Pushing the limits of light sensitivity
 

So I have had enough living in suffering over my girlfriend and wearing sunglasses all day.

This week I have taken my sunglasses off for certain amounts of time and under certain lights. What I've noticed is that I'm not having as bad of a reaction as anticipated. I don't get chronic headaches with the sunglasses. Without them I have felt a bit dizzy, light headed and slight pressure at the two sides of my head above my ear but no severe headaches. Perhaps I have developed this more severe light sensitivity by hiding from every little light. I know that I'm not making up the whole thing as I do feel exhausted from this but I'm not sure if I should continue with this routine.

The past three days I walked outside without shades (overcast skies) for 5 minutes or so. I seem to feel at my baseline level after sleeping. Any thoughts? I'm not sure how your photosensitivity symptoms manifest.

I think you should continue to do this. The brain will memorize a response and continue to react to that event long after the physiological reason for that response is past.

So, get a hat and go outside. If the sun is too bright, you can use the hat to reduce the glare.

This a gradual process. I've had to wean off ear plugs and sunglasses two times. Go to your limit, but don't push past it. I started going without sunglasses for 5 minutes a day for a week. Then when I felt like it I went 5 minutes a couple times a day. It's all about listening to your brain. It'll be uncomfortable at first, but know when it's healthy and unhealthy to be uncomfortable.

For you, it may not be five minutes. I don't know. Listen to your brain. It took me months to get off of earplugs and sunglasses when I was using them all day. Now, I still use them but only when needed.

It's so good to see you doing this Danny.
Great advice you've received as well. Please let us know how you get on. Don't over do it.

Danny, do you have any other visual issues in addition to light sensitivity?
My light sensitivity issues have thankfully decreased over the past 2 years. Your use of a hat to decrease glare and walking outside for short periods, gradually increasing your time is exactly what you need to do.
I'm wondering if the prism glasses that I am wearing for my binocular issues have also helped with my light sensitivity in some way? Prior to my concussions, I needed to wear sunglasses to drive at all times. With my progressive/transition/prism lenses, I'm driving without my usual dark sunglasses.
As JBuckl says, it's a gradual process and you must listen to your brain. Be patient and hopefully you will see progress! Please keep us posted.


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Danny,

That's how it is done!

You pick yourself up and start wisely pushing around the edges. I think you are onto something good.

Bud

Thanks for all the advice and support. I have been continuing to go out once a day in the sun with no sunglasses or earplugs. I hope to check in here at least each week and post my results. Today, I went out for one walk at 10 am for 8 minutes and another at 12pm for 10 minutes or so. I know that I kind of pushed it but it felt so good to be out in the sunlight after a year! I feel a little dizzy and have a slight pressure headache at my injury spot but overall feel pretty much OK.

JBuck,

What sort of signs and symptoms did you notice when you overdid it? I know we and our brains are all different but it would be helpful if you could give me some tips and guidelines and perhaps cautions to follow.

SMS,

I've been diagnosed with a couple other vision issues and have been prescribed prism glasses upon until now I hadn't seen a reason to fill them because of the need for sunglasses constantly. I am gonna get them filled. FYI, inconvegence insufficiency was one of the diagnoses and I am seeing a behavioral optometrist for these issues.

It's really important to learn when your brain needs a break. It's kindof a feeling in your head that after a while "you just know" it's time for a break. I describe it as being a stress, anxiety,headache, overstimulation feel. It's not good to be in this stage long, that's when you get overstimulated and push your brain past your limits, causing setbacks to happen.

This summer I was down to functioning 5% of the day. I could go 10-20 minutes then I needed a break that lasted around 1.5 hours. It sucked (I was depressed and contemplated suicide, but because I was disciplined during those bad days, I'm now having "pretty good" days, functioning 70-75% of the day at home. In a loud noisy environment like school, I'd be functioning maybe at 50%.

You may be in the stage where you have to be very disciplined. It's no fun, but understand that if you do stay patient and disciplined, you will improve. You will get better. And quality of life will go up.

I've gone back down to functioning 5% too many times. I've learned my lesson: no more pushing through symptoms. You need to do what your brain needs.

Sometimes you need to sacrifice your mental and emotional health for your physical health by doing things like taking an hour break and stopping even when you don't want to. It'll pay off in the long run. I still take breaks up to 45 minutes about 3 times a day. Sometimes I take shorter. It's all about learning what your brain needs, listening to it, and being proactive as well as reactive.

I'm glad you're getting out. This helped my mental health SO much. Being out of bed for 20-30 extra a day is huge for me.