What is Light Sensitivity?
Light sensitivity usually causes you to close your eyes or squint to alleviate pain or discomfort from light, it can be more noticeable when outside in sunny conditions or where there is bright artificial light.
How common is Light Sensitivity?
It’s quite common and can occur as a symptom of some eye problems, or migraines.
75% of dry eye patients experience severe symptoms. More than 50% of individuals with ADHD can experience this symptom.
Children’s eye problems such as conjunctivitis can cause light sensitivity. If your child is exhibiting signs of light sensitivity, you should get this investigated by your optometrist with a complete eye test, diagnosis and treatment plan.
Diseases that cause light sensitivity are:
• Shingles
• Glaucoma, an eye disease that can result in the loss of central vision due to damage to the optic nerve.
• Blepharitis is an eye condition that causes swelling, redness, irritation and itching of the eyelids that can lead to light sensitivity.
• Conjunctivitis results in redness, teary eyes, eye discharge, pain, itchiness and often light sensitivity.
• Cataracts cause clouding of the lens in the eye and sensitivity to light. A paediatric cataract is the clouding of the lens and appears at birth or soon after birth.
• Corneal Abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the cornea from an injury, dust, sand, or dirt getting into the eye, or rubbing your eye.
• Blepharospasm is the involuntary movement of the eyelids or involuntary blinking.
How is Light Sensitivity diagnosed?
Through an eye test. Your Optometrist will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history to determine the potential cause and rule out any underlying conditions.
How long does Light Sensitivity last?
Light sensitivity can last for weeks, months, or up to a year depending on what is causing it and its severity.
Is Light Sensitivity dangerous?
Light sensitivity can be dangerous if you are driving during sunny and bright conditions without sunglasses and struggle to keep your eyes focused on the road.
The underlying condition that may be triggering light sensitivity could be dangerous to your vision depending on which condition you have and the current stage it is at.
Do you suffer from motion sickness while riding in a car, plane or boat?
You may have binocular vision dysfunction (BVD), which is a condition where your eyes are misaligned and your visual system struggles to send one clear image to the brain. BVD can result in uncomfortable symptoms; motion sickness is one of the most common.
Other symptoms, include
• Eye strain
• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Poor depth perception
• Difficulty reading
• Reduced attention span
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Difficulty navigating crowds
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck and shoulder pain
Treatment for motion sickness associated with BVD
BVD can be successfully treated with prismatic lenses that correct the misalignment in your eyes by manipulating incoming light before it enters your eyes.
The prism lenses ‘trick’ the brain into thinking your eyes are properly aligned, causing you to see just one object and preventing eye muscle strain. Usually your motion sickness symptoms gradually subside or completely disappear when using prism lenses.
Tinted lenses also work by altering the amount of light entering the eyes, which can help manage visual stress and reduce the symptoms associated with motion sensitivity.
People with BVD can also be treated with a customised vision rehabilitation program that improves the communication between your brain and eyes. The rehabilitation concentrates on supporting the visual system to alleviate BVD symptoms. It is a non-surgical customised program of visual activities and exercise that you undertake in the optometry practice and also at home.
There are numerous ways to manage light sensitivity and motion sensitivity, see your Optometrist who can help guide you through the diagnosis and treatment process, ensuring you receive options that meet your unique needs.
