Michael McCarthy and Keely Moran Low Vision Lighting Michael McCarthy and Keely Moran

Why is Lighting Important? “Persons who are visually impaired are often very sensitive to light levels, although sensitivity varies by eye condition and among persons with the same eye condition.” “A significant number of individuals may be able to read with a less powerful magnifier, or even with their current eyeglasses, if they are provided with optimal illumination.” Hall Lueck, Amanda (2004) Functional Vision A Practitioner’s Guide to E.valuation and Intervention. New York, NY: AFB Press.

According to“Visual Consequences of Most Common Eye Conditions Associated with Visual Impairment” -Roanne Flom- Condition Preferred Task Lighting Sensitivity to Ambient Lighting Albinisim Dim to Intermediate High to very High Cataract Varies Moderate Diabetic Retinopathy Glaucoma Macular Degeneration Bright High Retinitis Pigmentosa Moderate to Bright Hall Lueck, Amanda (2004) Functional Vision A Practitioner’s Guide to E.valuation and Intervention. New York, NY: AFB Press.

“How much electricity does this bulb consume?” Wattage The operating power of a lamp or other electrical appliance expressed in watts. Wattage does not determine how bright a light is. Only correlated to brightness Ideally, keep the wattage low, so that less energy is consumed. Low wattage + Green Movement “How much electricity does this bulb consume?”

“How much light does this bulb produce?” Lumens The lumen (symbol: lm) is the SI derived unit of luminous flux, a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source. The higher the amount of lumens, the brighter the light will be. “How much light does this bulb produce?”

“What color light does this bulb produce?” Kelvins Measurement of color temperature/appearance of the light The color characteristics of light, usually either warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish), and measuring it in degrees of Kelvin (°K). “What color light does this bulb produce?”

Color Rendering Index (CRI) It is the measurement of light in relation to how it affects the appearance of color. The CRI chart measures on a scale from 0 to 100. Generally speaking, bulbs at the higher end of the CRI scale will produce a more accurate color rendering of the objects around it. “What Grade does this bulb get?” Most LED lights produce a score of about 80 to 90 on the chart.

Lighting Facts

Newer Types of Light Bulbs LED Fluorescent Best bulb for energy efficiency Lowest wattage Low heat production Dimmable (But must be on a compatible dimmer switch) Available in all color temperatures Second best for energy efficiency Lower wattage Low heat production Less dimmable Multiple color temperatures available

Older Types of Light Bulbs Halogen Incandescent High wattage High heat production Dimmable Full color spectrum High wattage High heat production Dimmable Full color spectrum

Bulb Shapes and sizes Light Bulbs are named with a Letter-Number combination Letter = Shape Number = Diameter For Example: A19 BR30 PAR38 T8

BULB SHAPE NAMES A- Standard household incandescent light bulb shape K- Krypton or narrow reflector light bulb shape MB- Halogen bulb B- Bulged bulb shape MR -Quartz reflector lamp (low wattage) BR- Short reflector style light bulb PAR- Parabolic Aluminized Reflector (PAR) lamp C -Candle or Conical bulb shape ER -Extended reflector light bulb shape R- Reflector light bulb style F- Flame style candelabra bulb shape S- Strait Sided bulb style G -Globe bulb or circular bulb T -Tube lamp shape HK- Hexagonal Candle

Base shapes and sizes Bulb bases are named with a Letter-Number combination Letter = Shape Number = Diameter For Example: E26 E17 E12 GX5.3 GU10

Edison screw bases

Bi pin bases

LED COMPATABILITY “How do I know if something is NOT compatible?” Manufacturer Compatibility Lists Bulbs & Switches CONSULT A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN ! Bulbs Switches Fixtures Dimmer and Motion sensing

Bulb Determines Switch

Switch Determines bulb

Light Assessment Gather background information and check lighting preferences No standardized assessment

optimize training environment Make recommendations and educate Classroom Home Work

Portable Options Flashlights Headlamps Lamps

Smart Bulbs App Controlled Smart Switches Motion Controlled Smart options Smart Bulbs App Controlled Smart Switches Motion Controlled

Recommendations Remember it’s important to understand that more lighting does not necessarily mean better lighting. For ambient lighting use indirect lighting to create a more diffused lighting source and prevent glare. Task lighting should supplement ambient lighting by providing more direct intensity to activities such as reading, cooking, eating, or sewing.