Is LED lighting dangerous for humans? What lighting is good for health?

On the role of illumination for vision. Which light is best for the eyes? Where should I place the TV and computer in the room? How does low light harm your eyes?

Most often, to my question: “Are the child’s books or notebooks sufficiently illuminated while working with them?”, you confidently give a positive answer.
What does a person mean by the concept of “good lighting”?
Some believe that when reading literature, an overhead light provides sufficient illumination of the room, while others require table lamps. Some people choose regular incandescent lamps, others prefer fluorescent lamps. Who is close to the truth? In the vast majority of cases, doctors do not pay enough attention to the lighting characteristics of the rooms in which their patients work and study. Considering that the concepts of “eye” and “light” are inseparable, the doctor at the appointment is obliged to tell parents in sufficient detail about everything related to illumination, its power, the design of lamps and preferences when choosing them.
In what units is illumination measured, what lamp should be chosen to achieve good level lighting?
The optimal illumination for a book or notebook is obtained from a 75-watt incandescent lamp. This corresponds to 150 lux. If you have a fluorescent lamp, then the illumination should be equal to 300 lux.
And if the illumination is higher than specified, will it harm the eyes? Still, the optimal illumination is the illumination I indicated. If, from time to time, the illumination levels are higher, this is not dangerous, given that the illumination of a book on the street in bright sunny weather reaches 100,000 lux.
The question is often asked: What is more dangerous, too much light or not enough?
You don’t have to worry about redundancy; much more often in life we are faced with the most unpleasant fact - under-illumination. It is worth remembering that if you lower the required illumination by half, the muscular system of the eyes strains 8 times more. And therefore, it is not so important what kind of lighting is used: artificial or natural, incandescent or fluorescent. The important thing is that this light is not enough in principle. And then what is the point of treating the same myopia, accommodation spasm, amblyopia, which we talked about in previous classes, if a child who has improved his vision again plunges into an insufficiently lit environment. Optical discomfort arises again, a spasm of accommodation is formed again, and conditions for the progression of myopia are again created. And for those who do not yet have it, conditions appear for it to arise.
Frequently asked question: which lamps are better - incandescent or fluorescent?
The advantage lies with fluorescent lamps, the so-called fluorescent lamps. This advantage lies in the fact that the radiation of such lamps is much closer to the spectrum of natural sunlight than that of incandescent lamps. The only drawback that fluorescent lamps may have is flickering. However, in last years the design of these lamps eliminates this phenomenon. If you have a fluorescent lamp, you should know the rule: look at it with peripheral vision, i.e. fix your gaze not on the lamp itself, but nearby, since it is the periphery of the retina that reacts to flickering. And if you do not feel flickering with your peripheral vision, then the lamp is suitable for lighting. If you feel flickering in your peripheral vision, replace the lamp immediately.
Frequently asked question: Doctor, if you are talking about sufficient lighting for a book or notebook, then tell me, do you need to turn on the general light?
Necessary, since the retina does not like constant contrasts. This also applies to the room where the TV is located, that is, the TV should never be watched in dark room. The general light should always be on. At the same time, it is unacceptable for a lamp, whether ceiling or wall, to be reflected on the TV screen.
How can I check this?
It’s very simple, turn off the TV, turn on the lights, and if they are reflected, and you see them reflected on the screen, then either turn it around or move the light, preventing this reflection phenomenon. This, by the way, also applies to the monitor screen, which we described colorfully and in detail in our publication “Computer Ergonomics”.

An excess of bright and harsh visible light can be called "excessive brightness." Sharp, bright light can appear both during the day and at night - in various forms. Not only does it distract your attention, but it can also be dangerous.

The influence of bright light causes eye fatigue from DC voltage, and subsequently, in in rare cases, these signs may cause temporary blindness.

Company specialistsTransitionsThere are four categories of excessively bright light:

Distracting light

At night, bright light from street lamps or headlights of an oncoming car is very distracting to the driver. Or, for example, reflection from the front surface of your spectacle lenses (if they are not multi-coated) also contributes to the dispersion of the concentration of vision, and also creates discomfort for the interlocutor, because Your eyes are not visible. In the same way, reflection from inside glasses lenses can cause eye fatigue and loss of concentration.

Uncomfortable light

Normal sunlight also causes discomfort. Each person feels the degree of discomfort from bright light in their own way - regardless of the weather and time of day. This light can come from any light source. Uncomfortable light causes eye strain, causing eye fatigue.

