Research on the Effect of Colored Lights on Evaluation and Range of Discomfort Glare

Abstract

Previous research showed that colored light affects Landolt C test performance, and increasing the relative contribution of short-wavelength (blue) light will reduce pupil size and increase visual acuity. However, whether the evaluation of discomfort glare differs when the color of light differs is unknown. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of colored lights on the evaluation and range of discomfort glare. Among the nine colored lights we selected, at the same luminance level, blue light causes the most discomfort glare, and green light causes the least discomfort glare. The order of discomfort glare is approximately blue, white, red or yellow, and green. We also found that a subject's evaluation of discomfort glare becomes more intense when color temperature is increased. In addition, after comparing our result with Helmholtz- Kohlrausch phenomenon, we found that people's range of discomfort glare under each colored light were different. Our study shows that the color of light affects the evaluation of discomfort glare. Therefore, using colored lights as a technique to reduce the level of discomfort glare is possible.