Light sensitivity can lead to various health issues, including dry eye, which occurs when the eyes are exposed to bright light. Light exposure influences human health and wellbeing by modulating circadian rhythms and sleep, with a consensus view outlining the first expert scientific consensus recommendations for appropriate daily light use. Research has shown that light influences emotions, cognition, and sleep quality, but little work has examined whether different light exposure-related factors are involved.
Photophobia, or “fear of light”, refers to an individual’s sensitivity to light, especially bright light. High light sensitivity has been associated with delayed sleep, and most people now use light until bedtime. Modern home lighting environments have been evaluated in relation to sleep and individual-level light. Exposure to light stimuli that provide greater melanopsin stimulation can lead to large individual variations in circadian photosensitivity, such as melatonin suppression, due to artificial light exposure.
Light exposure at night can hinder transitions between sleep cycles, reducing the quality of sleep. Too much light can cause repeated awakenings, disrupting metabolic function through disruption of the circadian system. Low levels of light influence both internal circadian rhythms and behavioral and physiological functions. Photophobia is a significant predictor of poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances in migraine.
Research suggests that retinal sensitivity to blue light increases during long-term daylight deprivation, while circadian rhythm stability decreases. Overall, light exposure plays a crucial role in human health and wellbeing, with nocturnal light being shown to alter circadian rhythms and affect sleep quality.
📹 What causes PHOTOPHOBIA (light sensitivity) and how to fix it
Photophobia is a medical symptom of extreme sensitivity or intolerance to light. This level of light sensitivity can be so strong that it …
Can tiredness cause light sensitivity?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition characterized by severe tiredness, light sensitivity, headache, muscle and joint pain, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and depression. Treatments may include medications, exercise, supplements, and counseling. To maximize your healthcare provider visit, know the reason for the visit, write down questions you want answered, bring someone to help, and note new diagnoses, medicines, treatments, or tests.
Be aware of the side effects and when to report them. Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways, understand the purpose of a test or procedure, and what to expect if you don’t take the medication or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose, and know how to contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.
Why do I feel so sensitive to light?
Photophobia is a condition characterized by an abnormal sensitivity to light, often caused by eye-related or neurological conditions. It can also be influenced by certain medications. Photophobia refers to the eyes’ sensitivity to light, while photosensitivity refers to the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight due to immune system issues or drug reactions. Photophobia and phonophobia are related, with photophobia being a sensitivity to light and phonophobia being a fear of sound.
They may appear together if combined with other medical disorders like migraine headaches or traumatic brain injuries. Photophobia can be treated by healthcare providers, but it may not resolve if it’s due to a congenital disorder, low pigment, or lack of pigment. Dry eye symptoms can be managed, but photophobia is often permanent.
How I cured my light sensitivity?
Photophobia, also known as light sensitivity, is a common symptom associated with various conditions, including migraines and corneal abrasion. It is a common symptom that causes eyes to hurt from bright lights, causing discomfort and discomfort. To manage this condition, it is important to stay out of sunlight, keep lights dimmed inside, and cover eyes with dark, tinted glasses. Mild cases may cause squinting, while severe cases can cause significant pain when exposed to light.
Can lack of sleep make you hypersensitive?
A lack of sleep can result in heightened pain and stress sensitivity, an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and may be compounded by a browser that does not support cookies or is disabled by an extension.
What deficiency causes light sensitivity?
Light sensitivity can be caused by temporary issues like a scratched cornea, migraine, viral or bacterial infection, or nutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies can affect vitamin B2, B12, lutein, beta-carotene, and some carotenoids. A tailored treatment plan may include at-home management, eye drops, medication, or a procedure. Prescription glasses may improve symptoms, but incorrect ones can increase light sensitivity.
Managing light sensitivity at home involves using parasols, polarized sunglasses, tinted lenses, or a hat. Some people may benefit from rose or red-tinted glasses, but tinted lenses can increase sensitivity in some individuals.
Why am I so sensitive to light when sleeping?
Light sensitivity can be influenced by various factors, including melatonin production, disrupted circadian rhythms, and sleep patterns. The dark adaptation process is also crucial, as our eyes and brain become accustomed to prolonged exposure to darkness, triggering painful responses. Many with light sensitivity seek solace in darkened rooms. Polar day season can be particularly harsh due to the strong density of sunlight. Artificial blue light, from computer screens or digital devices, can negatively affect sleep, alertness, and concentration the next day.
Chronic neurological dysfunction can make light-induced pain worse. Research has shown that screen time is associated with a greater risk for migraines and other symptoms. Bright device lighting in a dark environment can lead to straining of the eyes, making us more sensitive to light and more prone to painful smartphone-triggered headaches. Overall, the effects of light sensitivity can be exacerbated by exposure to artificial blue light, which can negatively impact our overall health.
What triggers light sensitivity?
Light sensitivity is an intolerance to light that causes discomfort or pain, often resulting from bright light sources like sunlight or artificial light. It can be a symptom of eye conditions, migraines, or bacterial infections like meningitis. It can also be a temporary response after eye procedures or surgeries. Common eye conditions include blepharitis, cataract, cornea transplantation, glaucoma, Graves’ disease, herpes, keratitis, keratoconus, migraines, multifocal lens implants, nystagmus, pediatric cataract, photorefractive keratectomy, retinitis pigmentosa, shingles, and uveitis.
Can sleep deprivation cause light sensitivity?
Sleep deprivation can cause eye twitches, spasms, increased light sensitivity, and blurry vision. Over time, sleep deprivation can lead to serious eye problems like glaucoma. Sleep apnea is a risk factor for glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause vision loss. Individuals with sleep apnea have a higher likelihood of developing glaucoma. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize sleep and manage sleep apnea.
Why am I suddenly sensitive to light at night?
Light sensitivity can occur suddenly due to various factors, including changes in lighting conditions, migraines, eye dilation, head trauma, eye injury, infection, retinal detachment, or prescription side effects. Changes in lighting conditions, such as removing sunglasses or forgetting to wear sunglasses during a sunny day, can cause sudden light sensitivity. These situational types of light sensitivity are temporary and not a cause for concern. If the problem worsens, it may be time for an eye exam. It is important to recognize that these situations are normal and not a cause for concern.
Can anxiety cause light sensitivity?
