Flickering low-energy bulbs ‘more likely to give us headaches’

Eco-friendly lightbulbs could be giving us headaches as they flicker too much.

Experts warn LED bulbs can cause dizziness and pain within just 20 minutes of switching them on.

Professor Arnold Wilkins, professor of psychology at the University of Essex, said the flickering of the unpopular lights is stronger than traditional lightbulbs.

LEDs, or light- emitting diodes, are one of two main types of energy-efficient lightbulbs available, along with compact fluorescent lamps.

They can cost more than traditional bulbs – the most expensive being around £20 – Light: May be a bad idea but are said to be good value because they last longer.

While old- style fluorescent lights, such as those in offices, dim by about 35 per cent with every flicker, LED lights dim by 100 per cent.

It means they can effectively turn off and on again hundreds of times a second. This can cause headaches by disrupting the eyes, forcing the brain to work harder.

It comes as Britain is set to ban traditional halogen lightbulbs in September 2018.

Professor Wilkins said: ‘People do not like the flicker, it can make them fell dizzy and unwell after about 20 minutes, and can produce disturbing anomalies of perception, such as seeing multiple images of the lamp, every time you move your eyes rapidly.’

Most lighting is powered by an alternating current supply, which causes bulbs to flicker. This particularly affects vision during rapid eye movements. A study from 1989 conducted by Professor Wilkins found fluorescent lighting which flickered 100 times a second doubled the chances of a headache. LEDs can flash 400 times a second, increasing the risk of headaches.

Writing in The Conversation, Professor Wilkins said: ‘No similar study has yet been performed for LED lights.’

The risk of headaches may be particularly high while reading, when it is important to position the eyes carefully.

flickering bulbs disrupt eye movements, making the brain use more energy, which has been linked to headaches.

Steve Davies, head of the Lighting Industry Association, said: ‘Reputable lamp manufacturers ... use specialist equipment to test their products to minimise any health issues.’

‘Dizzy and unwell’