Light that reduces visibility of activities

Intense, bright light shining directly into your face limits your activity and overall field of clear visibility. Bright light reduces the clarity of the image on the retina, thereby deteriorating vision. After interacting with bright light its invisible effects persist for some time after exposure.

Reflective or glare light

Shiny, “polished” surfaces give the effect of glare, for example, snow, water, shop windows. Its effect can lead to deterioration of vision and even to temporary, severe blindness, because it can be quite strong. To avoid glare, use polarized glasses lenses.

Do you experience discomfort in bright* lighting? Has your performance decreased? They will help you spectacle lenses SEIKO Transitions combined with high quality anti-reflective coating. They increase clarity of vision, relieving eye strain and fatigue.

We invite you to try new specialized sun lenses. For example, or.

Is LED lighting harmful to human health, what effect does such light have on the retina of the eye, why is cold light dangerous for children, and which LED lamps are safe? You will find answers to all these questions in our review.

Cool or warm light?

It has long been known that LED lamps, LED panels, spotlights and other LED-based devices consume energy sparingly and have an extremely long service life. Many people also know about such advantages of new lighting devices as no need for maintenance and repair, operation without heating, excellent light contrast and high index color rendition. But as for eye safety, which is claimed by manufacturers and sellers, everything is somewhat more complicated.

Over the hundred-year history of using an incandescent lamp (Il), no damaging effect on the eyes of the artificial light produced by this device has ever been detected. LN created an acceptable level of lighting in the evening and night hours, which did not cause noticeable discomfort.

But time dictated the need to find more economical light sources, since electricity tariffs always tended to increase, and saving on lighting was inconvenient and harmful to vision. So in commercial, industrial, and later residential premises appeared fluorescent lamps, and in recent years, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.

At first, few people paid attention to such an indicator as color temperature. Moreover, it was believed that the so-called daytime White light as close as possible to midday sunlight on a cloudless day, which means it’s good for the eyes. As it turned out later, this is not so, or rather not entirely so. Users of fluorescent and LED “white” lamps themselves began to notice that in the evenings this lighting irritates the eyes and causes noticeable discomfort. Why?

It's all about the wavelength!

A study of lighting parameters with LED lamps showed that white LED lamps have a pronounced emission band in the blue-blue range with a wavelength of about 450nm. If a person is in the evening or early morning under the influence of short-wave cold white light, the production of melatonin in his body sharply slows down. This does not have the best effect on health, since this hormone affects many functions of the body. In particular, it regulates natural biorhythms, supports normal work immune and hormonal systems. In addition, melatonin has powerful antioxidant properties, influencing the aging process to slow it down.

Scientists have found that melatonin production is most strongly inhibited by lamps with a high color temperature, which shine in the blue-blue spectrum. The use of LED lamps with color temperature 4000K and below is not associated with such harmful action. The lighting created by such lamps is similar to the warm yellowish light of LN.

However, all of the above applies rather to household lighting devices. In industrial and street lighting (main luminaires, lanterns, LED spotlights, etc.) it is allowed to use LEDs with higher color temperatures.

Features of using LEDs for lighting children's rooms

For children's eyes, the short-wave cold light produced by light-emitting diode (LED) lamps is doubly dangerous, since it can potentially cause damage to the retina and sharp drop vision. Reason: lens child's eye twice as transparent as an adult in the blue-blue spectrum.

In this regard, there is a risk of photodamage to the retina under the influence of cold white LED lamps with a large proportion of blue or violet in the spectrum. Research in this area is still underway, but from the results obtained we can already conclude: in children's rooms it is advisable to use only light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, which emit the same warm yellowish light as incandescent lamps. The color temperature of these lighting fixtures should not exceed 3000K.

For adults, cold short-wave light is dangerous only in the evening and night hours, as it interferes with the normal production of melatonin. Experts warn that LEDs with a color temperature of 6500K and above it is better not to use even by adults. In any case, until research data appears that refutes bad influence short-wave light on the human body. In the meantime, when buying household LED lamps, which undoubtedly have many advantages, it is worth paying attention to such an indicator as color temperature. As a rule, it is indicated on the packaging.

Properly organized lighting plays an important role in Everyday life. The color of the light flux created by a light bulb affects our state, perception of the environment and the shades of objects. Let's figure out which light, warm or cold, will be better for the eyes, and how to choose lighting for different areas of the apartment.

How does the shade of light affect a person?

