Vision interaction area lighting

The invention provides a controller (2) and method for controlling the brightness of an illuminated area (25, 231) in a vehicle (4). Specifically, the controller (2) is configured to: receive an input signal indicative of a detected gaze direction of the eyes of a driver of the vehicle; determine a relationship between the detected gaze direction and a predetermined region of interest (504, 506, 508, 512, 514, 515) of the vehicle (4); and provide a brightness control signal for adjusting the brightness of a light source (23) providing light to an illuminated area in the vehicle (4) in dependence upon the determined relationship.