Existing recommendations for the use and design of display screens no longer sufficiently reflect advances in display and computing technologies. Newer personal devices, such as tablets, smartphones, and wearable displays, are used in a wide range of positions, rather than at a fixed near-vertical position, and the recommendations do not account for this variety. They also do not address the advanced control functions of display screens beyond simple luminance and contrast adjustments.

Additionally, growing knowledge of the potential adverse effects of prolonged screen use highlights the need for user education and, where possible, mitigation, in the interest of visual comfort and health. This makes the development of new recommendations critical.

Therefore, this document addresses these critical gaps by comprehensively considering the roles of display design, lighting design, the user, and the surrounding environment. It provides a practical foundation that is highly relevant not only to display users but also to the professionals involved in creating healthier and more visually comfortable environments for display use, including, but not limited to, eyecare professionals, lighting and display manufacturers, educators, and occupational health and safety professionals.

Summary content

Visual display equipment is widely used in the contemporary world. This document consolidates visual ergonomics principles relevant to visual display equipment that have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and refers to information published in international, regional and national standards. Stakeholders who may find this document useful include people who appraise, modify or design work environments where visual displays are used, eyecare practitioners who give advice to patients about visual comfort, safety and ability when using visual displays, and lighting equipment manufacturers who develop lighting systems for work environments.

This document focuses on indoor work environments, and discusses factors related to the display user (such as health aspects, digital eyestrain, spectacle lenses for use with visual displays), the display itself (such as brightness and contrast, and the optimal location for a digital display) and the environment in which the display is used (such as lighting, modifying the lit environment, aesthetic considerations). A clause is also included that summarizes metrics-related issues and CIE publications relevant to visual ergonomics and visual display use.

The document is written in English, with a short summary in French and German. It consists of 35 pages with 2 tables and is readily available from the CIE Webshop or from the National Committees of the CIE.

The price of this publication is EUR 135,

  • (Members of a National Committee of the CIE receive a 66,7 % discount on this price – please approach your NC for information on accessing this discount).

NOTE: The following CIE publications related to this CIE 259:2026 are readily available from the CIE Webshop:

  • CIE TN 006:2016 Visual Aspects of Time-Modulated Lighting Systems – Definitions and Measurement Models
  • CIE 222:2017 Decision Scheme for Lighting Controls in Non-Residential Buildings
  • CIE 227:2017 Lighting for Older People and People with Visual Impairment in Buildings
  • CIE 232:2019 Discomfort Caused by Glare from Luminaires with a Non-Uniform Source Luminance
  • CIE PS 001:2024 CIE Position Statement on Integrative Lighting – Recommending Proper Light at the Proper Time, 3rd Edition
  • ISO/CIE TS 22012:2019 Light and Lighting — Maintenance Factor Determination — Way of Working
  • ISO/CIE 8995-1:2025 Light and lighting — Lighting of work places — Part 1: Indoor

Visual Ergonomics, Lighting and Visual Display Equipment
Publication no: CIE 259:2026
ISBN no: 978-3-902842-81-7
DOI: 10.25039/TR.259.2026
Keywords: display screens, health, visual ergonomics, lighting, work environments, visual comfort