There is no direct connection between the color of lamps and eye health. This means that, trying to maintain normal visual acuity, you don’t have to worry about what shade of light to choose for your office or living room.

Nevertheless, color temperature indirectly affects the health of the inhabitants of the room, affecting mood and general psycho-emotional state.

Cold glow tones, increases concentration, dispels drowsiness, and is therefore recommended for illuminating work areas.
The warm tone of light is characterized by the opposite properties: it relaxes, soothes, creates an atmosphere of comfort and coziness.

The human eye is capable of detecting changes in color temperature in the widest range – 800–20,000 K.

Selecting a light source

To find out what shade of light a regular or energy-saving light bulb emits, look at the color temperature of the product, which is printed on the packaging.

The temperature of light is measured in Kelvin (K). A yellow glow is produced by a light bulb with more low value this value. And at a high color temperature, the light from the device will be cold and slightly bluish.

The most common lamps with the following shades of light:

Cool white, which corresponds to values from 5400 to 5000 K.
Natural (neutral) white with a temperature of 3500 to 5000 K.
Warm white with a range of values from 2700 to 3500 K.

Differences in light different temperatures are shown in the photo.

Which shades of light are best suited for different areas of the room?

Let's find out which glow colors are suitable for different rooms and areas.

Cold spectrum light

The glow in the cold temperature range is close in perception by the eye to the light of the sun in winter time of the year. It is ideal for work areas of an apartment or office. Cold light lamps:

looks brighter;
stimulates mental activity;
helps you concentrate and get ready for work;
suitable for work spaces with combined lighting - artificial and natural.

Note! Cold glow distorts color scheme objects painted in warm colors. Orange will appear brownish, yellow will appear green, red will appear purple. At the same time, the green and blue palette becomes brighter and deeper.

You also need to take into account that the final color of the lighting depends on the color of the lampshade and the bulb of the device.

Lamps with high color temperatures will find application:

In the washbasin area in the bathroom. The cold glow invigorates and stimulates brain activity, promoting a speedy awakening.
In the kitchen area. Spot lighting is used here to help the housewife increase organization and productivity.
In large rooms with ultra-modern design.
In work areas and offices to increase concentration and mental alertness.

You should not use lamps with a cold glow in bedrooms and living rooms, where the inhabitants of the apartment relax in evening time. Scientists have found that bluish light slows down the production of melatonin, a hormone that is responsible for biorhythms and healthy sleep.

Neutral white lighting

Neutral electric lighting is optimal for rooms where you have to be long time. Certain types of fluorescent and halogen lamps allow you to achieve a glow close to that of the sun. This backlight does not affect the tones of surrounding objects, so there is no fear of color distortion when it is turned on.

Above mirrors to see the most accurate reflection without distorted colors.
In corridors and hallways for quick adaptation of vision after street light.
In a child's room where a natural tone of lighting is desired.
In kitchens and dining rooms, where owners spend a lot of time.
In places intended for reading.

Warm spectrum lighting

Light with a temperature of 3500–2700 K has a cozy warming yellowish tint, which is well perceived by the eyes. Such a glow is subconsciously associated with the morning or evening sun.

Both traditional incandescent lamps and halogen devices can emit the yellow-tinged light we are used to. We also produce fluorescent illuminators and LED devices with low temperature colors.

Light in the warm range enhances the color saturation of objects made in a pastel palette. Interior designers actively use this feature to create unique images. Details of cold tones with such lighting will become less expressive.

Important! Due to the absence of rays of the appropriate spectrum, cold colors under a yellow glow look distorted. Blue approaches green, blue turns black, violet turns red.

Yellowish warm light would be appropriate:

In the canteens. During meals, such lighting will make dishes more attractive and promote good digestion.
In bedrooms to create coziness and a calm atmosphere.

In the living rooms. Warm lighting will add ease and lightness to the atmosphere and relieve psychological stress for guests and apartment owners. A diffuser chandelier in this room will be the ideal solution.
In the bathroom in the bath area for relaxation and creating a sense of peace necessary for rest and relaxation maximum benefit from relaxing water treatments.

