Dayton Idea Book February 2023

60 housetrends.com
LIGHTING FOR AGING EYES
Lighting becomes more and more
important as people age. The ALA
says that with each passing year,
people require more light to see
properly.
Terry McGowan, director of engineering
for the ALA, says, “older eyes
experience two important changes.”
The amount of light required to
sustain visual performance increases
with age. Research shows that a
60-year-old needs twice as much light
as a 30-year-old.
Over time, human eyes also become
more sensitive to glare. This can
seem a bit backwards, as adding more
light can often result in increased
glare on objects. That is what makes
the quality of light that much more
important as you grow older.
Just a few simple lighting adjustments
can make a huge difference
when lighting your home with age
considerations in mind:
• Turn on a table lamp or two while
watching TV to reduce the contrast
between your dark room and the
bright screen.
• Have a task light that can be aimed,
giving you direct light on the task
at hand.
• Use a floor lamp for versatile room
lighting. Aim to find a lamp that has
a light at the top, for full room lighting,
plus a separate light attached to
the side than be used as additional
task lighting.
Lighting is exciting! It can exist
in so many ways, from floor lamps,
to table lights, to even jaw-dropping
chandeliers. Now that you understand
the bulb basics, you can continue
crafting your perfect space, with
the right bulbs lighting your path
forward.