[MaryinIA]

I assume I am not alone in feeling ambushed by innocent Christmas lights. The ultra bright LEDs are killers. One co-worker is particularly upset that I have asked that people not decorate with lights. (Management and HR understand) Soft white lights or even red soft lights that don't blink aren't bad, but I have discovered something. The blue lights seem to go right through my eye and stab my brain (not literally of course). Get blue flashing lights and I am just about down for the count. It takes a good 20 minutes for my vision to clear and the rest of the day its funky. It makes sense now that halogen headlights bother me way more than "normal" headlights. I don't do a lot of driving at night, but I have to do some.
Feeling sort of like a scrooge and wanted to reach out with others who understand.

[Jomar]

I don't have TBI or PCS , but too many decorative lights on city streets are very distracting, especially on rainy nights like we've been having in the Pacific Northwest lately.

[MiaVita2012]

Mary I can understand, today we finally got christmas tree from a tree farm and my boyfriend started putting the lights on.Well last year we had got some of the blue LED lights.

I took one look at them on floor while he untangled and I said we can't put the blue lights on tree!I just found out after over a year that I have PCS from a car accident.....He looked at me with this look!

I laughed and said those are horrible!I could see tracers and felt like my eyes were going to come out my head with the instant headache and made my stomach hurt.

I also have problems with the lights in doctors
offices as well.

I wanted to skip the holidays this year but that was not an option.

Wish you the best

[Concussion]

Ya, those new lights , those blues pretty ones.........WOW.

I like Christmas.....I am a softy.......I get all tearful at this time of year, love the love it brings out in all of us.

Well, my wife likes to look around the neighborhood at night while we walk our dogs, and we look at the light displays - well she does now, I can't too much anymore And our newest neighbor has a pretty display on their french doors, with those nice blue lights.

My wife exclaimed, "Oh, wow, look how nice !!!!!" and I did..........Big mistake !!!

The display was those hanging lines of lights in a waterfall display with all those blue lights, twinkling brightly...............OUCH !!!! right down to my knees, nausea, tears, groans, asking my wife to take me home.........


Dangit, I didn't want to spoil the night, but it did.

[thedude58]

I don't have the same symptoms but those orange street lights and the newer brighter headlights drive me crazy. The orange lighting gives me a headache. Sometimes I wear sunglasses to cut the glare. I do not recommend driving at night with sunglasses, but damn, it's more bearable with 'em on.

[MaryinIA]

I love the holidays, too. This is definetely a new perspective. I too need a day to recover when the neurologist shines light in my eyes.
I try to use humor as a coping mechanism. I have joked with my husband that if I ever got pulled over on the road, the BLUE flashing lights and siren would make me curl up into a ball. The officer would think I was on drugs. Seriously I couldn't imagine.

[Theta Z]

11-18-2012, Mokey wrote:

"My neuro opth. also prescribed blue blocker tint at 10%, because blue light is the most complex in the spectrum for the brain to deal with, and blocking a bit out frees up the brain to do other things. If you can afford it, i hope you give it a try. Hang in there!"

[See Original Post, #6 down the page on the weblink @ http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=prism]

[sospan]

I know what you are saying about the blue Christmas ones - the house next to my mothers has fitted some blue and white icicle ones. It is a dash to get passed them into the front door

A quick question as it is off topic - How are you guys allowed to drive in Canada and the US ? Driving with a head injury over here in the UK is classed as drink driving with very severe penalties.

[Theta Z]

Good question, sospan.

I was advised early-on in my injury (by my primary care physician) to not drive until the vertigo experienced while driving was no longer an issue for me.

The rather nonchalant neurologist whom I saw immediately after the auto collision, for followup, never even addressed driving until I urgently asked about it. His reply, "That's up to you."

The BIA-USA tells us:

Driving after Brain Injury - Brain Injury Association of America
www.biausa.org/_literature_43315/driving_after_brain_injury :

"Each state establishes its own rules and
regulations on driving, and the laws about
when a license can be taken away from a
driver vary widely from state to state. Some
states require physicians to report to the
authorized state licensing agency if they
have a patient for whom driving may no
longer be safe. Other states require
licensed drivers to report any change in
medical status before they resume driving."

[Theta Z]

http://stereopsis.com/flux/

The f.lux weblink was offered by andromeda back in October.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=screen

It has been very helpful for me.