Luminous body

A luminous body is described, in particular in the form of a planar lighting device for general lighting or for back-lighting of displays, which luminous body comprises a plurality of light sources (2), for example LED elements, arranged in a housing (10), in particular an optical waveguide plate (1). The optical waveguide plate (1) forms a first optical medium (1) with a first optical scattering power, into which the light of the light sources (2) is coupled. Furthermore, at least one second optical medium (5) with a second optical scattering power is provided, such that the light propagating in the second optical medium (5) is at least substantially coupled in from the first optical medium (1), and the scattering power of at least one of the media is chosen for the purpose of influencing the flow of light in the housing (10) such that a given brightness distribution of the light on the light emission surface (4) is achieved.