Streamlining My Home

Some people are so sensitive to light that it makes them literally and physically sick. Such people may develop headaches, pain in the eyes, nausea, dizziness, and even burning sensation in the eyes after getting exposed to some form of light. Some medical conditions increase your risk of experiencing light sensitivity, and they include retinal diseases, dry eye syndrome, albinism, depression, and traumatic brain injury, among others. You are termed as photophobic if you experience light sensitivity under some conditions. Here are a few tips to help you manage your light sensitivity:

Use Indirect Lighting

Some people find that direct light causes them more discomfort than indirect light. If you are such a person, then take measures not to stare at lights directly. For example, you should raise your light fixtures above your eye level so that you don't stare at them directly. Another neat trick is to use recessed lights so that you don't actually see the bulbs.

Avoid Flickering Lights

Flickering lights are more likely to cause you problems than steady lights. Your light bulbs may flicker if your house is getting lower voltage than it usually does, if there is a malfunction in the light circuit or if the fixture itself is damaged. Whatever the cause of the flicker, fixing it may help reduce your light sensitivity.

Reduce Light Intensity

The more intense your lighting is the more they are likely to trigger your photophobic symptoms. Therefore, lowering the intensity of light in your household may also help you cope with the light sensitivity. You can do this by replacing your current bulbs with low-intensity bulbs. You can also use lampshades, visors or dark glasses since they all block some of the light and effectively reduces the sensitivity of the light hitting your eyes. Some people also find that one type of light triggers their symptoms more frequently than others.  In such a case, switching to a different type of light may help. For example, if the common culprit is fluorescent lights, you can change to LED lights.

There are two main ways of dealing with photophobia. First, you need to get help with the underlying health condition, if there is, by consulting a physician. Secondly, you need to remodel the lighting system so that it doesn't trigger your photophobic episodes. Talk to an electrician, like Kunselman Electric, Inc,  to help you install softer lights, steadier lights or directional lights depending on what your problem is so that you can avoid symptoms of photophobia.