Abstract
Purpose :
Light sensitivity is a generic term that covers various everyday life situations. This study explores perceived discomfort in different lighting situations like being outside in a sunny day, driving at night, in the United States and in China.
Methods :
A questionnaire on light sensitivity has been submitted to internet users between November 2016 and February 2017.
Results :
576 US and 418 Chinese participants answered an online questionnaire (aged from 18 to 41 years old, 62% of women).
Participants rated their own overall light sensitivity. Chinese reported to be more sensitive than US citizens (ANOVA F(1, 990)=19,095, p<0,001). No gender effect has been found (ANOVA F(1, 990)=1,161, p=0,28).
Regarding lighting conditions, facing to car headlights is the situation that produces the most discomfort. Very bright days and transition from dark to bright come in second and third (ANOVA : F(11, 10582)=369,92, p<0,001). The situations that produce the least discomfort are being in the shade on a sunny day, at night in a public lighting area, and looking at screens (ANOVA : F(11, 10582)=369,92, p<0,001).
Conclusions :
Online questionnaire allows to get fast, useful and quantitative information. Discomfort perceived in different conditions by young adult population has been studied first. Submission to older people would be interesting to evaluate the age effect on light sensitivity.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.