The Right Light for Your Eyesight

Getting a proper reading light is very important for your health because insufficient lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. Furthermore, bad lighting or noisy lighting can result in even worse symptoms over the long-run.

Before getting a proper reading light you need to consider your specific lighting requirements. Most houses will have some kind of overhead light in almost every room, in which case a reading lamp is merely designed to supplement the already existing lighting. However some houses or spaces will rely solely on the light emitted from a lamp. Using a lamp as supplemental lighting is preferable to just using a lamp by itself. Getting a lamp is a real investment of time and money, so do not hesitate to spend considerable money for a quality lamp.

You should also take your time deciding because a good lamp will last forever and will have a considerable effect on your well-being. If you plan to do a lot of reading with it, don’t be afraid to return a few lamps before settling on the perfect one. When you finally do decide on a reading light, remember that location is key.

The lamp should be located behind and somewhat above your head, on the opposite side of your good hand. That is to say it should be on your left if you’re right handed and on the right if you’re left handed, this way you won’t cast shadows on your book as you turn the pages with your good hand.

There are also many choices of light bulbs available to you when buying a lamp, including halogen, fluorescent, incandescent, and led. No light is by far the best, but incandescent lights are recommended for reading because they usually emit the most natural light, and a natural light is what you’re looking for. Fluorescent lights are usually undesirable for reading because they do not give a very natural kind of light and often make a buzzing noise which can be irritating and distracting. Halogen lights are usually very bright but unfortunately get extremely hot and can therefore be somewhat dangerous and shouldn’t be left on for extended periods. Led lights are a relatively recent innovation, and there are many lamps built with enough led lights to make them bright enough for reading.

The great benefit of led lamps is that they are cool to the touch, very efficient, and the lights themselves will last an extremely long time. Contrast that with incandescent bulbs which will burn out relatively quickly and use a lot of energy. Ultimately it comes down to preference, but you should take your lighting seriously if you want to maintain your eyesight and have enjoyable reading experiences.