Best Office Lighting For Eyes - 6 Actionable Tips

Author: May

Mar. 07, 2024

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Tags: Lights & Lighting

What Is the Eye Strain?

Eye strain is a symptom that occurs when the eyes get tired from extended use of digital devices or reading for hours. It can also be caused by attempting to do tasks in very dim lighting or when exposed to glare. Is your vision feeling fuzzy after some extended focusing? You may be experiencing eye strain! Typically, it goes away on its own after you have rested, but sometimes it can be a sign of an existing condition that requires treatment. Give your optics an extra layer of protection – make sure to take regular breaks, and set up a comfy work space with light that’s just right!

What’s the best office lighting for eyes?

The best office lighting for eyes is LED using natural white lights that are not too bright and positioned away from your eyes. Typically around 4000K/4500K color temperature is popular for modern offices as it’s a good balance of between warm and cool light and isn’t as harsh as older office lighting. You also definitely want to stick with LED as well. The stride towards workplace comfort has increased the demand for dimmable LED fixtures in the office.

Tips to Avoid Eye Strain From Lighting

Having the right lighting in your office is essential for both comfort and productivity. According to the American Optometric Association, more than half of office workers who use computers daily experience eye strain from their environment. Stay comfortable while you work by ensuring your workspace has the perfect lighting – just not to bright!

Fluorescent bulbs and tubes should be minimized, as they can cause optic strain due to their brightness and glare. It can also be related to simple things like a lack of sunlight in your office Additionally, try to reduce any glare by angling computer monitors away from direct sunlight or other sources of bright light. Taking these steps can help you have an easier time working in your office with fewer distractions caused by uncomfortable lighting conditions.

Positioning Is Important

Direct sunlight coming in through the shades can cause harsh  and distracting glare on your computer screen, which can be not only uncomfortable for your eyes but very annoying too. To remedy this, try to place your desk and monitor so that the window is to either side and not directly in front of or behind you.

I remember I had this exact issue in my first office as the desk couldn’t be moved far enough out of the way of the window. We ended up settling on blackout curtains. So, If there is no way to move away from windows entirely, try using curtains or blinds to reduce the light entering the room. Also, keep an eye on your overhead lights in mind when positioning yourself at your desk – direct overhead light should be avoided as it can exacerbate eye strain and fatigue. For best results, try using natural ambient light from lamps or indirect lighting.

Increase The Amount Of Natural Light

Maximize your productivity by letting in the sunshine! Natural light can help you work longer with less eye strain and fatigue. More natural light in the office? Easy. First, open curtains or blinds during the day to allow more ambient light into the room. Second, consider adding additional lamps or LED bulbs that provide indirect lighting – this will help create a comfortable atmosphere without causing too much glare on computer screens. With these simple adjustments, you can enjoy an optimal level of natural lighting that will make working at your desk much easier on the eyes.

Use Task Lighting

Task lighting is a great way to improve office lighting and reduce eye strain. LED bulbs or full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs are ideal for task lighting as they emit a soft white light that helps reduce fatigue. These lights offer a pretty cost effective way to fix your eye strain and they don’t take much table space (you can even get lights that attach to your screen). Additionally, adding a few plants around your workspace can help increase oxygen levels and provide natural diffused light. Finally, it’s really important to take breaks and relax your eyes. Your retinas will truly thank you for getting dedicated task lighting!

Be alert to the time of day and position your window shades accordingly

Depending on which direction your window faces, glare can be worse at certain times of day due to the sun’s positioning in the sky. To reduce uncomfortable glares and eye strain, be sure to adjust your window shades accordingly when the sun is low in the sky. Additionally, you may want to purchase blackout curtains or use UV reflective film if you still experience too much direct light or glare coming through windows.

To improve overall office lighting, consider setting up task lights near areas where you will be spending most of your time working. Opt for LED bulbs or if you must, full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs that emit a soft white light which helps reduce fatigue. You may also want to add a few plants around your workspace which help increase oxygen levels and provide natural diffused light. 

Use less blue light in the office

Blue light from screens can cause a range of eye strain, headaches, and sleep issues. To reduce blue light exposure in the office, you should try using monitors with a blue light filter and opt for LED bulbs that emit less of it. Additionally, you should take regular breaks to give your eyes the break they need from focusing on screens for extended periods of time. Finally, adding some plants around your workspace can help reduce blue light exposure as natural diffused light will be emitted by the plants. By committing to simple changes like this, you’ll be able to work more comfortably and efficiently throughout the day while reducing any potential negative effects caused by blue light exposure.

“You should take regular breaks to give your eyes the break they need from focusing on screens for extended periods of time”

Switch From Fluorescent To LED

It is important to consider your office lighting when looking for the best lighting that is easy on your eyes. Fluorescent lighting, while inexpensive, can cause eyestrains, headaches and other health problems. LED bulbs offer a much better alternative as they emit less blue light and are more energy efficient than fluorescent lights.

Additionally, LED bulbs cast a softer, more natural light which helps reduce any potential negative impacts of blue light exposure. By making the switch from fluorescent to LED in your office space you can create a better working environment that not only looks good but also helps protect your eyes from any unnecessary strain or discomfort. Even if you can’t afford to replace the whole fixture, at least get a LED tube retrofit, you will thank me.

“LED bulbs cast a softer, more natural light which helps reduce any potential negative impacts of blue light exposure”

While this isn’t a straight forward article that just point’s to a model and says “this is the best office lighting for eyes”, hopefully it helped you narrow down the type of environment you’re hoping to create for optimal comfort.

