They prevent direct glare to the patient and reduce reflections that make screens and monitoring equipment hard to read. The work being performed in an intensive care unit demands a higher colour rendering than a regular ward. So the lamps used must be carefully selected for their colour rendering properties.

Simple examinations can be performed by switching on a downlight positioned above the bed, but for detailed examinations, a separate arm based examination light is needed. These use a tungsten halogen lamp for maximum colour rendering and intensity. The luminaire might be wall, ceiling or trolley mounted.