Blue versus red light for preserving night vision

[zboss]

My understanding is that the latest military research points to the amount of lumens received by the eye and not so much the frequency of that light. So, red, blue, or white is all pretty much equally effective at very low light levels. However, when you take into consideration that you need depth perception and need to be able to read or see things in various colors, just straight up very low levels of white light is better.

[Russian007]

So today I thought it was a good idea put a red light in my pilothouse because I've been running at night lately. After reading all of this, I believe I'm now a candidate for psychotherapy because of acute anxiety and confusion.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Russian007

So today After reading all of this, I believe I'm now a candidate for psychotherapy because of acute anxiety and confusion.

Red light therapy will fix that .

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Red light therapy will fix that .

No light at all is better, followed by highly dimmable white. We know that.

[Russian007]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Red light therapy will fix that .

Are you sure though? Dimmable white light therapy is better according to Neils Bohr while Werner Heisenberg argued for green light. Einstein said boat lighting depends on the quantum mechanics of Tahitian Hula.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

No light at all is better, followed by highly dimmable white. We know that.

+1

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Red light therapy will fix that .

Red light therapy causes an acute condition called road rage syndrome.
It afflicts many to varying degrees.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Red light therapy causes an acute condition called road forum rage syndrome.
It afflicts many to varying degrees.

I fixed your post

So red is actually terrible for your mental health, but it is still the only colour that can preserve the deepest levels of dark adaptation while permitting limited detail to be seen. You cannot change basic physiology.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

You cannot change basic physiology.

But we can ignore advances in scientific understanding.

When I was a naval architect for NAVSEA in the 80s we already had shifted to dimmable white based on the science.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

But we can ignore advances in scientific understanding.

When I was a naval architect for NAVSEA in the 80s we already had shifted to dimmable white based on the science.

Dim white light is the best choice if you need to process highly detailed information rapidly. The scientific understanding has not changed, simply the operational parameters.

If you are flying or navigating a sophisticated aircraft or military boat, white light is best.

If you want to preserve the best dark adaptation, but still need to process basic information such as speed and depth, red light is the best option. These were the operational conditions for early aircraft/ships/submarines. These conditions also occur some of the time when yachting.

Our scientific understanding of the physiology of dark adaptation has not changed for many decades.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Dim white light is the best choice if you need to process highly detailed information rapidly. The scientific understanding has not changed, simply the operational parameters.

If you are flying or navigating a sophisticated aircraft or military boat, white light is best.

If you want to preserve the best dark adaptation, but still need to process basic information such as speed and depth, red light is the best option. These were the operational conditions for early aircraft/ships/submarines. These conditions also occur yachting.

The scientific understanding has not changed.

That's why navy ships combat information centers are blue light right.
Red light impairs the eyes ability to see white light

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Red light impairs the eyes ability to see white light

Light of any colour will impair our ability to "see white light". Far red light is unique because it can be detected by our photopic (cone based) visual system but not by our our scotopic (rod based) visual system.

The scotopic (rod based) visual system functions to provide our deepest level of dark adaptation.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

If you want to preserve the best dark adaptation, but still need to process basic information such as speed and depth, red light is the best option. These were the operational conditions for early aircraft/ships/submarines. These conditions also occur some of the time when yachting.

Early ships and subs used red light because we didn't know any better. When I was a Navy naval architect in the 80s we used dimmable white because it works better.

The best answer is to cover or turn off anything you don't need, dim the rest, and be organized enough to dress and use the head without turning on any lights.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

Early ships and subs used red light because we didn't know any better.

As I have indicated, the work on dark adaption was done many years ago. Read any modern textbook on dark adaption and it will quote work done by Hubel & Wiesel. This research was done in 1950-1960. The basic dark adaption physiology was established many decades ago and modern research has not altered these established facts.

Originally Posted by Auspicious

Early ships and subs used red light because we didn't know any better. When I was a Navy naval architect in the 80s we used dimmable white because it works better.

Dim white light can work better for many applications. For example, if you need to see coloured coded information then monochromatic red light will not work. Unfortunately, you are guilty of expanding a singular situation where dim white light may be superior, and extrapolating this to another application.

There are times on a yacht when dim white light is the best choice, but there are also times, sometimes in critical situations, where dim red light is far superior. It is important cruising yachts have both of these options.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

.......

There are times on a yacht when dim white light is the best choice, but there are also times, sometimes in critical situations, where dim red light is far superior. It is important cruising yachts have both of these options.

Also important - to know why (and when) in order to make the best choice.

Thanks for continuing to provide the whys and wherefores of low light vision.