you in such a way that it provides direct light to the material you are reading while not casting your shadow on it. The bottom of the shade should be a little lower than the eye level.