Hey Dr. Marshall! You are talking about one of my favorite subjects - vision/light disturbance after a head injury. I am a certified Irlen screener and prescribe custom colored light filtering lenses. You can learn about it on my website which you have access to. Irlen is mostly prescribed for my PCS patients but I also have some kiddos with SI issues who are on the spectrum. Also, I have recently started using Eye Lights created by Dr. Peter Jailette. He is an amazing neurologist! I look forward to having this discussion offline soon! Thanks for addressing this issue :-)
I feel the light sensitivity problem worse in summer half of the year, due to more light and sun, so I have to wear sunglasses more. In winter not so much because the days are often grey. But what I allways nowadays, years after injury, wear that helps even without sunglasses is a peaked cap. The light from above and sides are not affecting so much. Only sunglasses in the summer is not enough, caps needed because of the light from above. Works for electrical light too.
It's been 15 years since my last concussion and not only has the light sensitivity not gotten better it seems to be worse and it makes driving a nightmare even with my prescription sunglasses, need some advice.
I am suffering severe eye dryness and also the light sensitivity. I cant reach out in mid day and and the glare suffer me a lot. I can't see even at light bulbs and see fine lines around them and i also find difficult to make sharp image. I tried to reach many doctors but no one could solve the problem. I am now in too much worry that I could lose my vision. please help me get out of this if you can.
Good day from Holland! Thank you so much for explaining things. What if your currents therapists recommend to avoid overstimulation by lights and sounds and stay indoors (with curtains closed, no light blocking curtains though). That was the advice given to me for the last 11 months. I noticed the sensitive has become worse. But... how do I go from here? Just go outside? Or take small steps to built it up again? Thank you!
Find a new therapist! The science does not support those recommendations and it's obvious that your clinician is not keeping up with the science. Find someone who does! Check out the Concussion Fix program. It can help to guide you through things and make sense of where to go next: concussiondoc.io/offer/the-concussion-fix/
Does Night Shift mode on screens (less blue light and more warm yellow light) help reduce eye strain? I work at a computer 8 hours per day and it drains my battery quite a lot on weekdays. I'm trying to get as much sunlight as possible after work but by then my eyes are pretty much fried. I know it helps with sleep but im wondering if it's easier on the eyes in general
Thank you Dr. for such a thorough video! I tried the adjustment to light/noise sensitivity for few months both willingly and also unwillingfully (because of my roommates:p) but it just doesnt seem to work.. I keep having the same sensitivity ... didnt get better..just my headaches and tiredness from the exposure increased..what am I going wrong here plz?
Hi Thalia - this generally indicates an overactivity (or hypersensitivity) of the nervous system. So in these cases patients have an overactive fight/flight response (which is the sympathetic nervous system). So to counteract that you need to work on the parasympathetic system - this can be anything from regular meditation, deep breathing exercises, changing up your diet/reparing your gut, etc. Exposure is only one component and if that isn't working on it's own, it indicates that we need to go deeper with you.
I've had photophobia for six years after a concussion. Pulling away from the office lighting helped. After two years, I felt better ... then went back to the office and after two years the exposure to the floro lights and computer screen has made me worse and worse. The only thing I have found that helps is cannabis.
Can you start symptoms a year later or is that probably a cue its unrelated? I started with dizziness, now years later it points more and more to my eyes. I didnt have a known injury but i did have an accident a year prior. Also stress when it started and hit mid 30s… so could be eyes getting tired, muscle issues from posture dysfunction, somatic issues…. Or possible whiplash concussion…. Trying to figure that out.
The challenge is that concussion-like symptoms can be caused by a number of different things. So just because you have the symptoms, doesn't mean a concussion was what caused them! The treatment process can be generally the same in many ways though!
Do you use a phone with an OLED screen? Trying searching 'pulse width modulation'. A lot of newer screens, even LCD ones, now flash lights or colours at you. Even people without concussions are being negatively affected.
@@kildpopper interesting! Scrolling my phone makes me dizzy and it makes my eyes feels crossed and super strained if i look too long. How would i know and what do you do about it?
I had my second concussion for months ago. I still have extreme light and screen sensitivity. I turn on an artificial light in my head, instantly hurts without even looking directly at the light. Sunlight doesn’t usually bother me just artificial light. I get a headache from screens almost instantly still in my phones on dark mode and all the way down.
This sounds like your nervous system is stuck in hyperarousal - i would recommend you take a look at the concussion fix program. It's online (and does involve screens), however we typically tell people having issues with screens to just press play and listen for the first little bit. In that program you'll learn how to calm the nervous system down so that you aren't so sensitive to light, sounds, and screens. Then over time these things will improve. Google "Concussion Fix" and check out some reviews and see what you think!
This is along the same lines as what I mentioned in the other response. Fish oil decreases inflammation. Chronic inflammation makes the nervous system more sensitive. So the fact that this works for you likely means that you should be looking to reducing foods in your diet that tend to promote inflammatory responses. I would suggest that you seek out the care of a naturopathic doctor or a functional medicine doctor for this!
Adaptation = keep the time the same (reps/sets) and adjust the dose/weight - for an impairment Habituation = Adjust the time (reps/sets) and keep the dose/weight the same - for a hypersensitivity. Both = Need to adjust for both when there is visual sensitivity with an impairment
Hey Dr. Marshall! You are talking about one of my favorite subjects - vision/light disturbance after a head injury. I am a certified Irlen screener and prescribe custom colored light filtering lenses. You can learn about it on my website which you have access to. Irlen is mostly prescribed for my PCS patients but I also have some kiddos with SI issues who are on the spectrum.
