Flourescent light sensitivity (flicker sensitivity )

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xyzzy12@hotmail.com - 16 Dec 2004 00:21 GMT

At work I noticed that when I read my monitor (with a flourescent
overhead) or the printed page that the text seems to *move* and its
hard to focus on it but at home (with a similar monitor but lit by
incandescent light) I do not have this problem. However, at work if
it is a bright sunny day and I stand by the window I can read text just
fine. I recently bought a incandescent lamp and put it in my cube and
if I read by that it is much clearer. I am also very sensitive
monitors with low refresh rates. If the monitor is at 60Hz its
unbearable. But when I started in the computer industry I could easily
use 60Hz monitors.

A couple people at my small company have various stages of this issue,
but no one has mentioned the printed page issue.

Is there an article or name of this condition that I can use to find
out more information? Would different flourescent bulbs help? Any
suggestions?

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g.gatti@agora.it - 16 Dec 2004 08:06 GMT

use electronic ballast for the fluorescent tubes and use full spectrum
ones.

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Dr Judy - 18 Dec 2004 18:32 GMT

> At work I noticed that when I read my monitor (with a flourescent
> overhead) or the printed page that the text seems to *move* and its
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> out more information? Would different flourescent bulbs help? Any
> suggestions?

Flourescent bulbs has a flicker and some people have a high flicker
sensitivity. As the ballast in the light fixture ages, it starts to
malfuntion and flicker may be more apparent. Incandescent bulbs do not
flicker. The best solution is the one you have discovered: use an
incandescent bulb as supplemental light. If other people notice it too,
then ask your employer to replace the ballasts in the light fixtures.

Dr Judy

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Loren Amelang - 18 Dec 2004 21:18 GMT

>Flourescent bulbs has a flicker and some people have a high flicker
>sensitivity. As the ballast in the light fixture ages, it starts to
>malfuntion and flicker may be more apparent. Incandescent bulbs do not
>flicker.

Most people can't see the flicker of incandescent lamps, at least in
the US and other 60 Hz countries. In 50 Hz countries more people will
admit to seeing it. Typical incandescent output drops to around 85% of
the average output at the nulls of the power waveform at 60 Hz.

Personally, I can readily see or "feel" the difference in flicker
between an incandescent lamp run on direct current with a variation of
0.1 % and another run on 0.01 % variation power. Luckily I live
"off-grid" and my entire house is wired with pure DC from huge storage
batteries.

> The best solution is the one you have discovered: use an
>incandescent bulb as supplemental light.

That may or may not help. If the fluorescents cannot be blocked from
peripheral vision, they may still affect one's perception, even if the
focus of attention is mostly lit by incandescent light or even
daylight. Imagine trying to work with a strobe light in your
peripheral vision...

> If other people notice it too,
>then ask your employer to replace the ballasts in the light fixtures.

Hopefully with high-frequency electronic ballasts that make the
flicker almost imperceptible, and actually less apparent than the
flicker of incandescent light. And save money both on power consumed
and lamp and ballast life.

Now if they could just fix the lousy color rendition of even the best
"full spectrum" fluorescents...

Loren

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