With age, we undergo a natural process that reduces our visual abilities. Caregivers must consider proper lighting as a significant issue for the older adults's health and quality of life. We all need good lighting but this is especially true for "Aging Eyes".

Hardening of the crystaline lens capsule and atrophy of the ciliary muscles reduce the eye’s capacity to focus at close range.

The pupil size is reduced (senile miosis) and the lens becomes thicker and less transmissive. A 60-year old may be able to receive only one-third of the retinal illuminance of a 20-year old. Adapting to dim versus bright conditions becomes harder and requires more time.

The more opaque lens tends to scatter light reducing the contrast of an image. Colored images can appear to be behind a “luminous veil” reducing the vividness or saturation and giving the color a “washed out“ effect.

Yellowing of the crystaline lens also occurs causing a diminished ability to distinguish colors with shorter wavelengths (“blue light”).

The crystaline lens becomes cloudy and opaque further reducing retinal illuminance and exacerbating the problems of light scattering.

Elevated fluid pressure in the eye damages the retina resulting in tunnel vision and ultimately blindness.

“Dry” type caused by atrophy of neural tissue or “wet” type cause by hemorrhagic disease destroys the center of the retina which provides acute vision.

Ballast frequency causes lamps to cycle (turn on and off) at a rapid but detectible rate in older fixtures. This fluorescent flicker has been linked to increased headaches, fatigue, nervousness and even epileptic seizures.

The natural day/night cycle with alternating periods of light and darkness apparently regulates the nervous system. Depression can sometimes be remedied by periods of exposure to light particularly during the winter season. However, prolonged exposure to light particularly at night retards the production of Melatonin a curative hormone.

Task lighting may be necessary for reading or for seeing fine detail and low contrast items.

Fixtures should focus light on the viewing surface and not on the eyes.

Ramps, stairs, exit signs and other important objects or obstructions should be illuminated and colorized to produce greater contrast.

Try to avoid great variation in illumination in adjacent areas. Create a transition from dark to bright and bright to dark.

Use vivid colors and higher quality light (higher color rendering index— 80+ CRI). Warm lighting colors (lower color temperatures (2700K to 3500K) work better for distinguishing colors. Replace T12 fluorescent lamps (62 CRI).

Replace low frequency magnetic fluorescent ballasts.

Increasing daytime light levels and reducing night time light levels preserves healthy natural rhythms.

Maintain 100 footcandles for reading and detail work.

Parking lot and landscape lighting, downlights, and lay-in ceiling fixtures should use shieilds and louvers to focus the light on the viewing surface.

Fluorescent T8 lamps with electronic ballasts — Fluorescent light produces less glare than incandescent light. T8 lamps maintain much higher light output over time. T8 lamps have much better color rendering capability than older T12 lamps. New electronic fluorescent ballasts (40,000 Hz) operate almost a thousand times faster than older magnetic ballasts (60Hz) virtually eliminating flicker.

Lighting control systems can turn off or dim lights at certain times or when not in use. Occupancy sensors, photo sensors and timers can be used very effectively to promote a “natural” effect and to save energy in the process.

Sources: Fiqueiro, Mariana Gross, Lighting the Way: A Key to Independence, Lighting Research Center, AARP Andrus Foundation, 2001