Everyone experiences changes in their eyesight as they age. Around age 45, most people start to notice a diminishing ability to focus on close objects. For many, it means using reading glasses to read a menu, newspaper or other small print. By 60, most people have a fixed focus optical system and need glasses. After age 60, eye and visual system changes accelerate, so less light reaches the eye and more light is needed to see details.
Research shows that a 60-year-old needs twice as much light as a 30-year-old. Most of the commonly found lighting guidelines are written with the 30-year-old in mind.
If you or someone in your home is older, turn on a portable lamp while watching TV to help reduce the contrast that occurs between the bright screen and the surrounding darkness of the room. Experts recommend using a table lamp or torchiere that provides an uplight as well downward illumination for versatility. Look for a lamp with a separate task light attached or with a glass bowl at the top that will bring some light downward.
