So on my lens I have a few different features.

1)There is a slight grey tint on it. She had me try a few different colour tints in the sunlight and then decide which one felt better to get the shade. Some people prefer other colours

2)I also have a blue light reflector on my lens for light sensitivity to help with screen time because I struggle with screens a lot still.

3) Then the last thing is the magnification that I mentioned before. I'm not sure what the type of lens is called, but I can find out next time I go to therapy; it's just a slight magnification. I can barely tell it's magnified but I find it helps my eye strain.

The noise desensitisation is basically a variation of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.

The idea behind it is that when you are sitting in silence your ears are still listening for noise, so if you spend a lot of time in silence or with earplugs in, your ears become more sensitive to noise over time, because they are used to reaching to hear noise that most people would not notice or hear.

The typical cycle is 1) do too much 2) sit in a dark room until you feel better 3) do to much again 4) repeat and/or become very reliant on earplugs.

Since I started the therapy I have very soft noise in my ears at all times playing at a level that is quiet enough that it doesn't bother me but not quiet enough that I have to "reach for it." Since I'm so oversensitive the level is currently still set lower than the lowest volume on my phone headphones.

I have to wear these Hearing aid-looking devices all day long.

There is a normal white noise setting set to a low volume.

Then a louder white noise setting that I use when in noisy environments.

Some relaxing music that I use when reading, and then more busy noise that I use in chaotic environments like the mall or a noisy restaurant.

It can also be synced with a phone or tablet to stream music.

I also have white noise playing in the background off of an app on my phone at night when I sleep.

As I get used to the level the noise is set at and it starts to sound quieter/I start having to "reach for it", my audiologist raises the volume to the next level and then I get used to that noise level, and then it gets raised again.

It took me a few weeks to get used to having noise in my ears all the time but once I got used to it, it seems like it is helping.

It's not supposed to be a quick fix, it can take up to a year to fully work but you should start seeing improvements right away.

I'll be sure to post more information once I can be more sure it is helping because when researching the treatment online, I found a lot of contradictory information about what the treatment does, so I was very sceptical. But I've been very impressed by my audiologist's knowledge and guidance so far.

"The typical cycle is 1) do too much 2) sit in a dark room until you feel better 3) do to much again 4) repeat and/or become very reliant on ear plugs"

Just ignore this part of my post please. It doesn't really make much sense in the context I put it in. That's what I get for trying to edit my post on my phone!

You can buy 1+ add reading glasses at the dollar store. They can help with those eye strain issues. It can also work to read some text then close your eyes and repeat the text to yourself. This will help with retention. It is amazing how closing your eyes can help you cognitively process what you just read. Same goes for lectures if they do not require reading a black/white board.

I would suspect that with careful observation, you will find signs that you are reaching your limit of eye fatigue. Any need to reread a line of text has always been my indicator. If I stop reading and move to something else for even a moment, I can go back to reading. Those short breaks at the first minimal sign of fatigue are very beneficial. The opto uses the 2 pages as a preset fatigue limit but for me, 2 pages would have been too much during the early stage.

ConcussedButHopeful

What kind of blue-light filter do you have in your glasses? Thanks

The blue light filter is a type of Re-Charge Coating. It took some getting used to but I think it helps a bit with screen time, but to be completely honest, probably not a whole lot. I got the lens suggested by my optometrist because I thought I might as well try it since it was covered by my insurance, but I won't say it is the biggest help.

Sunglasses of the right tint can't also block the same light and on bad days I still use my super dark sunglasses. It would probably be most helpful for someone who works in an office job, particularly if they did not want to be wearing sunglasses at work.

Also, while I'm posting, my lens is called a dynamic 8 lens and the magnification in it is +0.8

J,

Your difficulty following print was very familiar, as well, your difficulty with traffic.

I covered all but what was being read and found that a big help.

I would rest before you get to your limit. If you rest early it talks very little time to recover. Waiting till the words jump around takes much more time to recover comfortably.

Therapy was a BIG help for me but it has taken most of this year to achieve it.

I still need to be faithful about my eye exercises at home. I had to go out of state this past week to help my dad move and forgot my homework bag...after a week I can tell the difference.

At my First assessment appointment at therapy I was rereading every 3rd to 4th word 5 to 6 times...my most recent assessment I was rereading every 6th to 7th word 2 to 3 times. Pretty significant change. Also a big change in both eyes working together on the same word.

They put these magic goggles on you while you read that trace your eye movement...cool stuff

Bud