Eye Protection for flashlights?

sochi111 · 2019-03-29T00:43:21.000Z

Looks like my eyes are not used to triple digits Lumens

I have been riding my bike at nights and lighting up the road and surroundings with flashlights, H03 with NW XML2, Convoy SST20 also 5000K,

The next morning my eyes felt I have been starring at the computer or at the sun too much.

My helmet has a visor, so my eyes and nose are shielded from the headlamp.

Not using Turbo, just using the low or mid modes, maybe some High for dark objects but only far… far away. But could be the occasional street lights.

I wonder what’s causing the eye strain, is there some leakage of UV A (315 nm and 400 nm), UV B (280 nm to 315), UV C (100 nm-280) or is there some IR , blue light?

jigsaw · 2019-03-29T00:46:29.000Z

oh my.

BlueSwordM · 2019-03-29T00:52:23.000Z

Lack of contrast makes the eye work very hard, especially if you use a 5000k+ and low CRI emitter, meaning you see quite a lot of blue light, which can make your eyes tired if there is not enough light.

And only blue light can cause this, since LEDs do not emit UV nor IR light.

Summary: Get a lower temperature light, like 4000k and below, of preferably, 3000k.

sochi111 · 2019-03-29T01:06:21.000Z

Thanks, BlueSwordM.

I always get NW but will try to get some <4000k.

wle · 2019-03-29T01:28:03.000Z

i think the contrast between dark and light is what is doing it
ie, you are probably looking into the dark to see outside the beam, then back into the headlight;s coverage area
that constant shifting of light levels, may be contributing
i doubt it is about ‘blue light’

just my 2c

wle

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-03-29T02:30:15.000Z

My eyes are super sensitive to the sun and I shine 5000+ lumen lights at white walls in front of me with no discomfort. Maybe something else is going on, do you wear glasses/goggles to keep the wind out of your eyes?

EyeballFryer · 2019-03-29T03:30:56.000Z

BlueSwordM:

Summary: Get a lower temperature light, like 4000k and below, of preferably, 3000k.

That’s what I love about 2700K - 3000K - they are soft and gentle on the eyes when used outside against darkness. Convoy’s latest SST-20 flashlight has a 2700K option.

wle · 2019-03-29T11:57:34.000Z

also there will not be any “IR” from an LED light.

blue, maybe, the base LED is blue, which then hits a blue->yellow phosphor, which adds to the blue , and the brain thinks “white”
but it is really just blue and yellow

wle

sochi111 · 2019-04-02T21:41:34.000Z

BurningPlayd0h:

My eyes are super sensitive to the sun and I shine 5000+ lumen lights at white walls in front of me with no discomfort. Maybe something else is going on, do you wear glasses/goggles to keep the wind out of your eyes?

Yes, I wear eye protection when riding. The lens says UV filter 99.9, probably polycarbonate,
and it is just very lightly tinted, maybe 50% of visible light.

Would a blue or yellow lens filter the blue light? I have seen a few guys wearing those.

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-04-04T20:39:17.000Z

sochi111:

BurningPlayd0h:

My eyes are super sensitive to the sun and I shine 5000+ lumen lights at white walls in front of me with no discomfort. Maybe something else is going on, do you wear glasses/goggles to keep the wind out of your eyes?

Yes, I wear eye protection when riding. The lens says UV filter 99.9, probably polycarbonate,
and it is just very lightly tinted, maybe 50% of visible light.

Would a blue or yellow lens filter the blue light? I have seen a few guys wearing those.

Lenses of a certain tinted color let only that color of light through. Mirrored lenses are the opposite, whatever color the “shine” of them is is what they are reflecting and not letting through.

No flashlight should leave your eyes feeling like this though, I would strongly suggest you go to a opthamologist.

cetary · 2019-04-04T22:07:48.000Z

To add in with what others have said research from UMTRI showed a linear increase in discomfort glare from high CCT LED light sources when used in vehicular head lighting.

http://www.umtri.umich.edu/our-results/publications/short-wavelength-content-led-headlamps-and-discomfort-glare

Their research eventually came to the conclusion of minimizing the blue as much as possible and the 2700K/3000K sst-20 should achieve that goal well.

Have you considered trying out handlebar mounted lights? Using bar mounted lights with stripe TIR optics should yield some good results. something like the Convoy S2+ would be a good candidate for this. Someone posted some really nice pictures of an S2 with the stripe TIR a while back. While the helmet light might not be directly shining light into your eyes, it may be creating strong luminance, light level, contrast by having an intense spot of light and dark background. Having strong light level contrast is a recipe for glare and visual discomfort.

HONDARIDER · 2019-04-05T00:30:54.000Z

Try some clear polarized glasses and see if that helps. Great for those who drive at night when oncoming lights bother them. I think it will do the trick. An Amber lens would be a second choice. Not the Tac glasses though.

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-04-05T00:52:04.000Z

Yeah I wouldn’t use anything but light amber or yellow lenses at night, only “50%” of light passing through whatever you’re wearing sounds dangerous for riding at night.

HONDARIDER · 2019-04-05T01:03:58.000Z

BurningPlayd0h:

Yeah I wouldn’t use anything but light amber or yellow lenses at night, only “50%” of light passing through whatever you’re wearing sounds dangerous for riding at night.

I agree, I would certainly try the clear polarized first. Should be able to find some inexpensive options out there to try and then if it helps you can spend what your comfortable for a great pair. They will also provide some protection as well.