Extra options

In addition to the color temperature of the lighting device, other characteristics of the lamps are also important. There are several main criteria that need to be taken into account when choosing:

Operating principle. There are incandescent, halogen, LED and fluorescent lamps.
Coefficient useful action. In the first place in this parameter are LED devices.
Flask device. It can have the shape of a ball, tube, mushroom, pear, spot.
Price. Incandescent lamps will cost less. LED ones are more expensive than others, but the one-time overpayment will pay off over time with lower power consumption.
Color rendering index. Indicated on the device packaging by the letters Ra. If it is equal to or exceeds 90, then the colors of the interior when illuminated by this product will remain natural, as in daylight. At a value of 80 and below, be prepared for distortion of the usual colors.

It cannot be said that a certain light tone - cold or warm - is better or worse. Each of them affects a person in a certain way, so it is important that the color of the lighting matches the purpose of the room or functional area.

Light is life. This is 50% of your mood and 75% of the comfort in your home. Light determines a lot: the general atmosphere of the home, health and psychological condition its inhabitants, operational efficiency, the beauty of the interior and even the taste of dinner. Therefore, without proper lighting there cannot be a healthy home.

solar circle

Without the sun, everything dies, even humans. Medical fact- lack of natural light affects our body. Vision suffers - initially the eye is tuned to perceive the rays of the sun, and not the light bulb. Immunity deteriorates - ultraviolet exposure Sun rays not only increase the body’s resistance to all sorts of microbes, but also kill these same microbes. The psyche is shaking - sunlight stimulates the work of the central nervous system, and if it is not enough, a person becomes lethargic, passive, prone to despondency, or even simply becomes depressed. And without the sun, our biorhythms go crazy and slow down metabolic processes, total vitamin deficiency begins. Therefore, it is very important to let enough sun rays and bunnies into the apartment.

There are certain standards for insolation (exposure to direct rays of the sun) of various rooms. For 2-3 hours a day, the luminary should look out of at least one window 1-3 times room apartment and at least two windows of a 4 or more room apartment. If you don’t get 2-3 hours in a row, then the sun will have to look through your windows for a total of half an hour longer. In this case, at least one period of insolation must be at least 1 hour.

Window design must be approached with all seriousness. After all, this is not only a design element, it must transmit light and protect our home from excessive heat rays.

First of all, attention should be paid to where the windows face.

If they look north and partially east, then only diffused light will penetrate into the rooms. The walls in such rooms should be made light: the light falling on them will be reflected many times and thereby increase the illumination. Curtains, especially thick ones, should be designed so that they can be pulled apart during the day. Only light, maximally transparent tulle fabrics are acceptable as fixed curtains.

If the windows face west or southwest, then you should think about how to rid your home of the scorching sun. You can protect yourself from direct rays by using thick but light curtains, blinds, and sun protection film. Green spaces also protect well from overheating. You just need to remember that you still need ultraviolet light, and leave room in the thicket for the sun.

Until the light bulb

Sunlight is wonderful. But, unfortunately, our daylight hours are short most of the year, and there are many cloudy days. This is where the light of a light bulb comes to the rescue. Artificial lighting - obedient lighting. Kinda Magic wand in our hands, which allows us to achieve the most different effects. In addition to the main utilitarian function - to defeat the darkness, lamps determine the mood and climate of the room. In addition, it is an integral part of the interior. With the help of light, you can place accents or hide flaws, move walls apart, raise or, conversely, lower the ceiling, divide the room into zones

Creating artificial lighting your home, you need to remember some rules. Firstly, there must be enough light. The total illumination should be from 15 to 25 W of incandescent lamp power per square meter area.

Secondly, it must be functional. It is more convenient to watch TV in dim light, and to receive guests in bright light that fills the entire room. In the bedroom, it is preferable to have soft, diffuse lighting, and in the kitchen - bright but uniform.

Thirdly, the light should be comfortable: no sharp transitions from shadow to light, bright surfaces or glare - all this is harmful to vision. It is necessary to avoid open sources that irritate the eyes and tire the psyche. A bright point beam of light is good only in table lamps. It is better to achieve softer light in the room. In this regard, ceiling lamps in the shape of a ball or hemisphere are very successful. They are opaque and break direct rays.

And finally, the lighting must be safe. A crystal chandelier in a nursery or an open light bulb in a bathroom is an unjustified risk. And a lamp hanging too low in the kitchen, which you can’t help but hit with your head, is also an unpleasant thing.

Not only Ilyich's light bulb

Three types of lamps are usually used in apartments: incandescent, halogen and fluorescent (also known as fluorescent lamps).

Incandescent lamps have served us for more than 120 years. Their light, with a spectrum shifted to the infrared region, is considered optimal and very pleasant to perceive by the human eye. But these good old light bulbs have one significant drawback: they do not shine as much as they heat. Approximately 95% of their energy is converted into heat, leaving only 5% for light.

