How to choose a desk lamp?

"The eyes are the windows to the soul." Approximately 80% of the information we receive comes through our eyes, and children's eyes are particularly delicate. That’s why parents are especially concerned about their children's eye health. However, due to limited space in Hong Kong, many households rely solely on ceiling lights, which often results in insufficient lighting for children during study time. A dim environment can hinder a child's ability to reach their full potential.

In fact, compared to ceiling lights, desk lamps offer more focused illumination and play a crucial role in creating a better learning environment—especially during reading and writing—reducing shadows and making text and computer work clearer and easier to see, thereby reducing eye strain.

Still, even if parents are willing to invest in a desk lamp, the market is flooded with options, many claiming to be "eye-friendly." So, which ones are truly effective? And how should parents begin their search?

The Best and Easiest Choice to Identify: Desk Lamps Certified for Myopia Control

Hong Kong has the highest rate of myopia among six-year-old children globally. When discussing myopia, most people rarely consider the importance of lighting products. However, aside from genetic factors, many causes of myopia are closely related to lighting—such as prolonged near work, insufficient lighting, reflective paper, and glare issues—all of which can strain the eyes and lead to myopia.

This is especially critical for children, as their eyes are still developing. Without early intervention, myopia can worsen rapidly. To address this, Philips Lighting has launched the VISIONARY™ series, which is certified for myopia control. As long as you see following certification mark, you can use the lamps with confidence—investing in your child’s eye health.

More Key Considerations When Choosing a Desk Lamp

With over a century of lighting expertise, Philips offers guidance on what to look for when selecting a desk lamp:

Brightness
Color Temperature
Illumination Range
Color Rendering Index / Full Spectrum
Blue Light Hazard
Flicker
Glare Value
Flexibility
Rechargeable or Plug-in
Seat-Sensing Light-On Function
Shape

Is Higher Desk Lamp Brightness Always Better? Not Necessarily!

The brightness of a desk lamp is typically measured in lumens (lm), and choosing the right brightness is crucial for protecting eyesight. While reading or writing does require higher brightness, more light isn’t always better—excessively strong lighting can actually irritate a child’s eyes.

Generally, a desk lamp with a brightness of around 400–1000 lm is sufficient to provide comfortable and adequate lighting for children reading at their desks. Depending on your child’s needs, you can choose a lamp with adjustable brightness, or even one with automatic brightness sensing, to ensure the light is never too bright or too dim.

We recommend the Philips Einstein Pro Myopia Control Desk Lamp. This lamp features an intelligent light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness based on ambient lighting conditions, ensuring a comfortable reading experience for your child in any environment.

What Is Color Temperature? It's Best to Choose a Desk Lamp with Adjustable Color Temperature

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and is typically categorized into cool and warm light. Warm yellow light (2700K–3000K) creates a relaxing and cozy atmosphere, while 4000K is considered a neutral color temperature—ideal for reading with its soft yellow-white glow. Cool white light (4000K–6500K) is better suited for tasks that require high concentration, such as studying or working.

However, a higher color temperature doesn’t always mean better performance. It can make it harder to relax and may even affect sleep quality if used before bedtime.

Therefore, when choosing a desk lamp, if it only offers a single color temperature, it’s best to go with a preset of 4000K. Of course, a better option is a lamp with adjustable color temperature, allowing you to adapt the lighting to different scenarios and preferences. For example, the Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp allows users to flexibly and linearly adjust the color temperature, selecting the most suitable lighting based on personal needs and enhancing the overall experience.

Lighting Coverage Should Be Wide Enough!

When the lighting coverage is too narrow and fails to illuminate the entire desk, shadows form, creating stark contrasts between light and dark areas. This can easily lead to eye fatigue. The general eye-care standard for lighting coverage is 700 x 500 mm, while the Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp covers an area of 1300 x 900 mm, which is 230% larger than the standard.

Its ultra-long rectangular lamp head, combined with an innovative dual-curved prism panel that creates secondary refraction and deflection, allows the light to cover a wider desk area. Additionally, its front-facing polarization technology delivers optimal light directly to the reading and writing zone, avoiding direct glare from the lamp head and preventing collisions. This effectively reduces pen shadows and ghosting, enhances focus, and improves learning efficiency—all while protecting the eyes.

What Is Color Rendering Index (CRI)? The Higher, the Better

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a measure of how accurately a light source reveals the true colors of objects. The higher the CRI, the closer the light is to natural sunlight, and the more realistic and vivid the colors appear. Simply put, lamps with a high CRI allow objects to display more natural and saturated colors.

Sunlight is considered the ideal light source, with a CRI of 100, meaning it can perfectly reproduce the true colors of objects. That’s why photos taken under sunlight often appear especially vibrant and striking.

Lighting products that offer a full spectrum similar to sunlight are considered high-quality light sources. In contrast, lower-quality lamps often concentrate on only certain wavelengths (such as red or blue), resulting in a narrower and incomplete spectrum.

