Light Bulbs & LEDs - Pros & Cons

Traditional Light Bulbs

Incandescent Bulbs:

How They Work: Produce light by heating a tungsten filament until it glows.
Characteristics: Emit a warm, yellowish light; simple and affordable.
Lifespan: Typically last around 750 to 2,000 hours.
General Applications: Commonly used in household lighting, table lamps, hallway lighting, accent lighting, and closets.
Medical & Scientific Applications: Incandescent bulbs are used in some medical devices for red light therapy, which can help improve skin conditions, promote muscle recovery, and reduce inflammation. They are also used in infrared heat lamps for deep tissue therapy.

Halogen Bulbs:

How They Work: Similar to incandescent bulbs but contain halogen gas, which increases light output and lifespan.
Characteristics: Provide bright, white light; more energy-efficient than standard incandescent bulbs.
Lifespan: Last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
General Applications: Used in automotive headlamps, under-cabinet lighting, work lights, spotlights, and floodlights.
Medical & Scientific Applications: Halogen bulbs provide bright, consistent light with exceptional color rendering, making them ideal for surgical lighting and examination lamps. They are also used in clinical chemistry and blood analyzer equipment to analyze dyes and other agents.

Metal Halide Lamps:

How They Work: Produce light by an electric arc through a gaseous mixture of vaporized mercury and metal halides.
Characteristics: High-intensity discharge lamps; provide bright, white light with high luminous efficacy and good color rendition.
Lifespan: Typically last around 6,000 to 15,000 hours.
General Applications: Ideal for high bay interior lighting, sports stadium lighting, flood lighting, and commercial lighting.
Medical & Scientific Applications:  Metal halide lamps are used in medical imaging and diagnostic equipment due to their high-intensity light and excellent color rendering5. They are also used in surgical lighting and for curing and hardening materials in medical devices.

Fluorescent Lamps:

How They Work: Use mercury vapor and a phosphor coating to produce visible light through fluorescence.
Characteristics: Cooler and more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs; available in various shapes and sizes.
Lifespan: Typically last around 7,000 to 15,000 hours.
General Applications: Commonly used in offices, industrial lighting, kitchens, and residential applications like valences and fascia.
Medical & Scientific Applications: Fluorescent lamps are used in medical phototherapy to treat conditions like neonatal jaundice, mood disorders, sleep disorders, and wound healing. They are also used in autofluorescence imaging to highlight bacteria in wounds, aiding in more accurate and effective treatment. A wide variety of color temperatures help when a particular color is needed for teeth matching in dentistry.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs):

How They Work: Produce light by passing an electrical current through a semiconductor.
Characteristics: Highly energy-efficient, produce very little heat, available in a wide range of colors and designs.
Lifespan: Can last up to 50,000 hours or more.
General Applications: Used in TV backlighting, smartphone backlighting, automotive lighting, general lighting, traffic signals, camera flashes, horticultural grow lights, and medical devices.
Medical & Scientific Applications: LEDs are widely used in medical devices for surgical lighting, phototherapy, and diagnostic imaging. As new equipment comes out, manufacturers are turning to LED light sources as the only option. LEDs provide precise illumination during procedures, aid in skin rejuvenation, and are used in wearable medical devices and biomedical imaging. LEDs are also used in sterilization, biological and chemical equipment, and various therapeutic instruments.

Benefits of Traditional Light Bulbs

Initial Cost: Generally cheaper to purchase upfront.
Light Quality: Provide a warm, familiar glow that some people prefer. Certain medical devices require a specific light focal point for the equipment to function. There are also tests like, red light or fundus reflex test that is difficult to perform with current LED options. Traditional light bulbs do not have degradation of light quality like LEDs do. When a traditional lamp goes bad, it goes out. An LED loses light quality over time and it may be difficult to notice the reduction in output.
Dimming Compatibility: Work well with older dimmer switches.
Availability: Traditional light bulbs were standard in medical equipment for decades. Most medical equipment do not have retrofit. Instead of purchasing all new equipment, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, it is often a better decision to continue using the traditional light source to maintain the equipment.
Replaceability: Traditional light bulbs can be replaced as they go out. In contrast, LEDs in medical equipment are often hardwired into the equipment. If a problem occurs with the light source, you will need equipment repair or equipment replacement vs just replacing a light bulb.

Benefits of LED Bulbs

Energy Efficiency: Use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Longer Lifespan: Can last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.
Lower Heat Emission: Emit very little heat, making them safer and reducing cooling costs.
Environmental Impact: Do not contain harmful substances like mercury and are fully recyclable.
Cost-Effectiveness: Despite a higher initial cost, the long-term savings from reduced energy use and fewer replacements make LEDs more cost-effective. (Again, in the medical applications, this may not be the case when you need to replace expensive equipment to get the LED light source.
Versatility: Available in various colors and designs, suitable for a wide range of applications.
Instant Lighting: Turn on instantly at full brightness.