Stress and anxiety can cause photophobia, resulting in dilated pupils and increased risk of eye conditions like blurry vision and tunnel vision. A tailored treatment plan may include at-home management, eye drops, medication, or a procedure. Prescription glasses may improve symptoms, but incorrect ones can increase light sensitivity. Managing photophobia at home involves using parasols, polarized sunglasses, tinted lenses, or hats. Rose or red-tinted glasses may also be beneficial, but tinted lenses can increase light sensitivity in some individuals.
Why am I suddenly photosensitive?
Photosensitivity refers to heightened skin sensitivity or unusual reactions when exposed to UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds. It can be caused by prescription or over-the-counter medications, medical conditions, genetic disorders, or certain skin care products. There are two types of photosensitivity reactions: photoallergic and phototoxic. Photoallergic reactions occur when a drug is activated by UV light, causing damage to the skin like sunburn or rash.
They can also be triggered by certain ingredients in skin care products. Phototoxic reactions occur within minutes or hours of exposure and are usually limited to the exposed skin. Photoallergic reactions occur when UV rays interact with ingredients in medicines or products applied directly to the skin, causing the body’s immune system to recognize changes as a foreign threat. Photoallergic reactions can result in rash, blisters, red bumps, or oozing lesions one to three days after application and exposure to the sun.
📹 Living with Dry Eyes (what has helped me)
Here I share my personal experience living with dry eyes and what dry eye treatments have worked for me. If you are struggling …
Blue eyes here and always been light sensitive. I did not realize it was a lifelong disorder until I was scanning old photos for mom and dad. One thing that I always noticed was I was always shielding my eyes. I like a dark house but my wife likes a bright house. I just deal. I wear sunglasses when I can and almost always wear a hat. Yes, fluorescent lights do cause me headaches. I was able to counter that effect at work by either putting an incandescent light on my desk or sitting next to a window.
This article is a game changer, I have been looking for the best way to increase my income and start up my retirement, but I really do not know much about investments and trading stocks. I keep postponing every single day that passes, but I want to begin now. How should I start? What do I need to know?
I have worn sunglasses year round for about 20 years since living in New Zealand where the sun was super powerful. I got into the habit of wearing them and kept doing it even though I now live in Shetland! I love the fact that you mentioned the connection between vision and the brain/CNS. This is affirming for me as you said what I believe to be true and yet my optometrist told me I was wrong and there is no link. A great article. Thank you 🙏
One thing I realized perusal this article: it takes a photophobic to understand a photophobic’s struggles with sunlight. This is the first time I feel someone knows how it feels in bright sunlight. And yes, during eye exams my eyes often start shedding tears, I didn’t know that was due to the intense light. I suffer from none of the specific conditions the article mentions… maybe it’s just the high excitability of the relevant part of the nervous system that does it to me. ** Certainly, I need to use displays on my devices with very low contrast and luminosity settings (on the other hand, no need to do that on your TV if you use it to enjoy a motion picture or want to watch nice photographs, it’s instead something you ought to do when staring at a screen over long stretches of time). But what changed my life in front of screens was the finding that there are flicker-free screens. I think it’s only LCDs and LED screens can’t be flicker free so far. The HP Z display series changed my computer life. To use that display many hours a day wears my eyes less than to use an iMac (and by that I mean: every and any non-flicker-free display there is) for half a hour. Also, displays come in different kinds: there’s the kind for graphics (photo editing, movie editing, …), for gaming or movie perusal: these will be bright and harsh on your vision if you use them for many-hour office work or to study on eBooks and the likes. You need a display designed for office work for your eye health if you are going to stare at it several hours a day.
I have Extreme photophobia. I will try the lutein. I’m a migraine suffer for 45 years and I had shingles in my eye 12 years ago, nearly lost my vision. I just got over a 1 1/2 year flareup of mild shingles again after all this time. It has caused cataract surgery and steroids most of the 12 years. I just keep perusal myself go blind. I lived in Dallas area where I got excellent care now I’m in northern Ohio and got an older mediocre doctor. I will have to search for a new one. I wear all the floppy hats, sunglasses and everything else you suggest. I just resigned myself to perusal black-and-white shows or something on TV that I know won’t cause flashes. The new shows are horrible. I get searing pain in my eye when any of those things happen. I can’t go out in the sun much. I can’t even sit by a fan. I also have a Sjogren’s and fibromyalgia. 6 months ago, I even saw neon blue streaks in the bottom outside corner of my eye that lasted a couple months. They’re gone now, but that was another weird thing that has happened to me. Thanks for all your information and articles. Blue eyed.
I am Autistic with a comorbid diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to sound, so I wear maximum sound protection as soon as I leave my house. I am light sensitive but the consequence is not pain as much as “sensory overload.” I wear level 4 sunglasses constatnly outside unless the lighting is very low (heavy overcast or dusk/dawn). To deal with my SPD, I keep my house very low lit. If I need additional light I use low lit “task lighting.” All sound is kept to a minimum. With Autism/SPD, my brain processes (some of) my sesnses differently than the average person. “Sensory Overload” is a common cause of Autistic meltdowns.
Could you make a article about “fungal blepharitis”. I’m suffering of a real difficult case of blepharitis. I’ve been going to an eye doctor for the past 2 years and my dry eye symptoms haven’t improved much. Besides my eyes, I also suffer from severe dandruff and greasy skin (mainly on the forehead and nose). I’ve been told that dandruff is caused by a yeasts, and because of that i think there is a correlation between my blepharitis, greasy skin and dandruff. I would really appreciate it if you would make a article regarding fungal blepharitis.
I am 50 and have suffered from extreme light sensetivity for around 15 years or so. I also have uveitis and am treated for it with humeria injections. I make my own sun glasses with extra lenses glued on top of the original pair. I have never found a pair that are already dark enough. I wear standard sunglasses indoors usually because the LED or florescent lighting hurts too much. My phone stays in Dark mode. I can’t usually look at a computer screen or backlit menu at a restaurant. I would really like to find a pair of sunglasses that are dark enough to save me from fabricating my own. The catch there is that once they’re dark enough for me, they’re too dark to do anything else but be outside. So I usually carry around several different pairs.
I’ve been dealing with extreme and increasing light sensitivity that would cripple me for days at a time. Incredibly painful. I’ve had a few concussions and other health issues. I rarely drink anymore because it made it worse. The VA says the structure looks fine and a neurologist gave me B2, did nothing. I finally started getting some relief after I started taking high doses of B12 and I am going to take that to my neurologist and see if I can get B12 shots since oral absorption is such garbage but is still helping immensely.
