As night falls, we can see colorful neon lights illuminating the city sky, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere. However, this also raises questions for many – do neon lights harm our eyes? Some people find neon lights too bright and glaring, even experiencing eye strain or dizziness after prolonged viewing. Are these symptoms caused by the light itself, or by visual fatigue resulting from improper use? Do neon lights harm our eyes?
What are Neon Lights？
Before discussing whether neon lights are harmful to the eyes, we must first clarify which type of light source is being referred to as “neon light” in everyday life.
Today, “neon light” has become a generic term, encompassing two different products: traditional gas discharge neon lights and modern LED flexible neon light strips. Their operating principles are completely different, and their impact on vision and applications also differ.
Traditional Neon Lights (Glass Tube Gas)
Traditional neon lights are an iconic lighting method that became popular in the early 20th century and are a classic element of nighttime billboards.
They consist of an inert gas (neon, argon, krypton, etc.) encapsulated in a glass tube, with a high-voltage transformer (typically reaching several kilovolts) serving as the power source for starting and maintaining the discharge. When current passes through the electrodes, the gas atoms are excited, producing a glow discharge that emits visible light.
- Rich and highly saturated colors: especially red neon lights, considered the most classic due to their use of pure neon gas.
- Uniform brightness: Gas discharge occurs evenly throughout the glass tube, resulting in soft light without noticeable bright spots.
- Manufacturing relies on hand-bending: Craftsmen must bend the glass tube into shape under high-temperature flames, requiring a high level of craftsmanship.
Traditional Neon Lights Advantages and Disadvantages
- Advantages: Strong visual impact, outstanding artistic appeal, unique colors, and considerable lifespan.
- Disadvantages: Glass is fragile, inconvenient to transport, and unsuitable for home use. Additionally, installation is complex and maintenance costs are high.
Flexible LED Neon Lights
The neon lights effects we see in decoration, interior design, and outdoor lighting today are almost entirely achieved using flexible LED neon light strips. Although called “neon lights,” their operating principle is completely different.
LED neon tubes use high-brightness LED chips as point light sources, soldering the LEDs into a linear light strip structure. The outer layer is encapsulated with food-grade silicone or PVC material, forming a milky-white body similar to a glass neon light.
A uniform and continuous “neon line” effect is achieved through a special light diffusion structure (side-emitting light, top-emitting light, etc.).
Flexible LED Neon Lights Advantages
- Lower voltage power supply (5V/12V/24V) for enhanced safety: Most commonly 24V, it’s touch-safe and poses no high-voltage hazard.
- High flexibility: Can be bent and cut freely, suitable for DIY home décor.
- Continuous, spotless light: The diffuser transforms the LED point light source into soft, linear light.
- High durability: Waterproof (IP67), UV resistant, anti-yellowing, with a lifespan of 30,000–50,000 hours.
What Factors Contribute to the Potential Harm of Neon lights on the Eyes?
We can say that the impact of any light source, including neon lights, on the eyes is not absolute. Staring at it for extended periods will inevitably cause some effect. However, the majority of the impact depends on several key factors:
Luminous Intensity (Brightness)
The higher the lumen value (lm) of a light source, the brighter the light. Excessively concentrated high-intensity light (i.e., glare) can cause eye discomfort, leading to excessive pupil constriction, visual fatigue, and even temporary difficulty seeing.
Observe the distance of illumination
Looking directly at a light source (especially at close range) is much more stimulating to the eyes than using it as ambient background light. Therefore, maintaining a proper distance is essential.
Emplacement d'installation
If neon lights are installed directly at eye level and used in environments where people work for extended periods, their potential impact is greater. If hung as decoration in a corner or high up, the impact is relatively smaller.
Ambient Contrast
In a completely dark environment, if only neon lights are on, the eyes have to constantly adapt to the strong contrast between light and dark, accelerating eye strain. Therefore, ambient lighting is still necessary to help the eyes adapt more quickly.