Also, I have recently started using Eye Lights created by Dr. Peter Jailette. He is an amazing neurologist! I look forward to having this discussion offline soon! Thanks for addressing this issue :-)
Hi! What is the name of your website?
You're right about the looking for it. That's a psychological component of it.
I feel the light sensitivity problem worse in summer half of the year, due to more light and sun, so I have to wear sunglasses more. In winter not so much because the days are often grey. But what I allways nowadays, years after injury, wear that helps even without sunglasses is a peaked cap. The light from above and sides are not affecting so much. Only sunglasses in the summer is not enough, caps needed because of the light from above. Works for electrical light too.
I wear green house glasses, they are great.
It's been 15 years since my last concussion and not only has the light sensitivity not gotten better it seems to be worse and it makes driving a nightmare even with my prescription sunglasses, need some advice.
I am suffering severe eye dryness and also the light sensitivity. I cant reach out in mid day and and the glare suffer me a lot. I can't see even at light bulbs and see fine lines around them and i also find difficult to make sharp image. I tried to reach many doctors but no one could solve the problem. I am now in too much worry that I could lose my vision. please help me get out of this if you can.
Thank you Doctor 😊
Good day from Holland! Thank you so much for explaining things. What if your currents therapists recommend to avoid overstimulation by lights and sounds and stay indoors (with curtains closed, no light blocking curtains though). That was the advice given to me for the last 11 months. I noticed the sensitive has become worse. But... how do I go from here? Just go outside? Or take small steps to built it up again? Thank you!
Find a new therapist! The science does not support those recommendations and it's obvious that your clinician is not keeping up with the science. Find someone who does! Check out the Concussion Fix program. It can help to guide you through things and make sense of where to go next: concussiondoc.io/offer/the-concussion-fix/
Does Night Shift mode on screens (less blue light and more warm yellow light) help reduce eye strain? I work at a computer 8 hours per day and it drains my battery quite a lot on weekdays. I'm trying to get as much sunlight as possible after work but by then my eyes are pretty much fried.
I know it helps with sleep but im wondering if it's easier on the eyes in general
I get a stress response when in front of a computer. Breathing faster or holding my breath. Pin point headache on top of head. Any suggestions? ❤
Thank you Dr. for such a thorough video! I tried the adjustment to light/noise sensitivity for few months both willingly and also unwillingfully (because of my roommates:p) but it just doesnt seem to work.. I keep having the same sensitivity ... didnt get better..just my headaches and tiredness from the exposure increased..what am I going wrong here plz?
Hi Thalia - this generally indicates an overactivity (or hypersensitivity) of the nervous system. So in these cases patients have an overactive fight/flight response (which is the sympathetic nervous system). So to counteract that you need to work on the parasympathetic system - this can be anything from regular meditation, deep breathing exercises, changing up your diet/reparing your gut, etc. Exposure is only one component and if that isn't working on it's own, it indicates that we need to go deeper with you.
I've had photophobia for six years after a concussion. Pulling away from the office lighting helped. After two years, I felt better ... then went back to the office and after two years the exposure to the floro lights and computer screen has made me worse and worse. The only thing I have found that helps is cannabis.
Can you start symptoms a year later or is that probably a cue its unrelated? I started with dizziness, now years later it points more and more to my eyes. I didnt have a known injury but i did have an accident a year prior. Also stress when it started and hit mid 30s… so could be eyes getting tired, muscle issues from posture dysfunction, somatic issues…. Or possible whiplash concussion…. Trying to figure that out.
The challenge is that concussion-like symptoms can be caused by a number of different things. So just because you have the symptoms, doesn't mean a concussion was what caused them! The treatment process can be generally the same in many ways though!
Do you use a phone with an OLED screen? Trying searching 'pulse width modulation'. A lot of newer screens, even LCD ones, now flash lights or colours at you. Even people without concussions are being negatively affected.
@@kildpopper interesting! Scrolling my phone makes me dizzy and it makes my eyes feels crossed and super strained if i look too long. How would i know and what do you do about it?
I had my second concussion for months ago. I still have extreme light and screen sensitivity. I turn on an artificial light in my head, instantly hurts without even looking directly at the light. Sunlight doesn’t usually bother me just artificial light. I get a headache from screens almost instantly still in my phones on dark mode and all the way down.
This sounds like your nervous system is stuck in hyperarousal - i would recommend you take a look at the concussion fix program. It's online (and does involve screens), however we typically tell people having issues with screens to just press play and listen for the first little bit. In that program you'll learn how to calm the nervous system down so that you aren't so sensitive to light, sounds, and screens. Then over time these things will improve. Google "Concussion Fix" and check out some reviews and see what you think!
Therapy for Light sensitivity: FISH OIL. I ve noticed high fish oil (3-5g) intake decreases my light sensitivity in 1 day.
This is along the same lines as what I mentioned in the other response. Fish oil decreases inflammation. Chronic inflammation makes the nervous system more sensitive. So the fact that this works for you likely means that you should be looking to reducing foods in your diet that tend to promote inflammatory responses. I would suggest that you seek out the care of a naturopathic doctor or a functional medicine doctor for this!
But the symptoms are too intense now and take me out for days and my vision is jittery like a candle flickering
There's a specific order in which to do things...so don't just jump to this if you still have foundational issues that need addressing
Adaptation = keep the time the same (reps/sets) and adjust the dose/weight - for an impairment
Habituation = Adjust the time (reps/sets) and keep the dose/weight the same - for a hypersensitivity.
Both = Need to adjust for both when there is visual sensitivity with an impairment