IMPROVING IMAGE QUALITY BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT IN THE READING ROOM

Many standards and guidelines related to the use of medical displays require viewers to be in dark rooms. The purpose of this theoretical study was to examine the validity of some commonly used requirements in terms of image contrast and contrast stability in rooms with fluctuating illuminance. By using the grayscale standard display function (Dicom part 14), contrast was calculated for several combinations of display minimum and maximum luminance as well as the possible range of illuminance fluctuations that will not exceed given contrast tolerance levels. The results show that some requirements are only valid in dark viewing rooms, which are also usually recommended or enforced. However, image contrast, contrast stability, ergonomics and fatigue would improve by using brighter displays in brighter rooms. With a better set of requirements, it would also be possible for displays in brighter rooms, like dentist departments and operating rooms, to conform to the requirements.