Has any of you guys converted the interior dome lights to red?

I am interested in this mod because I drive around a night a lot and wanted to keep my night vision when I exit the truck.

 

The idea that red preserves night vision is a myth. The truth is, no color effects night vision. The intensity, or brightness, of the light is what matters.

If you want to be able to use interior lights but limit disruption of your night vision, simply dim the lights (less bright bulbs, darkening film, etc.).

 

I think you are not enitrely accurate when you say that "no" color effects night vision. There are many medical sources with data to the contrary, but Wikipedia has a good summary: "In biological night vision, molecules of rhodopsin in the rods of the eye undergo a change in shape as they absorb light. Rhodopsin is the chemical that allows night-vision, and is extremely sensitive to light. Exposed to a spectrum of light, the pigment immediately bleaches, and it takes about 30 minutes to regenerate fully, but most of the adaptation occurs within the first five or ten minutes in the dark. Rhodopsin in the human rods is less sensitive to the longer red wavelengths of light, so many people use red light to help preserve night vision as it only slowly depletes the eye's rhodopsin stores in the rods and instead is viewed by the cones."

Nevertheless, most of the sources I've seen, including a study by the U.S. Navy available on the internet, specifically say that although the effect of color is measurable, it is minimal, and that there are many disadvantages to working using red light and the best way to preserve night vision is low intensity - just like you point out!

 

Some of the vehicles at my work have lights that you can choose standard White light or red. The light I am referring to is a dome style aftermarket light. I find it much easier on the eyes to use the red light at night but I can't say if it's the colour of the light or brightness. Either way for the OP I would suggest lower powered bulbs in the interior lights. Red may be good as well if they'll almost exclusively be used at night. If there's a good mix of day and night use just use lower wattage bulbs

 

I also have the dome light at work which let's u choose between red and white light. The white light destroys your night vision significantly more than red. I'm not one to quote scientific studies, just speaking from experience.

I'm sure you could find some sort of aftermarket red dome light to install.