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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. “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?”

5. “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?”

7. “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?”

10. 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.

11. Lighting Facts

13. 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

14. 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

15. Bulb Shapes and sizes
Light Bulbs are named with a Letter-Number combination
Letter = Shape
Number = Diameter
For Example: A BR PAR T8

17. 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

18. Base shapes and sizes
Bulb bases are named with a Letter-Number combination
Letter = Shape
Number = Diameter
For Example: E26 E E GX GU10

19. Edison screw bases

20. Bi pin bases

21. 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

22. Bulb Determines Switch

23. Switch Determines bulb

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

25. optimize training environment
Make recommendations and educate
Classroom
Home
Work

27. Portable Options
Flashlights
Headlamps
Lamps

28. Smart Bulbs App Controlled Smart Switches Motion Controlled
Smart options
Smart Bulbs
App Controlled
Smart Switches
Motion Controlled

29. 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.