The Effects of Direct and Indirect Office Lighting on VDT Workers

Abstract

A long-term follow-up study of the effects of lensed-indirect uplighting and parabolic downlighting on computer workers is described. Results from a 15 month post-installation survey showed consistently fewer complaints among workers with lensed-indirect uplighting compared with those with a parabolic downlighting. Workers with lensed-indirect uplighting reported fewer and less frequent eye focusing problems and fewer complaints about lighting conditions. Workers with parabolic lighting reported more lighting-related problems, more visual health complaints, and more lost productive time because of the lighting, and almost half of the lighting fixtures had been modified by users. A majority of workers expressed a strong preference for lensed-indirect uplighting.

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