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Light sensitivity

mp500

I've always been the sort of person who likes the sunshine. I hate sitting in dimly lit rooms where I can barely perceive shapes, let alone read anything. For this reason I really like my 2x 36W High CRI fluorescent lamps which I have on my ceiling and my bright high CRI LED desk lights.

However, since early 2022 (can't remember exactly), I've had my curtains shut most of the time, which means no daylight in here. I only get daylight when I go outside. Its amazing how this messes with your thoughts. I've thought it was cold and raining outside and I've dressed accordingly to go out, only to find it was hot and sunny. There's been a few occasions when people have telephoned and I've asked them what the weather is like because I can't see. Fortunately, the weather is such a normal topic of conversation in England that no one thought it odd.

The real problem though, is that I've become very sensitive to light. Now, when I go out, I find I am reliant on wearing a cap and often my sunglasses, even in winter. I was walking around Leeds on Saturday - as the clouds started to go, I really couldn't manage with the light and had to put my sunglasses on. I struggle walking across the hallway some days to go to the toilet due to the sun shining through the window.

This is now starting to affect my ability to sleep during the day. Despite having wooden blinds and blackout linings on the curtains, enough light comes through to keep me awake. When I lay there with my eyes closed, I can tell when the clouds come over, because the ambient light in the room changes. I'd have never noticed this in the past. 

Maybe I should start using my 'big' fluorescent lamp again. Most of the time nowadays I just use a more 'cosy' 20W filament lamp, unless I want to read something.

Parents

  • I find it interesting regards light and lighting. I love sunshine and detest grey days, with what photographers would call flat light. Indoors however, I hate it being too bright, especially from the cold light of fluorescent tubes. I much prefer a warmed light in my rooms and nothing directly overhead. In fact I have removed all ceiling mounted lights, and have the main light switch control the lamps around the room. I do concur with darkness for sleep, fortunately I live in the country side with minimal light pollution.

  • in reply to DazeAndConfused

    I need it to be dark for me to sleep properly too.

    I rarely use overhead lights, except in the kitchen and bathroom, I much prefer lamps where I can direct the light where I want  and have softer light too. I find ceiling lights really over bearing, I don't find they give light where you need it either, so you end up using brighter bulbs in an attempt to see.

    I'm finding car headlights increasingly difficult too, so many people don't dip thier beams and dazzle you, many car's are higher off the road than they used to be and although I have a normal car, I find myself blinded, by lights coming up behind me and by how bright they are.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    I was completing an AA driving survey and the brightness of car headlights came up on one of the questions. They seemed to acknowledge that the advent of LED lighting has its issues. I believe that the increase in the number of SUV type vehicles also has an impact if you drive an older style saloon or hatchback as their lights sit much higher above the road.

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  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    I was completing an AA driving survey and the brightness of car headlights came up on one of the questions. They seemed to acknowledge that the advent of LED lighting has its issues. I believe that the increase in the number of SUV type vehicles also has an impact if you drive an older style saloon or hatchback as their lights sit much higher above the road.

Children
  • in reply to DazeAndConfused

    I think the government should regulate how bright car lightbulbs can be, it's dangerous for so many people to be half blinded, I actually close one eye when I see bright lights coming towards me so as I have at least one undazzled eye. All having brighter lights and higher cars does is create a sort of arms race to see who can see the best and blind the most other drivers!