Incandescent lamps can be simple, colored or mirrored. Let's look at the latter in more detail. Such a lamp top part The bulb is covered with a mirror layer, which protects the light bulb from overheating and allows it to work much longer. Mirror lamps shine somewhat brighter than usual, and the matte part of the bulb makes the light more uniform and diffused.

Halogen lamps produce a pleasant white light. They illuminate the room better than an incandescent lamp, and consume much less energy. But halogen lamps are very sensitive to voltage changes. In order for them to work in our reality, you need to buy a personal transformer.

Compared to incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps can significantly save energy and increase the production of light itself. But they make noise, flicker and quickly tire the eyes and psyche. True, lamps latest generation are already devoid of most of these disadvantages, but constant exposure to fluorescent light is still unpleasant. Such lamps can be successfully built into bookshelves, placed above a desk or in the kitchen above the sink, and in the main lighting, incandescent lamps that are more pleasing to the eye can be preferred.

Home lamp science

There are different types of lamps: ceiling, wall, table and floor. You shouldn’t limit yourself to just one type of lighting: the more variety of lamps you have at your disposal, the more convenient your life will be. Don't be afraid to fill your home with light.

Main lamp, ceiling: aka chandelier

Ceiling lamps come in 4 types. Hanging chandeliers or actual chandeliers. These are traditional lamps hanging on chains on electrical wires or on metal rods. Chandeliers are the type of shades that “sit” directly on the ceiling. Chandeliers such as spotlights are rotating lamps with narrowly directed light. And finally, lamps built into suspended ceilings.

The bright ceremonial light of a chandelier - the central source of light in the room - not only creates uniform, rich lighting, but also has a unique psychological property: it unites all the people in the room. In the living room, dining room, and kitchen, it is better to use ceiling lamps that provide combined light: one part of the light flux goes up to the ceiling, and the other (comparable in size with the first) goes down. For the bedroom, it is better to choose chandeliers whose light softly diffuses throughout the room. In the nursery, the lighting should be uniform and quite bright, but it is better to avoid open, intense light sources.

Ceiling lamps can also act as sources of local lighting. Soffits that cast light within a narrow angle will help highlight, for example, a dining table.

Wall lamp

Wall lamps are called "sconces". As a rule, its light fluxes are directed up or down along the wall, almost parallel to it. Using sconces you can zone a room. You can save a lot of money - why light up the whole room when you can only light up the corner you're in? But, most importantly, sconces allow you to create great amount microcosms on the scale of one apartment - to create each family member their own private space. Just remember that a sconce is not necessarily a pleasant twilight. If you are used to reading under a sconce, then its light should be bright enough.

A floor lamp occupies an intermediate position between table and floor lamps. Although it stands on the floor, it emits light slightly higher - at an average level. A floor lamp is not only a lot of comfort and pleasant atmosphere. It's also a great way to fill a room with soft, indirect light that encourages relaxation, conversation, or reflection.

Floor lamp

It is very fashionable to have floor mounted lamps. And it's also beautiful. For example, a fireplace illuminated from below. Or an aquarium. Or a luminous path from hall to hall. And, sometimes, this is useful - very often floor lamps are mounted in air humidifiers.

You just need to remember that there is no place for floor lamps in a nursery. Little researchers will definitely try to take it apart. And it must be turned on.

Table lamp

Table lamps perform a variety of tasks: illuminate, illuminate, decorate. But their main function is to help you work. It is especially important to have proper lighting in areas where people do work that requires eyestrain.

The table lamp must be placed so that the light falls from the left (for left-handers - from the right), otherwise the shadow from the hand will interfere. In general, it is better to choose the power of table lamps in the range of 40–60 watts, the distance from the lamp to the table surface should be 40–50 centimeters. It is better if the lamp has a movable visor, which will make it possible to direct the light to workplace. It is desirable that the lampshade is opaque and wide open at the bottom, with a large, uniform flow of light.

Sufficient illumination of a sheet of whatman paper when drawing is provided by a table lamp with an incandescent light bulb with a power of 150 watts at a distance of 80–100 centimeters. It is better to knit, embroider, and darn with black threads at 100 watts at a distance of 20–30 centimeters, and to read at 60 watts.

You should not skimp on the quality of a table lamp - damaged eyesight will cost more.

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