Hygienic assessment of the formation of health risks caused by diseases of the eye and its appendages associated with the influence of artificial lighting in the provision of education and training services in preschool educational institutions

Introduction. The most important reasons for the progression of eye diseases in children, in addition to genetic factors, is insufficient artificial lighting in classrooms. Creating a light environment that is safe from a hygienic point of view is an important task of managing the learning process in a preschool institution.

The purpose of the study: studying the influence of artificial lighting on the visual analyzer in children and hygienic assessment of the formation of health risks caused by eye diseases during the provision of education and training services in preschool educational institutions.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of measurements of artificial lighting in a preschool institution over a long-term period and forms of medical statistical reporting were performed. Measurements of artificial illumination were carried out in group cells of preschool institutions. Observation/control groups were formed and the pathological incidence of eye diseases in children was assessed. Correlation analysis was applied, relative risk (RR) was calculated and health risk was calculated using categorization of risk levels.

Results. Exceeding the level of illumination to the hygienic standard (HS) statistically significantly increases the likelihood of developing general pathological diseases of the eye and its adnexal apparatus in children (RR = 3.2; CI = 1.6–6.4); a value below the HS determines a negative trend in the development of these diseases (RR = 1.4; CI = 0.6–3.1). The quantitative value of the health risk corresponds to the alarming level from exposure to LED and fluorescent lighting (7.0 ∙ 10^–⁴; 6.0 ∙ 10^–⁴, respectively), which is subject to periodic monitoring and requires additional preventive measures.

Limitations. The conduction of the study in preschool educational institutions limits the possibility of extrapolating the research results to other types of educational institutions that differ in other conditions for the provision of services for the upbringing and education of children.

Conclusion. Artificial illumination, both at the HS level and exceeding it, can cause a risk to the health of the visual analyzer in children. In this regard, it is advisable to establish the HS of artificial illumination in preschool institutions in the form of a range of values.

Compliance with ethical standards. An ethical review was not required for this work.

Contribution of the authors:
Shur P.Z. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Redko S.V., Lir D.N., Fokin V.A., Shtina I.E. — collecting and processing material, writing text, compiling a list of references.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: November 11, 2025 / Accepted: April 24, 2026 / Published: July 28, 202

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