I have brown eyes and have extremely sensitive eyes..you’ll always catch me with sunglasses even on a cloudy day 😎 I also hate florescent lights, why do they even exist? I have had a concussion when I was younger. I passed out after hitting my head and woke up a couple hours later. I’m also neurodivergent so all of these reasons seem likely!
Dr Allan. Could you please do a article on Binocular vision dysfunction. I don’t think many people know about this condition and how it can effect people’s lives and the symptoms they get. I think there should be a specialist in ever opticians cos of how easily missed it is. Or how not many optometrists can spot it. 🙏🙏
I realize now why I was always squinting in photos as a little kid. My mom would have us face the Sun for light and of course I would just squish my face up because it was too bright. My eyes are very light blue, like a light gray-blue. I really appreciate Transitions XTRActive lenses because they’ll adapt and give me some tint in the house when its bright in the room or when I’m out and about and it’s in a bright location. I also have several pairs of glasses with 20% tint that I like to wear, especially if I’m going to the dentist or the doctor or someplace where I’m going to be inside but I don’t want clear glasses because I know it’ll be bright but artificial light so it won’t turn on the Transitions XTRActive photosensitivity. Prefer my lenses be dark when outside. Yes this is what caused me to be a 🙁 kid in all the photos. Squinting to shield my eyes from the sun. I also squint into headlights. Driving at night has gotten more difficult over the years.
I’m a welder of 12 years. I started my career very young and it’s all I know. I buy a pair of 300$ Oakleys every 4 months. I have severe photophobia. It’s funny because I live in place that has very little sun, mostly overcast. I get the weirdest looks when I roll in with shades and it’s practically dark outside.
Thank you again for discussing the subject of photophobia and migraines. I’ve had it since my 20s’ but been treated as if it’s all in my head (so to speak) and been told to get psychiatric treatment. I have light brown eyes, but most of my family has dark brown. Avoiding sunlight, wearing dark glasses, using wide-brimmed hats (or using an umbrella) works, but the supplements sound like a good idea, too. Thank you again for your help!
For me, i feel pain when i’m for example in building with very bright artifical lights, not only in my eyes but the pain also goes to my neck and shoulder and basically my nerve systems goes into stress-mode. Maybe it could be the (blue) light wavelenghts? Do other people experience something like this?
I have hazel eyes and have started suffering with significant photophobia since suffering with Long Covid. Your comments on autism and concussion resonate with other things I’ve read which have similar symptoms to my long Covid. Low sunlight coming through a window, flashing sunlight when driving through trees, I almost need to stop driving sometimes. I struggle with sunglasses as the contrast with light coming around edges is unbearable for me. I prefer to wear a hat to keep sun out of my eyes.
Great content as always — brown eyes here & light sensitive (especially in one eye) since birth (literally — there is a photo taken of my wrinkled face immediately after birth where I’m squinting in the exact way I still do). Very dark sunglasses for me are a godsend, otherwise I have to close my eyes about 90% to navigate being in sunlight — I often wear them on cloudy days as well as I’m otherwise squinting. Appreciate your posts very much ❤
I am an identical triplet. I have glaucoma. I had recent cataract surgery. I have dry eye that it is causing me much distress. I am seeing spiral lights, streaks of light and flickering light in my left eye.i had an optometrist exam my eyes today.She said she couldn’t see where the problems with light are coming from. She found nothing wrong with any retina issues, wouldn’t discuss dry eye or cataract surgery making my problem with light sensitivity any worse. Getting very discouraged. My triplet sisters have had either an issue with glaucoma or cataract surgery but no real complaints. We are identical so I guess my problems are not genetic in nature but still leave me with the burning question “Why me?” My eyes burn, the light reflections are terrible and no one can tell me why.Yes I have blue eyes but so do my identical triplet sisters…this is a miserable way to live…crying produces tears to help moisten my eyes but that’s about it. The eye drop, compresses and eye wash only help for a little while. Don you have any answers for me?
I have blue/green eyes and have insane photophobia. Also nystagmus, retina dysplasia, hyperopia and myopia. I get migraines but more lsd like daylight hallucinations. So while lenses can half give more than 3 inch focus, but it moves about and ghosts thank to the dancy eyes… Thanks for this but I might be too far feckered 😂
I have very light green eyes and I hate lights 😣, I’ve got my super dark black sunglasses for most of the day and my much lighter sunglasses for late in the afternoon to shield the sun light. It’s ridiculous, being outside without sunglasses for too long, my eyes will literally force themselves shut
I have severe migraines and yes avoiding fluorescent light and bright LED lights etc., has grown over the years. This means no grocery stores, most brick & mortar stores, post offices, classrooms, most churches, most places of business – doctor and dentist offices, banks, many restaurants, and big box stores. Then there are bright flashy migraine triggering lights at movies, concerts and theater performances. LED lighting also limits night driving (oncoming headlights) as well as super brightly lit nighttime sports events, and being under city street lamps streets at night. I can be outside early morning and late afternoon but bright overhead sunlight, sometimes ever with dark glass is often painful. Sigh, our world is not for people with photophobia.
I have severe photophobia, and I’m also on the autism spectrum. I suspect it’s a problem with the CNS. I remember when I was in university I had to sit under fluorescent light several hours a day. I would get a painful throbbing sensation in my eyes and sometimes it would feel more like a stabbing sensation. The pain would spread to the back of my head which would also start throbbing. Over the years I’ve tried lots of different tinted lenses. I currently have two different sunglasses that fit over my eyeglasses. One is light plum which I wear indoors. The other is a very dark plum which I wear outside. Recently I tried some Maui Jim sunglasses with rose lenses that felt so comfortable to my eyes. I’m waiting to get them in the mail. I’m always looking for a more comfortable solution.
I have had light sensitivity all my life. 10 years ago I went to England during their winter and enjoyed not been so sensitive during the day, probably because it was winter. However when I came home to Australia, as always, I felt pain even with sunglasses on. ( I have blue, green eyes) I struggle in artificial light just as much. interesting about these supplements you mentioned, i would like to chat to my optometrist about that.
Did you do a article yet for car light glares at night? What should I wear cause it does bother my eyes and head at night when I drive? I have no clue about the polarized or AR or other additions to my glasses. I’ve never tried those additions. My doc said I have a slight astigmatism. I have myopia since the early 2000s.
