Anyone have a problem with flourescent lighting

[sincitylover]

For a few years now Ive had a problem with bright lights - they make me feel disoriented and not conducive to computer work - also feel the same in sports hall or supermarket.

Ive just moved office and the new office is brightly lit - its causing me no end of problems. Have got tinted glasses and have asked to move near to window.

Also went to gp but she didn't seem to be aware of any medical reason.

It would be great to hear from others who have similar and what it was or what they have done about it.

[lookbutdonttouch]

Yep. Gave me headaches / sometimes migraines and generally woozy and fuzzy.

I am generally known as a little odd though.

In the end I got the chap who knew how to turn off the ones right over my desk so it wasnt right overhead. I got a little desk lamp in case it got gloomy in winter.

Can you ask if you can have that done?

I also hate driving at night becuase of the lights.

[littleducks]

Yes and yes to night driving problems too.

Thankfully i dont work in an office

[crystalglasses]

Yes, I experienced dreadful eye strain problems when i worked in an office with flourescent lighting that was 'on the blink'. I think it's if there is a slight flickering of the light it can even set off epileptic seizures so I'm surprised your GP isn't aware of the problem. Once the strip light had been replaced with a new one I as ok, but I always try to avoid this form of lighting. I would research the effect of flourescent lighting on google to see if there is evdience you could use to show your GP/employer that you have a legitimate health issue.

[sincitylover]

Thanks very much - I am not the only one at work - a couple of others have mentioned this.

I don't think turning off the light is possible (that's what we did in our old office - lights out and desk lamp).

Went in supermarket today ( a more dimly lit one :)) and started to feel weird towards the end.

Thankfully I don't get headaches so lucky there. Don't mind night driving although lights have a tendency to halo, But don't find it intolerable.

Going to ask to be referred to occupational health hope that by doing that I am not offering myself up to be deemed unfit for work or anything like that!

Was referred there once before by my boss for a frozen shoulder (which cleared up in the end).

I am sure its a recognised condition - maybe photophobia or photosensitivity.

Sunlight is not a problem in fact I love it.

[liveinazoo]

migraines here from strip lighting and odd vision.nice to know its not just me!

[LineRunner]

Yes, I get very disorientated in the central library because of the lights. The branch library is fine, with its old fashioned windows and normal light bulbs!

[albertswearingen]

Me too. They make me dizzy and if I'm feeling particularly dizzy anyway (inner ear problems) they make me really disorientated. It is usually bad in large warehouse type shops- some are much worse than others so it must be the frequency of the lights. There was a big Safeway near us that by the end of the second aisle I would literally have to leave and lie down in the car. Took me years to realise it was the lights.
I am very sensitive to strong light.

[hiddenhome]

I can't shop in Tesco stores because their lighting makes me feel weird and anxious and sometimes I can't see properly and everything appears far away and distorted

[gaelicsheep]

Oh wow, that's really interesting. I feel weird every time I go in Tesco - the moment I walk through the door. There have been times I've thought I was going to faint while walking around. It's eased off a little recently but I thought it was some kind of agoraphobia induced panic. Could it really be the lighting?

[bettergetamoveon]

Yes this has happened to me. I was in my early 20's, had never had a migraine and started a temp job in an office with Flourescent strip lights. After 2 days I felt disorientated, then i had my first migraine.

Strangely the weekend after that I could feel the same pain coming on when I entered a bright large shop. It was like this initial strip light had set something off in me,a weakness to this lighting. As this was only a temp job I never had to deal with this problem again and I've never had another migraine, 15 years later. It's horrible though, in my case it was definately the lighting.

[sincitylover]

I know it's horrible but it does make me feel better that I'm not he only one. Tescos is definitely the worst shop for me. By he time I reachthe till I feel totally out of it . Tend to avoid going there too much.

[gaelicsheep]

Sadly Tescos is my only choice of supermarket. We have 4 of them .

[Jellykat]

Another one here who feels dizzy, light headed and brain fogged with strip lighting. DS1 always has too, since he was little he used to call it his 'White feeling' at Primary school.

My DP is an electrician, he says strip lights flash really really fast, i wonder if that has something to do with it?

[QOD]

I've had my bulb popped out.. Oooer mrs

[LineRunner]

Also I sometimes I get an allergic reaction on my hands from holding baskets or trolley handles, and I presume it's if the person before me has had a certain aftershave on their hands.

Sometimes by the time get to the checkout with my jaffa cakes and wine I've got a migraine and all my fingers have swollen up.

I'm telling you, shopping is an extreme sport.

[totallypearshaped]

I get this too - I'm wondering if it's slight autism? Here's an interesting site.

I also get allergic reactions from shaking hands Linerunner - I wear gloves all the time. Metals, and handcremes make my hands go red and itch, so if someone has been using keys, they have a trace of metal on their hands and hey presto, I get a reaction, same for any volatiles - nail varnish etc. I've stopped shaking hands if I don't have gloves on.

[totallypearshaped]

I suppose this is why I wear polarising sun glasses practically all the time.... I've found a hat with a brim is great for shopping in - cuts out the light.
Next I'll be wearing a false beard!

[LineRunner]

Christ we sound mad. Extreme shopping with gloves and beards.

[MoggieThatcher]

It can aggravate lupus, if you have it.

Also it makes your skin look terrible.

[fridakahlo]

I had an ECG done when I was a teenager and they identified that I was sensitive to bright/flashing lights. They just commented on it in an "ohh, thats strange manner."
I'm not epilictic though and very very rarely suffer from migraines.
I do find oncoming cars and their headlights hard to cope with at night.

[fridakahlo]

Epileptic even!

[sincitylover]

Just to update - nothing has improved - in fact my eyes are now constantly twitching - I looked this up and it could be dystonia which interestingly can be triggered by bright lighting! If I am in the brightly lit office for any period of time I can't concentrate and feel weird.

I asked to be referred to occupational health but they have suggested that the problem is first sorted by moving my desk nearer to some natural light.

I have a gp appt on Monday (about something else) but wondered whether to mention it again and press for a referral.

[totallypearshaped]

Press for a referral - you've nothing to lose. Good luck with it.

Any joy on wearing polarised glasses and a hat?

[Clara35]

Hi all, I get the sensitivity to lights as well but worse in the middle of my cycle. Car lights at night when driving dazzle me easily. Can relate to the fuzzy head feeling. Flicking up tv channels too quickly annoys my eyes too. Thought it was just me. Have felt my eyes not focusing properly in work sometimes which is brightly lit office but put it down to computer. I do get migraines which are more visual disturbance than bad headache.

[valiumredhead]

Yes, I really hate bright lighting too, makes me very 'odd.'