Choosing LED Lighting Allowed for TBI Conditions

I respond poorly to conventional LED lighting. As far as I can tell, my traumatic brain injury causes a response, not unlike that of an epileptic to the flashing of LEDs. The problem could be in the cold blue of the lights used in many commercial settings, or simply the intensity. Can you direct me to articles that will help me understand the problem — and choose bulbs? I am starting with a shop space and I am concerned that the 5000k fixtures you offer will be too white for my eyes. 

Our research and development for our products is generally limited in scope to the technical performance of the LED lighting system, so when it comes to their efficacy in a medical context, our data and ability to provide definitive answers is quite limited.

That being said, I do believe that you are definitely on the right track when attempting to determine the source of symptoms caused by LED lamps.

I have seen most studies link the flicker produced by artificial lighting to detrimental health effects, while the concern with blue light seems generally centered on circadian rhythm disruption.

Natural sunlight is essentially a flicker-free, 100 CRI light source that has a color temperature of 5000K or higher (depending on the season, time of day, etc). Does exposure to natural daylight produce those symptoms for you? If not, I would suspect the issue is more likely related to flicker, rather than color temperature and intensity.

In addressing your lamp configuration question, you are correct that installing our tube lights in a fixture will require some considerations to ensure fixture compatibility. One search that may yield some results is "LED ready T8 fixtures" as these fixtures are built and assembled without any ballast inside.

We are also looking to launch a line of LED ready T8 fixtures in the coming weeks so that could be an option as well.

Photophobia can be a real problem for some people with TBI, so they use sunglasses outside and in most indoor spaces. Somehow, most LEDs seems brighter than outdoor light to my eye, or to my brain. It may be that flicker creates irritation and calls my attention to the lights.

With your input, I am more confident that your 5000k shop lights will work for the space I have in mind. I will start with enough fixtures to test my response to them. I will also look into LED ready fixtures (that will support your 4000k bulbs).

​Your observation that most LEDs seem brighter than outdoor light is very much valid and I suspect the nuanced difference is due to the way in which the light is distributed.

​A single 800 lumen daylight bulb may produce far less light than natural daylight (i.e. "brightness") but the way in which the light is emitted from a very concentrated 1-2 inch sphere is quite unnatural and will most certainly appear brighter to the human eye. Contrast this with natural daylight, where the light falls down from an entire diffused dome of light, aka "the sky," and you can see why our eyes would react differently.

In short, the way in which the light is installed and distributed in your room may also have an effect on your perception and reaction to the lighting environment. For this reason, wall-washing and cove lighting (indirect lighting methods which bounce the light off of interior surfaces) are popular options that can provide a more comfortable space.

Question posted under:

LED bulbs (General)T8 LED tube lightsFlicker freeHealth (Epilepsy, migraines, headaches)

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