I got blue eyes and live in Norway. Too much sunlight will over a period of 30min+ will start to give me a headached. But I have also noticed 3 interesting things about my eyes; 1, My eyes will glow under uv-light, to the point where people notice it. 2, Led diodes with a light blue color is just annoying. But the darker blue led diodes puts a strain on my eyes to the point where it get’s mildly painful to watch. 3, 50mg of Sildenafil can give me a tinted blue vision, if my body absorbs it rapidly.
I have albinism and it’s always been my biggest struggle. I have very poor vision but that does not bother me as much as my photophobia. I can’t open my eyes outside unless it’s dusk. I wear contact lenses with opaque irises and tinted pupil and the high category sunglasses you can’t drive in and I still struggle! Photophobia sucks! I wear my sunglasses inside because I struggle so much!
I’m 66 years old and have green eyes. My light sensitivity seems to be getting worse as I get older. Stepping outside never bothered me before, but does now. Driving at night was horrible, but now driving during the day is just as bad. The sun and the sun bouncing off of cars is blinding. I tried yellow glasses for nighttime driving, to no avail. Looking forward to your article on different lens types. Will definitely try Lutein.
Fantastic thank you for this ! Started to really struggle in natural light and work lighting /home lighting recently. I get migraines but also have photosensitive epilepsy and now in my 40’s im struggling with lights and my glasses,with your help on this i think im definitely investing in some tinted lenses .
I have been seeing ghost images in both eyes since aroubd 3 weeks.The best way to describe it is seeing faint extra images coming from the top of whatever i am looking at, which is something lighter than its surroundings( like a street light at night or subtitles in movie). Imagine the letter “A” with a white font, on a screen on a black background, I would see faint copies of this letter above it.This happens with anything that is bright in darker background ( a black letter A in a white background would be fine). I observed that When i see through pinhole through a card, the double vision goes away. And while sleeping down and looking at a top angle from my glasses, the double vision goes away. Recently i got checked, and retina was checked and doc confirmed there is no problem can u tell what is the cause??
Light blue eyes and I wear sunglasses even on overcast days. I highly recommend that people use the blue light filter that most screened electronic devices have pre-installed. That has helped imensly with the discomfort of looking at a computer, tv, or smart phone screen in addition to what you said about turning down the brihhtness level.
Hey, I’ve been trying to diagnose myself, kinda, I’ve been to an eye doctor before, one of the best in my country, my aunt, she’s a optician, she helped me a lil aswell, but at the end of the day, I’ve had my “normal” doctor give me eye drops, the eye doctor I visited gave me eye drops as well, he was the first to tell me I had photophobia but not rly the cause of it, so I’ve searched online and in researches about the topic, and I don’t have any symptoms related to headaches nor “unhealthy” issues, pretty healthy if I had to say, When I’m in the computer my eyes start to itch so I tend to blink a lot, then it becomes rly uncomfortable for me to keep them open or look at the exact place for more than 5 secs, if I keep going after this they start to get red, in this conditions I have to sleep 10 hours just to not be uncomfortable in the morning, the “only” options left, that I know off, are dry eye, wrong refraction/convergence/divergence, If I had something wrong regarding the latter the eye doctor would’ve told me right ? So the last option would be dry eye? Is it possible just to have like photophobia without any “issues” before hand ?
Thank you for this article. It was very helpful to better understand what I have been struggling with. I struggle with high levels of chronic stress. I also hyper focus and worry about my eyes….. A LOT. I have a constant fear that something is going to happen to my eyes. I have had dozens of eye exams and every one of them says that my eyes are healthy. I do have eye floaters and wear corrective lenses. I remember a article where you talked about the affects of stress on our eyes, also a very helpful article. I just wish I could, once and for all, determine if something really is wrong with my eyes or if I am just too focused on every little thing
Hi. I have light hazel eyes. I also have Fibromyalgia and migraines. I have been light sensitive all my life. I believe I made it worse by working night shift for thirty years. Now I wear transition lenses that darken very quickly with light exposure. I still have to wear sunglass clipons when I drive.
I, like you, have very blue eyes and I really struggle in sunlight or even with a cloudy sky. My eyes water and I get intense pain in them. I have been told by an ophthalmologist here in UK that it will be due to the colour. I think that there is something in that thought as my darker eyed friends don’t seem to struggle at all. Me, I’m always in sunglasses! 😎
I see brief colored flashing lights over your right shoulder out in the entryway. I rewound and it was there every time. Is it really there? I guess it was apparent during the first 5 minutes. I get sensitivity to my phone at night or when I first turn it on in the morning the lights at the top row have formed into a lighted square that goes up. My watch does the same glare thing I turn on the light to see what time it is and the green illumination rises upward until I turn it off. I don’t know whether to go to the eye doctor or ER. Seems like reflective glare gone wild. Maybe you have mini blinds and it’s just the light streaming through at times? My eyes are so sensitive even the light from my radio bothers me at night and I think I have a fear of another sleep paralysis episode Blue eyes in Mora 👀
Brilliant content, I never really thought that I could have this but yeah its more apparent to me now. Whenever I am in bright conditions and I try and concentrate on something I am doing at arms length I get a vignette effect in my eyes, could this be due to this as well? goes away when I go back to looking at things a bit further or if I stop what I am doing
🙏 Thank you to Dr. Allen for sharing this article! I have severe dry eyes and severe senstitivity to light, and I’ve tried lots of traitements from Omega supplements and artificial tears to ointments, moisture chamber glasses, and warm compresses, but nothing helps However, I found something strange that makes me feel better. After I eat a big meal, my eyes suddenly feel great, they’re healthier, stronger, and more lubricated, It’s like a temporary relief (30 min), the difference is so significant that I can’t help but wonder if there’s a deeper connection between my digestion and my eye health. Wondering if others have felt this too or if there’s an explanation. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dr. Allen!
Bright lights have always ‘tired’ my eyes, I end up squinting. Photochromatic glasses help to remove the most brightness and to reduce the sudden changes in light intensity. But tired muscles still would catch me out. Salbutamol has made a vast difference. Reducing muscle strain and allowing my eyes to work without exhaustion.
