Research reveals people are not taking enough care of their eyes, despite ever increasing pressures

The living room set-up at the recent “EYE’D Make the Switch: light your eyes will thank you for” event of Signify (formerly Philips Lighting). The gathering explained how quality LED is related to comfort for our eyes.

Signify, global leader in lighting, introduces global industry-first standard with EyeComfort Advocates in the Philippines

• Globally, over half (57%) of people do not regularly get their eyes checked, while only two in five people (42%) currently opt for lighting that is kinder on their eyes
• The Philips EyeComfort Standard is a global industry-first, the standard measures Philips LEDs for key comfort criteria for the eye
• EyeComfort Advocates in the Philippines discussed the importance of choosing the right light and proper eye care
• Philips MyCare LED Bulb officially launched in the Philippines, the newest bulb in the EyeComfort range with Interlaced Optics design

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, reveals that eye care is not a high priority for adults globally. This comes at a time of record levels of myopia, with the World Health Organization predicting that one in two people will be short sighted by 20501, and ever-increasing strain on eyes with people spending more time indoors in front of computer screens and smart devices.2 Currently, eye care is taking a backseat compared to fitness and weight loss, despite people’s reliance on their eyes for everyday living. In a gathering today entitled “Eye’d Make the Switch: light your eyes will thank you for,” Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), explained how quality LED is related to eye comfort. The research revealed that while the average person spends more than six hours a day looking at a screen, 42% are currently using lighting that is softer on the eyes. And, only a third (32%) of people globally would consider how comfortable a light was on their eyes, when making their purchasing decision.

Left and Right lights are the Philips SceneSwitch LED bulbs that lets you perk up and be productive with cool white, or wind down with warm light after a long day. Philips LED Deco Classic, the one’s in the center, delivers beautiful, decorative warm-white light while saving around 90% on energy costs. This can be a perfect combination in your home lighting design.

The importance of light

When it comes to lighting and eye comfort, people aren’t acting on their convictions. While 74% of those surveyed agree that quality lighting impacts on eye comfort, only 28% would choose a light bulb which is more comfortable for their eyes. Additionally, only 42% actively choose lighting that is softer on the eyes.

“Quality lighting is not only related to longevity, but is also incredibly important when it comes to ensuring our eyes feel comfortable,” explains Jagan Srinivasan, Country Leader of Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines. “Crucially people should choose high quality LEDs that have no visible flicker*. This is fundamental to what our team of scientists do, innovating to develop quality and industry-leading LEDs that consumers love, which are easier on the eyes.”

The product display showcased the diverse EyeComfort product range of Signify. These products can be seen in your home, restaurants, hospitals and hotels.

Our 2018 EyeComfort advocates

This year, Signify in the Philippines brought together multimedia influencer Kelly Misa-Fernandez, vitreo-retina surgeon Glenn Carandang, MD, MPH, and interior designer Cyndi Beltran, who discussed the use of the right lighting and proper eye care, allowing their respective families and communities to function better, and live better.

Kelly says, “Eyesight is one of the major concerns of moms like me when it comes to the well-being of my children. Our eyes’ health is critical to all of our daily tasks, whether that’s getting dressed, eating, moving around, or studying. Eye care then, should rightly occupy a place on a parent’s list of concerns, as it’s incredibly important to both the child’s development and academic performance.”

Pressures of modern life and advances in technology see children spending on average twelve hours a day either under poor quality lighting, in front of a screen, concentrating on school or doing homework, making quality lighting a priority for many parents.

Dr. Carandang says, “For all age groups, quality lighting is vital when reading or working to prevent eye strain. To decrease eye strain, one should take regular breaks using the ‘20-20-20’ rule – every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.”

When working in front of a screen which is much brighter than the surrounding light, your eyes have to work harder to see. One should adjust the room lighting and try increasing the contrast on screen to reduce eye strain.

“We can protect our eyesight by eating healthy, not smoking, using ocular protection to prevent injury, hand washing, working in good light, and having regular eye check-ups with your local eye doctor,” Dr. Carandang summarizes.

On another hand, for renowned interior designer Cyndi Beltran, “Lighting design sets the tone of a particular space – be it residential, commercial or hospitality interiors. It is a powerful tool that adds dimension and visual texture to a space. It is an aspect that is often underestimated in planning, but its importance is as high as the materials used on the surfaces or furnishings in a room because without it, all these will appear dull and flat, taking away any drama intended for a particular space.”

“There are three essential types of lighting for the home, namely: general lighting, which illuminates majority of the areas in a home; task lighting, which is used for specific works that may or may not be close-range such as studying, food preparation or dresser lighting; and finally, accent lighting, which alters the mood of the space. A combination of all these lightings is key for different occasions throughout the year,” she furthers.

Philips LED Deco Classic delivers beautiful, decorative warm-white light while saving around 90% on energy costs. This deco-classic light can be a perfect fit in your living room or bedroom.

The Philips EyeComfort Standard

Signify scientists have developed an industry-first Philips EyeComfort Standard, committing to delivering EyeComfort LEDs with no visible flicker*. Besides flicker, the standard measures against key comfort criteria such as glare, stroboscopic effect, photobiological safety, dimming effects, tuning and color rendering – factors that can impact eye comfort. Philips EyeComfort LEDs are checked to ensure they pass its prescribed standards while providing energy efficiency and an average lifespan of over a decade. All Philips EyeComfort LED lamps and luminaires will be marked with the EyeComfort trademark starting 2018.

From L to R: Pam Mallari-Valenzuela, country marketing manager, Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines; Jagan Srinivasan, Country Leader, Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines; Kelly Misa, EyeComfort Advocate and lifestyle blogger; Cyndi Beltran, EyeComfort Advocate and interior designer; Janeena Chan, Event host

The press event, held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City, showcased the diverse Philips EyeComfort LED lamps and luminaires range, which included:

• Philips MyCare LED Bulb – the newest bulb in the range inspired by the pattern of sunflower seeds, the Interlaced Optics design reduces glare, the excessive brightness caused by an intense light beaming from the center of the bulb, and enhances the comfort of eyes
• Philips SceneSwitch – up to three color settings in one bulb: bright light, natural light and cosy warm glow
• Philips Deco Classic – visible filaments are designed to be seen and look good, off and on
• Philips Meson – for evenly distributed light with consistent brightness
• Philips Moire – light up your room in soft, uniform light

From L to R: Philips Electronics & Lighting Inc., Philippines, country marketing manager Pam Valenzuela; EyeComfort advocate and vitreo-retina and cataract surgeon Dr. Glenn Carandang; EyeComfort Advocate and multimedia influencer Kelly Misa; EyeComfort Advocate and interior designer Cyndi Beltran; host Janeena Chan.

Signify became the new company name of Philips Lighting as of May 16, 2018. The legal name of Signify will be adapted in the Philippines in the beginning of 2019.