The issue of glare and light pollution is becoming more important as the number of outdoor installations has increased. Lighting fixtures for road and area lighting are classified as non-cutoff, semi-cutoff, and full-cutoff, depending upon how much light they emit at horizontal, and above horizontal. The cutoff primarily affects light pollution. In California, there are between 6 and 7 million outdoor luminaires of which one third are full-cutoff fixtures; therefore, there are about 4 million luminaires, which could be improved by a retrofit reflector.

The light distribution at near-to-slightly-below horizontal is the primary factor in glare. Traditionally, low-glare fixtures have been less efficient, in terms of lumens delivered to the ground, than high-glare fixtures. This is a counter-intuitive result in the sense that light lost to the horizontal or upward direction shouldn't impact efficiency. However, methods used to control this light have negatively impacted the light distributed to the ground. These light control techniques often result in less even illumination.

One recent study found that full-cutoff fixtures produced more light pollution than non-cut-off fixtures, because their light distribution was so poor. It appears that manufacturers have traditionally thought only in terms of the cutoff requirements, and have not examined the larger issue of efficient distribution. There does not seem to be any theoretical reason why an efficient low-glare, low light pollution fixture cannot be built.

This type of fixture will have immediate benefits to the environment, and because glare hinders visibility, it would have the potential to allow lower light levels, and thus lower energy use as well. Hence, there appears to be an opportunity to develop an energy efficient system that enhances visual performance, reduces light pollution and is more energy efficient.