I’m 65, and this is the first time I’ve heard of this. I have blue eyes. And I’ve had kinda extreme light sensitivity as far back as I can remember (at least age 6). I squint when it’s cloudy out (maybe not when it’s really really dark clouds). Always have. I’ve worn sunglasses since I was at least 6. Snow on a sunny day is just the worst. No pain though. If I’m driving or sitting by a window, and it’s bright out, my eye closest to the light source will sometimes tear. About 20 years ago, I started getting ocular migraines (according to my optometrist, but it may be the other one that is like that – I just can’t remember the name). Luckily no headache – just the blurry vision in one eye and pulsating zig zag rainbow lines. It’s not exactly random as I know what triggers it. It’s triggered by extremely bright light (sometimes) and bright blue light (like from an LED) if my pupils are dilated because it’s night. Just recently, it’s gotten a bit worse so I have to close the blinds behind the TV when the sun is shining in. When I was a kid, I had none of the health issues that you spoke of. At least, none that I could be aware of. The only one possibility was having a metal fan drop on my head when I was 2. Sooo… undiagnosed concussion maybe?? Blue blockers are amazing. Whenever I wear them, it instantly feels like a cool compress across my eyes, and I don’t squint at all. So clearly, the culprit is blue light. Interesting side note. I have a friend with light blue eyes and she rarely wears sunglasses.
I have I have hazel blue eyes and have been sensitive to light as long as I can remember. Headaches have plagued me a the tips you give to help is exactly what I do except the supplement, I didn’t know about that supplement and will give it a try. During your article you have a list of medication and I use to take Haldol as a child but hated it because I didn’t want to do anything while taking it but now wondering if that could have started this!?! I have also had a Choroidal Melanoma in the right eye (malignant neoplasm of the iris/ciliary body) that is now dead.
So my vision was pretty good until about 2017-ish where my eyes are sensitive to sunlight (probably because of me looking at screens for so long almost every day), now I feel like my photophobia along with my eyesight has gotten worse, especially with my non-domonant eye, it’s very blurry, my domonant eye is not blurry, but it can’t see very far, recently, I had to wear sunglasses inside a church for almost the whole time I was inside (Sunglasses that are not prescribed to me). There is this coroslone white dot thing that while is permanent according from an eye doctor I last visited, it can be shrunken down, but it grows slowly over time after it would be shrunken. I asked my mother about eating carrots, she said it would not help out that much, what would you think would help with all of this? Because this is seriously concerning me and I don’t want to lose my vision or be sensitive to sunlight indoors.
Maybe you could help me out. Up until this past Sunday I was never sensitive to light. Now I’m very sensitive to light all of a sudden. My right eye feels like there’s something in it but there isn’t and it’s red now. It’s been red for the past two days. Now every time I drive and it’s gets a little bright out both my eyes start watering and even with sunglasses my eyes start watering. Any tips please
I found this informative. I’ve had extremely light sensitivity for long time. I’m a severe migraine sufferer. But TV and movies trigger migraine…i think. I like perusal star trek. And Dr if you have heard of the Borg. There flicking light’s in the cube triggers of migraine. Because I like star trek I get my brother to tell me when it’s stopped as I turn away. But I still get migraine. What’s causing this. ? I even find shopping centres to hard to walk in. I don’t want medical tests because I’m too scared. I’ve had a few concussions one particular one a sauspan hit the side of the head. I didn’t loose conciousnesbut since then I get sharp pain where the blow to the head got me. That was about 3 years ago. I’m scared I have a brain tumour. Serious.
I have blurry vision to seeing distant objects. The doctor gave me -2.0 power glasses. I have to use my computer and mobile phone most of the day for my profession. Since I don’t have trouble seeing near things, should I use -2.0 power glasses when using a mobile device or computer, or only if I need to see far away ? Please reply 🙌🙌❤️❤️
I’m one of those who cringes away from the bright lights at all my eye doctors offices, my retinal and cornea specialists will sometimes turn the light down if they can. Flourcent lights are the worst for me. The winters here in canada are usually my worst months, because of the snow. My room has to be dark at all times. I have the FL41 for my lenses in my glasses. All my devices are all dimmed to a level that i can handle.
I laugh but I know it is not funny to them. Both my husband and my two boys, all with blue eyes, sneeze when they go outside in the sun. What causes this? Also, I have dry eyes and had an acoustic Neuroma removed on my left side. When I go into bright light, I have trouble with balance. I am sure it is because my trimengal nerve was cut on that side. But it is still so unnerving!!
i have had light sensitivity as long a i can remember i just found out my local options does multiple tints for this the next time i am in i think i will enquire about this as i am using sunglasses more indoors. i am autistic but i do suffer from migraines to the pint at times i lose miy sight mainly in my left eye only for about 10 minuets or so but i notice when wear dark tinted sunglasses outside number migraines i have significantly reduce and the frequency of them do as well. i also noticed my dry eye flairs up more with bright light but i found dietary change helps with that as well when it comes to dry eye its not diapered but its not as bad.
Severe flourescent light sensitivity causes me instant nausea, loose balance & fall. Deep blue lenses (TheraSpecs) and wide brim hat has only helped me 85% so far. Most eye doctors have no clue why we suffer. More studies needed. Only fluorescent lights in Iowa severely bother me. I travel Pacific to Atlantic states.
Oh wow! Dr Eye Health, I think you and I need to have a talk! Ooooh I know the pain you mean, yes, I did the one eye closed as a kid. I remember not being able to stand the slit lamp one examination so the optician got impatient and decided I was nervous and should have an mri. Mmm, my left eye is more sensitive and rolls upwards and out (but much better these days). OK, so I have dry eyes, am longsighted, have strabismus and binocular vision issues, have light coloured blue eyes. I talk about this stuff on my website, maybe have a look. I have dyspraxia which is somewhere on the spectrum. I know this is going to sound weird but daylight bulbs were actually the best for me – the yellow ones and the strip-lighting especially were just awful. I find green glasses are useful for me – interesting. Hmm lutein…. OK…
I have extreme photophobia/ PTSD and I wear blue light and greenlight blockers/ glasses ranging from yellow to dark reds (amber). I feel blind without them and everything is always too bright. I also use red lightbulbs in specific areas of my home. I have 22×21 vision and it’s so extreme 😅 the Dr’s diagnose me w SPD touch sound and sight and I wear earplugs/ earmuffs all the time. But not autistic +
If I dim my screen I can’t see what I am looking at. I can see pure bright LED lit screens in the background which is the major cause of photophobia and is the cause of my eye issues not to mention the fact that USA has banned indecent lights. Also I see nothing but observers that don’t understand LED light damage which actually causes photophobia. It causes blurred vision, macular degeneration, and vicious light sensitivity. They should ban LED (light emitting diodes) because of the fact that they emit harmful blue light which humans are very sensitive to but I don’t “see” that ever happening because we eat tainted poison food and will not outlaw the chemicals like at least 30 other countries have. Same with LED which means it’s not a mistake, it is part of the plan. Wake up America.