When choosing a desk lamp for children, it’s recommended to select products with a CRI of 90 or above to help them better perceive true colors. An even better choice is a CRI of 97 or above. For example, the Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp is certified by UL for its diamond-grade full spectrum—the highest level available. As shown in the diagram, its light spectrum closely resembles that of sunlight, allowing children to study in an environment that mimics natural daylight.

“No Blue Light” Desk Lamps? Not Quite! What You Really Need Is a Lamp with No Blue Light Hazard

Even high-quality light sources like sunlight contain blue light. In fact, sunlight is composed of all the colors of the rainbow, forming a full-spectrum white light. Therefore, the key lies in the spectrum of the desk lamp—whether its blue light levels are similar to those of sunlight or significantly higher.

If the blue light level is comparable to sunlight and the lamp is certified with RG0 exemption level, it means there is no blue light hazard (as shown in the diagram above). However, if the blue light level is significantly higher, it poses a blue light hazard. Excessive blue light exposure can increase visual fatigue and, in severe cases, lead to macular degeneration and vision deterioration.

Philips desk lamps are generally free from blue light hazards, making them a safe and reliable choice for everyday use.

Avoid Desk Lamps with Visible Flicker!

Flicker refers to rapid fluctuations in light brightness over a very short period. Although it may not always be visible to the naked eye, prolonged exposure to such light sources can negatively affect the human body—causing eye fatigue, dryness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

All Philips desk lamps have passed visible-flicker-free testing, ensuring stable light output that reduces visual fatigue and discomfort. Users can feel confident and safe using them.

Avoid Desk Lamps with Glare Issues

When a lamp emits uneven light, contains overly bright and glaring spots, or has high contrast in brightness, it can cause glare, leading to eye discomfort, headaches, and reduced visual clarity.

To avoid this, choose Philips desk lamps, which are all designed to effectively suppress glare and prevent visual discomfort. For example, the A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp features an innovative ultra-curved honeycomb anti-glare design that delivers uniform, bright, and soft light. It achieves a light uniformity ratio as low as 1.56 (the closer to 1, the better), ensuring a comfortable and eye-friendly lighting experience.

What Are the Benefits of a Flexible Desk Lamp?

In situations where space is limited or the lamp is used for extended periods, flexibility becomes a key factor when choosing a desk lamp. Parents can opt for lamps with multi-joint arms and adjustable angles, allowing the lighting direction and height to be tailored for different needs—such as reading, writing, or drawing. The Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp features a 360-degree rotatable lamp head, giving users full control over positioning.

An even better option is a dual-use desk lamp with a clamp base. If there’s not enough space on the desk to place a lamp, the clamp base allows the lamp to be attached to the edge of the desk or a shelf, saving space. For example, Philips Einstein Pro and Gadwal II Myopia Control Desk Lamps both come with clamp bases included—no need for separate purchase—and support both horizontal and vertical clamping, making them adaptable to various home setups.

Rechargeable or Plug-In? It Depends on Personal Preference

Choosing between a rechargeable or plug-in desk lamp mainly depends on personal preference and usage habits. The biggest advantage of a rechargeable desk lamp is its high portability. It can be used with or without being plugged in, making it ideal for people who need to move it frequently or use it in different spaces. On the other hand, plug-in desk lamps generally offer higher brightness and more stable performance, making them suitable for long-term use—such as reading or working at a fixed desk.

However, many rechargeable desk lamps on the market tend to dim as the battery runs low, and their limited battery capacity requires frequent recharging. The Philips Talent Portable Myopia Control Desk Lamp is a rechargeable model that features a constant brightness system, ensuring consistent light output even as the battery depletes. It also comes with a large 5000mAh battery, offering long-lasting power and even serving as an emergency light during power outages!

Seat-Sensing Light-On Function

When choosing a desk lamp, more and more families are considering smart features. The Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp is equipped with advanced radar technology that enables intelligent seat-sensing. It can accurately detect whether someone is seated and automatically turns on the light, preventing children from reading or doing homework in poor lighting conditions. This not only protects their eyesight but also enhances the overall user experience.

This thoughtful design not only saves energy but also gives parents peace of mind—making it an essential learning companion for children.

Does the Shape of a Desk Lamp Matter?

Desk lamps generally come in two main shapes: rectangular and ring-shaped. Both are designed to evenly illuminate the entire desk surface and improve lighting efficiency.

If your child uses a rectangular desk, parents may consider a lamp with a rectangular head, such as the Philips A5 Pro Diamond-Grade Myopia Control Desk Lamp, which provides light distribution that better matches the shape of the desk for more comprehensive coverage.

For round or smaller desks, a ring-shaped lamp head—like the Einstein Pro Myopia Control Desk Lamp—offers soft and evenly distributed circular lighting.

While the shape of the lamp itself doesn’t directly affect a child’s eye health, choosing the right shape can enhance comfort and learning efficiency. Parents can select the most suitable design based on the desk layout and personal preference.