1. 1
Light for Sight
COTSS–Housing Conference 2010
Anthony Slater
Lighting Development Manager
Thomas Pocklington Trust
Summary
Prevalence of sight loss
Importance of lighting
Lighting equipment
Lighting adaptations
Supporting materials and services
Prevalence of sight loss
Best estimates - registerable
– 13% of those aged 75+ have serious sight loss
(600,000 people)
– 33% of those aged 90+ have serious sight loss
Sight loss is a normal part of ageing
– 13 million people in UK over 60
Specific eye conditions can make this worse
– incidence increases with age

2. 2
Prevalence of sight loss
Sight loss affects everyday lives of 2 million
people in UK
Secondary to main reason for referral
Most people with sight loss have some
residual vision
Lighting can help people to make the most of
their vision
Pocklington research
Findings from home visits
– Low levels of lighting
– Glare from light fittings
– Slow adaptation to different levels
– Poor control
– Lack of available information / support
Assessments and adaptations to general
lighting and task lighting in over 100 homes
Good general and task lighting

3. 3
Daylight
Control with blinds
– Vertical slats control direction of light entering
– Net curtains can become glare source
Keep curtains clear of window
Reduce external obstructions
Keep windows clean
Light coloured sills and frames reflect light
into room
Improve energy efficiency
Replace incandescent tungsten filament with
– Tungsten halogen
– Compact fluorescent
Compact fluorescent (CFL)
Plug-in
Globe
Pear
Candle
Spiral
Double turn
Triple turn

4. 4
General lighting
Ceiling mounted
Diffusing shades
– Even lighting
– Avoid glare
– Hide direct view of lamp
Free-standing lighting
Uplights
– Light reflected from ceiling
Task lights
Task lighting
Adjustable task lights
– Table or floor standing
– Table clamp or heavy base
– Fluorescent are cooler
Portable task lights
– Rechargeable battery
Ceiling or wall mounted spotlights
Under cupboard lights

5. 5
Lighting adaptations
Improve general lighting levels
– dimmable high frequency fluorescent in kitchen
– brighter lamps (CFL) in diffusing shades
– additional lights
Add task lighting
– fluorescent lighting under kitchen cupboards
– mirror/shaver lights in bathrooms
– lighting in wardrobes and walk-in cupboards
Hallway and stairs
General lighting
– Good level
– No glare
– Reveal steps
Task lighting
– Telephone
Good contrasts
– Surfaces
Hallway

6. 6
Kitchen
Kitchen
Bathroom

7. 7
Bathrooms
Bedroom
Cupboards and wardrobes

8. 8
Wardrobe
Multiple light sources
Multiple light sources - traditional

9. 9
Communal areas
Lighting - Top tips
Tasks and movement around the home
Amount of light
Control – switching and dimming
Diffuse, even lighting, no dark shadows
Multiple light points
No glare – no direct view of lamp
Lighting adaptations - Top tips
Avoid disruption to decoration
Use existing fixed wiring points
Add lighting track for additional ceiling lights
Use existing electrical sockets for task lights
– Use micro-trunking for wiring if needed
Convert existing twin sockets to triples

10. 10
Lighting good practice guide
Lighting in new and existing homes
Guidance on specification
Case studies
Checklists
Seven characteristics of good lighting
Lighting should always be:
Appropriate to each person
Sufficient for activity and orientation
Even, across different areas
Adjustable for flexibility
Energy efficient and sustainable
Simple to install
Adaptable for the future.
Adaptations good practice guide
Practical guidance
Adaptations
Involving people
Specific spaces
Indoors and outside
Checklists

11. 11
Lighting booklet
Advice on lighting
Non-technical
information
Lamps and light fittings
General lighting
Task lighting
Further sources of
help
Lighting training
One day workshop
Lamps & fittings
Demonstrations
Practical exercises
Case studies
Design tools
Specifying lighting adaptations
Determine needs
– Functional vision assessment
Assess existing lighting provision
– Client’s “adaptations”
Determine possible adaptations
Produce specification for electrician

12. 12
Some lighting options
Living Room
Wall lights for more
even lighting,
freestanding
uplighters, additional
ceiling lights in larger
rooms
General
Individual switches,
dimmable where possible,
good quality portable and
adjustable task lights,
judicious use of colour in
decoration
Kitchen
Under-unit lights to
illuminate worktops,
cooker and sink, better
shades to reduce glare
and shadow
Bathroom
Mirror lights
over hand
basins,
upgrade of
shaver lights
low-energy
Bedroom
Wall uplights above bedhead,
internal lights in walk-in
cupboards, better match
between number of fittings and
room size
Stairs
Use of better fitting
light shades to reduce
glare, spot lights that
highlight stair edges,
high illuminance on
landings
SOME LIGHTING OPTIONS
Lighting Specification Tools
number of lamps needed per room
200lux Tungsten Halogen GU10 MR16 CFLU 2D 2D MCFU MCFU
Target 100W 300W 50W 50W 30W 28W 38W 36W 58W
Length Width lumens Indirect
2 1 1270 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0
2 2 2540 2 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 1
2 3 3810 3 1 6 3 2 2 1 1 1
2 4
2 5
3 1
3 3
3 4
3 5
3 6
4 1
Lighting for sight consultancy
Existing or proposed schemes
Assessment of tenant need
Survey of existing or proposed lighting
Proposals for lighting adaptations
Improved lighting gives:
– Increased independence
– Decreased need for support
– Reduced maintenance and running costs

13. 13
Summary
Prevalence of sight loss
Importance of lighting
Lighting equipment
Lighting adaptations
Supporting materials and services
Contact details
Anthony Slater
Lighting Development Manager
Thomas Pocklington Trust
anthony.slater@pocklington-trust.org.uk
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk