LIGHT SOURCES

UPDATE: THIS FILE LAST EDITED 4-2010

LIGHT

SOURCES

A PUBLICATION FROM THE...

SIGHT LOSS

INFORMATION

DETECTIVE

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NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ENDORSEMENT OR RECOMMENDATION, AND IS PRESENTED SIMPLY AS A CONVENIENCE TO THE READER. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, THE COMPLETENESS OF THIS LISTING IS NOT GUARANTEED.

LOW VISION CONSUMERS MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING ILLUMINATION INFORMATION HELPFUL FOR THEIR INDOOR SEEING TASKS. SPECIFICALLY, DETERMINING YOUR BEST LIGHT SOURCE COLOR IS AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT IMPORTANT VISION COMPONENT.

MANUFACTURERS USE THE KELVIN SCALE TO GROUP LIGHTS BY THEIR COLOR TEMPERATURE. LIGHT SOURCES RATED BELOW 3000-KELVIN ARE USUALLY CONSIDERED WARM AND THOSE ABOVE 3000-KELVIN ARE NORMALLY LABELED COOL. ALSO, WARM LIGHTS GIVE OFF A YELLOWISH ILLUMINATION WHILE COOL LIGHTS GIVE OFF A BLUISH ILLUMINATION.

MOST FLUORESCENT LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH WARM AND COOL TYPES, HOWEVER, MOST INCANDESCENT LIGHTS ARE SOLD AS WARM-ONLY, HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THE LATTER IS AVAILABLE IN BLUISH BULBS.

A GROWING NEW GENERAL LIGHT SOURCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY IS LIGHT EMITTING DIODES. IN FACT, WHITE L E D LIGHTING MAY PROVE TO BE SUPERIOR TO BOTH INCANDESCENT AND FLUORESCENT ILLUMINATION (SEE REPORTS AT BOTTOM).

COMPARISON USAGE OF ALL LIGHT SOURCE TYPES IS WELL WORTH THE TIME AND EXPENSE TO LEARN WHAT GIVES YOU THE GREATEST VISION ACCURACY AND SEEING COMFORT.

NOTES:

FOLLOWING ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING FLUORESCENT LIGHT SOURCES AS OPPOSED TO INCANDESCENT LIGHT SOURCES. FOR LOW VISION CONSUMERS THESE ADVANTAGES MEAN TOUCH-SAFETY, BETTER ILLUMINATION AND EASIER CONFIGURATION.

1. COOLER OPERATING TEMPERATURE

2. TRIPLE LIGHT OUTPUT FOR SAME WATTAGE

3. GREATER VARIETY OF SHAPES

A. TUBES (VARIOUS LENGTHS=WATTAGES)

B. COMPACTS (BULBS OR SQUARES)

C. CIRCLES (VARIOUS DIAMETERS-WATTAGES)

4. MORE COLOR VARIATIONS