Purpose: To investigate the effect of different combinations of color temperature and illuminance of reading light on the steady-state accommodative function in children. 
Methods: Twenty-seven children between 8 to 15 years old accomplished a 40-minute reading task twice under two lighting conditions of different combinations of color temperature and illuminance.  The steady-state accommodative stimulus response curve (ASRC) and near-work induced transient myopia (NITM) were measured before and after the reading task.  In Experiment 1, light profile 1 (6500K, 1000 lx) was compared to profile 2 (2700K, 500lx).  In Experiment 2, light profile 2 was compared to profile 3 (4100K, 500lx).  
Results: There was no difference in gradient, intercept of ASRC, and accommodative response at 3 D accommodative stimulus before and after reading task, nor between the lighting conditions, except that the gradient of ASRC reduced after reading under light of profile 2.  The mean ratio of accommodative error / accommodative stimulus reduced after reading under light of profile 1.  The magnitude of NITM was larger after reading under light profile 1 than profile 2.  But there was no difference in time decay of NITM between the lighting conditions.  
Conclusion: Compared with the light of lower illuminance and lower color temperature, cold bright light tends to improve accommodative response to near targets and produce moderate near-work induced transient myopia after prolonged near work.  Such reading light may provide relative help to prevent myopia development in school children.