I have green eyes, and I have had chronic migraines for more than 25 years. I have been having photophobia for 5 years and am looking for glasses that can help me be in the classrooms with all those fluorescent lights. I found ones with a triple rose tint. It helped me at the beginning, but now it is a huge trigger for my migraines. Avulux glasses and other brands are very expensive for prescription glasses. Is there another recommendation? By the way, I just ordered the Luthein; thank you for your article.
Serious question: does anybody feel light sensitivity on the SKIN as well? It feels like not only my eyes but also my whole skin “processes” light. It doesn’t get burned anymore often than other people with similar skin color, nor do I get patches or other weird reactions to light, but I strongly feel as if I’m absorbing light and it fcking DRAINS ME. Sunlight is the worst. I don’t know if it’s just somatization derived from eye photosensitivity + uncomfortable sensations related to heat and sweat, but it certainly is a strong sensation.
Have you ever known the cause of horrible light sensitivity connected to a vestibular issue? I have a list of symptoms but none worse than my light sensitivity, because it’s 24/7. It’s constantly fluctuating between a 2 to a 9 on a 1-10 scale. It used to just be fluorescent lighting, but now it’s any light..I get extreme pain. Dizziness, nausea especially if i look at my phone. Sometimes I can be on my phone in the evenings for hours. Or other times it lets me know within seconds. I literally have to stop looking at it or it can set me back days.. I also suffer from Dizziness, nausea, eye pain and Heat flashes that make my face feel like a thousand degrees. I’ve been told so many times there’s nothing I can do about it because at the vestibular issue. The past year, everything’s been completely manageable. But about a week ago, it all came back with a vengeance. There’s gotta be something I can do. I also notice looking up or bending over can trigger this.
Transitions are good but work too slow when first going outside. I could wear sunglasses but then have to switch back and forth. Dark sunglasses indoors give off a bad vibe and make people uncomfortable. I will purposely take them off for a second so cashier can see my eyes. Good for aggressive dogs too. I have windows tinted in car including front windshield at 70%. High grade ceramic with good UV rating. Had Melanoma 2x and my skin sensativity is just as bad! Get up early to do things and retreat indoors or shade for miday. Then go out later in day. Causes a lot of complications with job and social life so I am recluse.
Vitimin a deficiency and b 2,. b 1′., Lutein, zeaxanthin.,omega threes . Carnatine . All nutrtients your eyes and brain need .all help me . Also your eyes need cholesterol.Ivhave no cataracts but not enough good fatts . Collegian . The new light balbs s are awfull power down on whatage . Candles help too .inferred lights help . Thankyou for the info .
I have dry, light sensitive eyes from sjogrens. Last couple of years every time I go to the beach my eyes hurt so much and I suffer for next couple of days even though wearing sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat and sitting under an umbrella. Anything else I can do to help prevent this? Beach trip is rapidly approaching. 😬
Man Im Irish and got bullied for squinting all the time in bright lights…my eyes are true blue…what was the evolution of that? Sometimes before I could afford sunglasses, it was so embarrassing. as I type right now I am wearing sunglasses. 20 20 vision by the way…I can see better in the dark than the light. I’m genuinely interested.
Thanks for the general information…but you don’t really provide specific information about anything. This article is just a general overview of different ways people experience photo phobia but will help nobody because, whatever you say is conditional, ‘not enough research’ etc. So, covering all different scenarios in one article helps nobody, just increases the count of views. My photo phobia will not change after this article, nor will I have a better understanding what to do about it. Instead of helping, YT websites like this are using the fact that a number of people experience this issue so they can count on a lot of views. All Doctors are the same – money, money, money…
I have light blue eyes and I have SERIOUSLY light sensitivity. Sun or artificial. I can’t go without sunglasses, even when it’s overcast. My husband hates it cause I like to keep our house on the darker side. My kids who are fair eyed are also very light sensitive. Driving at night is hard too because of the bright headlights, and worse if its raining at night because then the lights bounce off of the wet pavement. Its awful some times.
Started having eye irritation in my early 20’s. Often start with one eye first and then go to the other. Would seem to happen most frequently when I was outdoors and driving in bright sunlight, and only in the spring time on a couple of occasions. It would be so bad, that my eyes would water and shut closed. Scary when driving as I’ve had to pull off to the side of the road. Usually within 15 minutes I could drive again. Seemed to only be a problem for a month and then I wouldn’t have any issue. Thought that I may have been having allergic reactions to pollen. Now I’m thinking photophobia. Have blue eyes.
My eyes are green hazel. I have had this forever. It is very painful. An eye doctor first noted in when I was a teenager. Much worse during migraines. Dimming screens is a must for me. Blue light blocking lenses help a lot. And amber polarizing sunglasses. Both were recommended by my eye doctor. My son and I also are taking AREDS 2 as there is a strong history of macular degeneration and my son already is showing early signs.
Had cataract surgery in both eyes around the age of 50. I have light sensitivity. But I have both marfan syndrome and autism. I had cataract surgery on my left eye in 2022 but it is still bright and my eye doctor doesn’t act like he cares. 2024 for the right eye but I am on two steroids eye drops. Because my right eye is swollen. I will get the blue light lenses
Ah this is so annoying, my ex always wanted bright light and it hurt my eyes so bad. At work I was wearing sunglasses. If I do not protect my eyes against especially bright artificial light I get a bad migraine. I remember at school I could not sit in class for more than half an hour without getting a migraine from the light. I have worked from home since 15 years and way less trouble. I figured it was because I have a light eye color. My eyes are light greenblue.