What Other Light Sources are Equally Harmful to the Eyes?
While paying attention to neon lights, we should also develop a comprehensive awareness of “light safety.” In our daily lives, some light sources may pose a higher potential risk to our eyes. You can correctly understand the following light sources: More, pls read Quelle est la meilleure couleur de lumière pour vos yeux la nuit ?
- LED screens (phones, computers): These are the light sources we encounter most frequently. They emit high-energy blue light, and prolonged close-range use is a major cause of digital eye strain, sleep disorders, and potential retinal damage.
- Laser pointers: This type of light source should absolutely never be shone directly into the eyes. Its highly concentrated energy can cause permanent burns to the retina in an instant.
- UV lamps/sunlight: Ultraviolet radiation is a major environmental factor leading to eye diseases such as cataracts and pterygium.
In comparison, the overall risk level of neon lights is relatively low at normal viewing distances. We should focus more on eye protection than on the electronic screens we spend hours in front of every day.
Can the “Flicker Effect” of Neon Lights Cause Eye Strain and Headaches?
It’s possible. We’ve just discussed how some factors associated with neon lights can indeed affect our eyes. Flicker is one of the main causes of visual discomfort. Our visual system unconsciously processes these rapid light fluctuations, increasing the burden on our accommodation.
If you experience eye strain, blurred vision, frequent blinking, or headaches after spending time in a neon-lit environment, flicker is likely the culprit.
Pay special attention when photographing neon lights with a phone or camera; the scrolling stripes or flickering on the screen are direct evidence of their flicker characteristics. For those with a history of dry eye or migraines, flicker is an even more significant trigger.
How to avoid neon light flicker:
Choose LED neon light products with high-quality direct current (DC) power drivers or constant current drivers. High-quality LED neon lights use high-frequency or constant current technology to eliminate visible and invisible flicker, achieving a flicker-free standard.
How to Use and Install Neon Lights Correctly to Protect Your Eyesight?
While enjoying the beauty and ambiance of neon lights, we certainly want to protect our eyesight. Therefore, it’s essential to use and install LED neon lights correctly.
- Avoid direct eye contact with neon lights: Install neon lights in locations where they are not easily seen for extended periods, such as high on walls, along ceiling edges, or as background decoration.
- Use as ambient light: Utilize neon lights primarily as ambient lighting, not work lighting. Avoid using them as the sole light source in a room; combining them with other soft auxiliary lights can reduce contrast.
- Choose soft colors and brightness: Avoid overly bright or glaring colors (such as extremely bright white or highly saturated blue). If the lights have a dimming function, adjust them to a comfortable brightness level.
- Choose high-quality products: Purchase high-quality LED neon lights to ensure quality and the use of reliable materials.
Conclusion
Under normal viewing and lighting conditions, neon lights will not harm most people’s eyes in a short period of time. Their risk is far lower than that of electronic screens we use daily. The real risks come from prolonged, close-range direct viewing and the flickering effect of low-quality light bulbs.
If you are looking for safe, soft-light, high-quality LED neon lights, please contact our neon lights factory.
FAQ
Not very effective. The blue light component in the neon light spectrum is already low; its main visual impact comes from brightness and potential flicker. Just avoid prolonged direct exposure to the eyes.
This is direct evidence of the “flicker” characteristic of neon lights. The scanning frequency of the phone camera is out of sync with the flickering frequency of the neon light, creating a phenomenon known as “flicker frequency,” which appears as scrolling stripes on the screen.
Yes, they can, but you should choose neon lights with moderate brightness and a low color temperature. Most importantly, avoid direct light into the eyes. It’s also recommended to turn off the lights before going to sleep to avoid affecting melatonin secretion and sleep quality.
It’s safer to choose LED neon light brands with flicker-proof drivers, high color rendering index (CRI>90), and soft-light silicone covers. For example, NEONLEDSTRIP offers soft-light anti-glare neon lights with uniform light and no flicker, suitable for long-term use.