Office Lighting

Good lighting and lots of light do not mean the same. Ergonomic studies stress to the importance of proper lighting, especially  in offices. Improper lighting can cause rapid fatigue, headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes,  neck ache, backache, sensitivity to light, double vision, and more. 

Light should be the brightest on your immediate work space and decreasing as you move into the room's general work environment. The best way to achieve a proper balance is with a combination of general lighting (including controlled daylight) and task lighting.

Choose ambient or general lighting first because this is the light that provides the illumination and atmosphere of the space.

To minimize both glare and shadows, position your desk and especially your computer monitor so all windows are off to the side (preferably to the side opposite your writing hand). Windows to the back or front of your monitor need window coverings that can be used to block light and reduce glare

If you will be using the computer for long periods of time, try placing a light source beside or above the terminal to wash light over the wall, diffusing it around the work space. If you do a lot of detail work, try a 100-watt halogen bulb to direct shadow-free light onto your desk. Place the lamp shade a minimum of 15 inches above the surface.

For light reading in a comfortable chair in the office, place a floor lamp beside the chair, positioned slightly behind you to either side of your shoulder. The bottom edge of the lamp's shade should never fall below eye level.

In addition to windows, overhead lighting is a primary source of direct glare on computer screens. Over time it can produce eyestrain. So you'll want to eliminate it as well. Indirect glare (light bouncing off white or shiny surfaces and reflected on your monitor) can be overcome in three ways: Remove the offending object; redirect or otherwise control the light shining on it; or adjust the monitor angle.