Thankful I found out that methylphenidate is likely making what was already a fairly strong light sensitivity even worse. I see that doctor tomorrow, but I’m also learning that there may not be another option that doesn’t cause the same issue. Hopefully the doctor has an idea or I’m going to have to invest in some serious shades. I’ve had to pull over three times in the last week alone, and it was just four weeks ago that my dose was increased. It’s helping the ADHD tremendously but this pain is seriously dangerous for me and I have to drive back and forth for my daughter’s schooling 5 days a week.
help! I was wearing my contacts when I realized I was blinking unnaturally, not my usual blink. I went to an opthalmogist. She said that it was dry eye and to start using hylo 40. I started to use it every day, but I then found my eyes wanted to close every now and again. I went back to her and she put me on ikervis eye drops cyclosporine, 1mg/ ml. I find that I can not stand flourescent lights in the shops. She said that I have very bright blue eyes, close to abino. I am 59 yrs old and have astigmatism. I can not uderstand why my eyes want to close, even when I am walking I can bump into people in the street. This is so embarrassing and I do not like to face people because I could start blinking uncontrollably.
I’m currently very sick due to my photophobia and I really wanted to know more as to why and how. Given, I live and am born in an island in the middle of the earth’s equator and the weather is majority hot and sunny. I do not have light colored eyes but rather really dark brown because I’ve been basically growing up stuck indoors.
I have fibromyalgia and extreme photophobia that developed about 5 months ago. If I’m exposed to bright light, I will start to shut down. My brain stops working, I can actually feel my eyes going up and out while I lose function of my body and literally feel like I’m dying with no way to ask for help because I can’t speak. Anyway, I bought FL-41 glasses (for migraines) and they changed my life. I highly recommend everyone to give it a shot if other things don’t work, I do wear them all day until the sun starts going down and I can switch to my regular glasses. Oh and I have blue/green eyes!
Thank you for mentioning brain issue….I had a stroke 5 years ago and still I suffer on an over cast day. My eyes will make my head feel like I’m suffering from a hangover. A rose lens will feel like a cool cloth on my brain but that’s all I can do. I have not been able to get help from any doctor. They just look at the floor and say hmmmmmm🤔
My son, 45 after a head injury now is supersensitive to flashing lights like emergency vehicles and sound like sirens, his face does a reaction his mouth purses like a fish mouth. I’m wondering if its a nutrient deficiency, he has lived on the junk food diet and excessive amounts of pop daily, since being diagnosed with diabetes a few months ago he eats a little better and off the pop.
Photophobia sufferer here. I have blue/gray/green eyes depending on the lighting or what I’m wearing and I also have migraines. I’m also adhd, which is on the autism spectrum. I’ve talked to my eye Dr about my photosensitivity and she said another culprit could be that my pupils are larger than average (but not larger than normal) and my optic nerve opening is larger than average (but not larger than normal – though she’s monitoring it for future concerns. I believe she said it’s a higher risk for glaucauma). I also get severe flicker vertigo at just the bare minimum of flickering/flashing lights (even just a ceiling fan!) and severe motion sickness (not just in the car but even when I’m the one driving) AND driving at night is a nightmare. I come home nauseous and with eye pain and often also with a migraine. It’s a struggle for real 😂 I also have a slight astigmatism and when I’m not wearing my glasses all of this is markedly worse. Actually, the reason I first got my eyes tested when I was in 3rd grade was because simply sitting and reading a book made me extremely nauseous. Oh I forgot – I also have visual snow. So all of this may be more related to the way my brain interprets visual stimuli. 🤷♀️ Anyway Currently I’ve been wearing fl-42 50% glasses all the time, even at night. It’s helped SO much. And I’m aware of sunglasses reducing your light tolerance because I dealt with that several years ago and now that I think about it I need to research whether or not the fl-41 tinted lenses have been known to cause the same – but they are marketed to wear indoors and outdoors so hopefully not.
We have fluorescent lights at work and the ventilation is poor. The two together cause my eyes to burn and tear and cause killer sinus migraines. When I work from home I have no burning, nasal congestion, or headache. I’ve thought of wearing a hat to deflect the bright fluorescent light. It makes it so hard to focus and feel alert.
Happened to me after cataract surgery!! Light colored eyes here. Suffered major migraines for years .… then one day they stopped. Started getting stabbing eye pain in one eye and got diagnosed with narrow angle glaucoma to which I got laser holes in my eyes. Now I have macular degeneration that they check on every 6 months to make sure it’s not changing from dry to wet …I’m taking the eye vitamins,wearing the tinted lenses for severe photophobia but still squinting or looking through one eye or shielding with my hand( people must think I’m weird😵💫)… also I have leukemia but not sure if there’s any connection there🙄
I have brown eyes, and my eyes are sensitive to bright light. This is why I prefer days that are overcast. The sun is too much if I don’t have sunglasses. Also night driving with the headlights of other cars really bothers me. I have to wear sunglasses during the day if it’s bright out. You mentioned migraines, but not Ocular Migraines. This is what I get, and bright light will set it off sometimes. The worst experience was being on the freeway when the sun was behind me. There was a silver semi truck in front of me, and the sun reflected off the back of the truck causing me to get the ocular migraine . I had to get off the freeway until it was gone. They migraine doesn’t cause pain, and they go away usually within a half hour. I’d like to see more about this, and why this happens. It’s more of an annoyance, especially if I’m driving or working at my computer.
Have to say leds are a pain to live, just from the first ones on sale for head lamp on cars and bikes, those flashing ones on bicycles cause me migrains at the moment and those don’t go away for hours, no one cares, no one seems to suffer that, ever since I can’t just drive by night any more which used to be a pleasure 😔 Those have to stop Damm it
I’m 28, I struggled with this my whole life and i never knew anyone else had it. Everyone thinks it’s all in my head. I wear caps whenever I’m indoors at night because the lights give me a headache, i struggle to drive when the sun is infront of me or to my side. I have headaches nearly every day because of light
Great information! That is totally me, I have my hand up in front of me shielding my eyes! I have a lot of trouble transitioning into overly lit environments specifically with overhead lights. I also have to cover any vampire lights on electronics or power strips at night because it feels like too much light with black out curtains in my bed room. I have mostly indirect light in my home the background on my computers is on low and I prefer dark mode. I do have blue eyes but my light sensitivity is a consequence of having spinal meningitis before I was one year old. I have sunglasses and duplicate sunglasses everywhere and back up of backups. There are many times where I just cannot keep my eyes open due to too much brightness. This is especially concerning while walking, exercising and driving.
