Occupational ophthalmology — the importance of good lighting

“Good eyesight is an essential part of work ability and job satisfaction,” says Occupational Optician Jussi Kärhä from Synsam’s occupational ophthalmology services. About 80% of the sensory observations made by humans take place through the sense of sight. Good eyesight has a strong impact on the work and its meaningfulness. Today’s working life, with computers and smart devices, mostly requires us to see at a near or intermediate distance. When you look close, your eyes become tense, whereas when you look far, your eyes relax. Focusing on near and intermediate distances strains the eyes and causes problems with eyesight. Dry eyes are also a common problem due to air conditioning and the fact that detailed work has been shown to reduce the amount of blinking. The connection between neck and shoulder problems and eyesight issues is obvious.

Poor eyesight at work can reduce work efficiency, lower productivity and increase absences

Unsuitable glasses or uncorrected eyesight issues cause strain, resulting in a poor working posture, neck and shoulder issues, headaches and discomfort, among other things. If a person cannot see clearly at their working distance, they may squint, extend their arms, or adjust their head position and bend their neck forward in an attempt to bring the image into focus. This often leads to strain and symptoms in the neck and shoulder region. An occupational physiotherapist offers specialist services related to occupational ophthalmology and ergonomics as part of occupational health care. Please contact your company’s designated occupational physiotherapist if you experience any of the above-mentioned problems.

Good lighting improves the working environment and well-being

According to Kärhä, good lighting means suitable light where materials and objects can be seen comfortably. Improving lighting is a cost-effective way to increase work efficiency, improve work quality, reduce errors and increase occupational safety. A clear increase in the lighting intensity increases productivity by up to several percent and reduces the number of errors. Increasing the lighting intensity has an impact on improving productivity, especially for older employees.

Good lighting is sufficient, even and glare-free. General lighting should be indirect, and natural light should also enter the workspace. If necessary, additional workstation-specific lighting is recommended. The lighting should be adjustable to the individual needs of the employee, as eyesight is also affected by visual acuity, object size and contrast.

The quality of the lighting is more important than the amount. Studies show that lighting and its colour have a significant impact on mood and work efficiency. For example, yellow lighting can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. The quality of lighting is influenced by the lamp’s colour temperature (Kelvin) and colour reproduction (Ra index). A colour temperature that corresponds to daylight (approximately 3,000–4,500 K) is ideal for office work, whereas a warmer shade is suitable for evening lighting to prevent difficulties falling asleep. The colour reproduction index (Ra) should be at least 80 to ensure that colours look natural.

The text was written by Synsam’s Occupational Optician Jussi Kärhä.