I have been the project manager for Modern.Place since early 2016, spending three of those years working overseas on the manufacturing & procurement side of the LED lighting industry. Constantly learning and passing on knowledge to others while excited for what the lighting industry will involve into next.

Office lighting is about more than seeing the papers on your desk—it can be the difference between a sluggish staff and an invigorating work environment. For this reason, commercial lighting fixtures for your office must meet certain requirements to be a success.

From effective illumination for work tasks to energy efficiency to lower utility costs, there are many factors to consider for office lighting.

In this article, we'll explore the three kinds of office lighting, a few different types of fixtures for your office setting and why Warehouse-Lighting.com is the best place to shop for the right office lighting products for your property.

Lighting Fixtures for Your Office Environment

While some offices have large open spaces that use skylights and large windows to take advantage of natural light, offices typically require artificial lighting solutions to illuminate their workspace.

The main types of indoor lighting used in offices tend to come from the big three: incandescent, fluorescent/compact fluorescent (CFL), and LED.

Incandescent Office Lighting

Incandescent bulbs are the least desirable lighting option in terms of office lights. Incandescent lights are found in older office fixtures. The least energy-efficient of the three, incandescent bulbs burn at a hotter temperature, consume more energy, and have a shorter average life rating.

The only big benefit of this type of lighting is that it comes to full lumen output faster than fluorescent lights. It is also seen as environmentally friendly despite the higher energy consumption because the filament is made from tungsten, a non-hazardous metal, while the comparative fluorescent bulbs tend to use mercury.

Incandescent bulbs are often decorative, making them more prevalent in accent lighting or task lighting fixtures than in ambient lighting.

Fluorescent Office Lights

When compared to its incandescent counterpart, fluorescent lighting may be considered a better solution. It lasts almost 20 times longer than incandescent in most cases. It also burns at a cooler temperature while offering a higher lumen output. Fluorescent/CFL bulbs are not without fault, though. They often use mercury which can be tricky to dispose of safely and they are more prone to flickering than other options. Fluorescent ceiling fixtures offer a wide scope of illumination. They are commonly utilized in office settings in the form of T8 and T5 tubes which are easy to install and replace.

LED Office Lighting

LED lighting is seen as the best solution for many reasons:

  • Longest-Lasting: LED office lights have an impressive lifespan – anywhere from 25,000 to 100,000 hours. Unlike fluorescent lamps, LED lights retain their excellent output quality throughout their life. Part of the reason for their longer life is they run at cooler temps, so they're less likely to shatter from getting overheated.
  • Low Wattage: LED bulbs have the lowest wattages with exceptionally high lumen outputs.
  • Cost-Effective: While the initial cost may be higher than the other two options, LEDs last longer and use much less energy, so you get a good return on your investment.
  • Versatile: LEDs come in various lighting models perfect for office lighting such as tubes, bulbs, rope lighting, and more.

When considering the different types of office lighting, you should evaluate which factors are most important to your location such as cost, energy consumption, or output. Once you have decided the best one to meet your needs, then you can start looking into which model is the best fit for your location.

Types of Office Lighting Fixtures

Flat Panel LED Light Fixtures

The right overhead lighting solution can make your space brighter and more productive for office staff. LED flat panel ceiling lights are a high-performing solution, featuring traditional-style lighting fixtures nestled behind ceiling panels to provide light for the entire office space while keeping office light fixtures out of sight.

As well as determining the right shape and size of your flat panel LED office lighting fixtures, you'll need to determine which configuration is best for your office space:

  • Edge-Lit Panels: Featuring a thinner profile, these flat panel LED office fixtures cost a bit more and use more power than other types of LED office lighting.
  • Back-Lit Panels: The LEDs are positioned behind the frame instead of the edge, enabling them to shine right through the diffuser. Back-lit panels are less expensive than edge-lit panels, making them the more popular choice.

Suspended Office Lights

There are office spaces that require a more nuanced light source. In these instances, you can create beautiful lighting with suspended office lights. Linear suspended LED office lights provide a lovely diffused light that is easy on the eyes while providing ample light output. Easy to install and maintain, there are more than a few different styles to choose from in this type of architectural lighting fixture.

Recessed Lighting Fixtures

LED recessed lighting is installed into openings in the office ceiling at evenly spaced intervals. In this way, recessed lights create patterns of light that shine from the ceiling, with a direct light that's concentrated in a downward direction.

Office Lighting Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions others have asked about office lighting fixtures.

What are the best office lighting fixtures to use in a drop ceiling?

There are two types of light fixture solutions that work well in drop ceilings:

  • Troffer Light Fixtures: Troffer light fixtures illuminate indoor spaces and are placed in T-bar ceilings, grid ceilings or suspended ceilings. They can be laid into a ceiling grid that is recessed and sit above the grid but can also be suspended or surface-mounted.
  • LED Flat Panel Lights: This is the most common type of lighting fixture in warehouse lighting as well as office spaces. Flat panel light fixtures are installed behind ceiling tiles.

Warehouse-Lighting.com Has the Best Solutions for Your Office Lighting Fixtures

Whether you're lighting individual offices or large open spaces, Warehouse-Lighting.com has the right lighting fixtures to get the job done. Our experienced professionals will help you choose the lighting fixtures for your next project.

SHOP COMMERCIAL LIGHTING

Best Office Lighting For Eyes - 6 Actionable Tips

Best Types of Different Office Lighting Fixtures

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