I have hazel eyes and diagnosed light sensitivy. I have to wear sunglasses anytime I go outside during the daytime. Even at night, I often have to avert my eyes from very bright headlights or highbeams (or even misaligned headlights). I do not get headaches from it, but I do get eye strain and low levels of pain when exposed to bright lights. Even some of the images on your article were uncomforable for me to watch.
I’ve always had to deal with that, and yes I do have bright green eyes (idk if they’re actually green tbh, but sometimes they look blue), uh, what I personally found is that if i’m somewhere dark, like, a theater perusal a movie, if that movie has a car or whatever flashing a white light on screen it’ll absolutely flashbang me for a while, it leaves a weird like, idk how to describe it, ”light scar” that takes a while to go away. It happens when walking at night and cars go by with those bright lights, I have to make a point to not look at roads to avoid it. But the weird part to me is that ”light scar”, its so hard to describe it, it’s like how if you look at a light for a long time and look away that light stays there, blocking your vision, but quickly goes away, except it takes like, half an hour or more to go away, and i can still see it when i close my eyes, its super weird, and honestly, not sure if related to photophobia and when i described it to my eye doctor they didn’t know what the f i was talking about lmao.
Thank you so much for this article, I have a pretty bad case of photophobia and as I age it is getting worse. I had always thought it to be genetic, which you did not comment on so now I wonder if it is possible. But the fact is I am one of 5 siblings that all have severe photophobia. Our eye color varies, 2 girls have brown eyes, another girl has blue eyes, a boy has hazel eyes, and I have green eyes. We are all very light sensitive but I think I have it the worst. I am in agony during annual eye exams after dilation. Since I had a retinal tear, I must make frequent visits to the retina doctor who has super duper dilation drops and I am nearly stunned by the light. It is a private hell. You can only imagine what the surgery was like for me. I appreciate the reference to special glasses for the light sensitive and I will definitely look into it. BTW, for some reason light at high altitudes seems much brighter to me and I cannot look at anything white.
I do have blue eyes and I have had migraine headaches with severe photo-sensitivity since I was in my teens and all through my life. That said, I have NEVER been able to tolerate lights on in my peripheral vision for any length of time. I tend to use in direct light (light that bounces off the ceiling or have a lamp behind me or out of my field of view. When driving at night, I use peripheral vision by looking toward the opposite direction of the oncoming car until they pass. The light causes me pain in the back of my eyes. Thank you for your suggestions!!
I get miserable migraines that last for days, particularly when stressed. I’m very sensitive to light and avoid blue light as that triggers migraines, same with fluorescent lights. I have red (yes red like red red) lights indoors. They’re on day night. I use light when I need to and it’s a warm white light. Grey Sunglasses make me depressed so I use amber/brown sunglass outdoors. Also the grey tints tend to set off my migraines. My screen is set So low that when I use someone else’s phone or PC for anything I actually start to squint and need to adjust it and then if I forget to set it back they can’t see the screen and I have to fix it for them. Which makes me think my eye just takes in more light than theirs. Because I can easily see the screen that dim. My biggest nightmare is the cars with the entire roof being glass as you just can’t use the visor to lessen the light coming in. If plants want to survive in my house they have to be on the porch. House is too dark. I don’t use overhead lights either, it’s all lamps. 🤷♀
I got light sensitivity to led lights when I started working from home during lockdown and I didn’t know how to turn down the laptop brightness 😅 I’ve had my eyes checked nothing wrong with them so it’s got to be neurological or CNS issue. I take amitriptyline medication and it helps me manage light better but I’m still certainly not great and not 100% back to normal. I do have that problem before getting a headache my eyes would go up and out.
I live somewhere that is clouded over most of the year, so i thought that was what caused this. It was weird though, because it would just happen randomly. I would get in my car to go somewhere and then literally have to pull off to the side to be safe, because i literally could not open my eyes. And it hurt so bad. I haven’t had it hit me in many years and i don’t remember any problems growing up. Glad to know it’s actually a thing and not me being a hypochondriac.😂
I have blue eyes too and have the same problem. I also have eye migraines sometimes, and usually feel mentally stressed out after being outside in bright light. In kid’s photos of myself, on holidays, I am always squinting my eyes when outisde. I have been diagnosed with ASD as well, allthough I do not see it much as a disorder.
I’m female, 54, have light sensitivity and blue eyes. I typically wear a wide brim visor or hat, always outside and very often inside especially if fluorescent light is present. I have fibromyalgia plus other pain syndromes. Diagnosed autism spectrum disorder in my 40s. I also have some photodermatitis. Recent labs show at least one autoimmune disease.
When I was about 20 I realised that going outside on a bright day triggered a migraine, so I began wearing sunglasses. I now have the fits-over type that are like goggles with windows on the sides; they also help protect against wind. Recently I saw a webinar by a migraine researcher who said that colour aggravates migraine with the exception of green, which actually soothes a migraine. So now I know why I painted my walls green!
low cycle per sec LED lights are making it worse for many people. Buy the highest refresh rate screens you can. I squint my eyes almost closed in sunlight, but aunglasses make life comfortable. One eye closed is definitely me too. I didnt know we were part shark… Light colored eyes could be seen as a theory based on the same issues that plague the overall medical community: past bias. I have had concussions, and do get migraines. Dehydration, sleep, and sudden bright lights can bother me. I dim lights and my tv for comfort. I swear this whole article is about me 🎶 🎵 im so vain… i probably think this song is about me 🎶
Yes, definitely a sufferer of photopgobia, and have blue eyes. Definitely a chronic squinter if I’m outside without sunglasses. I have never been good at being in photos that are taken outdoors. I can hold a normal relaxed straight face for about one second, after that my face overpowers my best efforts to keep my eyes open and relaxed, and screws itself up into a sqinting and contorted scowl. I also cant help sneezing when looking at bright glarey things. A good example is sneezing when looking up into the sky to see a plane flying over, or looking at white objects that are in full sun. The brightness tickles my nose and i can’t help sneezing at least once or twice. I have very good night vision. I have wondered if my blue eyes helps this, as my brown eyed friends don’t seem to be able to see as well I do in the dark. I also found the autism spectrum connection you mentioned to be interesting. I’m in my forties now, and never really thought I might be on the autism spectrum until a couple of years ago. There are a number of reasons why I suspect I might be, but I’m not exactly sure if i actually am. So I find it interesting when little traits I’ve always had are mentioned as sometimes being linked with autism. Thanks for the articles you post