Light Sensitivity: Navigating My Journey Through Different Therapies
- jordanswellness
- Jun 6
- 7 min read
Dealing with light sensitivity after a brain injury can be challenging, but various therapies can help manage symptoms and improve daily functioning. In this post, I’ll share the different approaches I’ve used to alleviate light sensitivity, including syntonic light therapy, trauma glasses, prisms, and tinted glasses. These strategies have been crucial in my journey to healing, and I hope they can provide insight and relief for others dealing with similar issues.
Living with light sensitivity can feel like a constant struggle. As a survivor of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a medical procedure (TMS), my sensitivity to light has been one of the most challenging aspects of my recovery. From migraines to dizziness and even anxiety, the simple presence of bright light or certain types of lighting can send my body into overdrive. Over the past year, I've been trying different therapies to help alleviate these symptoms. I’ve learned that it takes a multi-faceted approach, combining various tools and treatments to manage light sensitivity. Here's a rundown of the therapies that have helped me, and that might help others facing similar challenges.
1. Syntonic Light Therapy
Syntonic light therapy is a form of visual rehabilitation where carefully controlled light frequencies are used to improve visual processing and reduce strain. It’s been used in neuro-optometry for conditions related to TBI, and I was lucky enough to find a neuro-optometrist who believed it could help me. The therapy involves sitting in front of a light source with colored filters that aim to retrain the brain’s response to light. The goal is to help reduce symptoms like light sensitivity, blurry vision, and even certain emotional responses triggered by light.
I also struggled with memory trauma. The first year post-TMS, I would relive the sessions daily—every afternoon around 3 PM, the time I underwent the 19-minute sessions—I would literally feel the shocks sent to the left side of my brain all over again. I’ve had daily head pain ever since, but those moments felt like reliving Thor’s hammer hitting my head once again. It was unsettling and surreal.
Now, I still have left-sided head pain, but it’s less triggering. I truly believe Syntonic Light Therapy helped heal this trauma and pull my brain out of a constant "fight-or-flight" state post-injury. I continue to use the therapy now, mainly for moments of overwhelm and when my symptoms flare up.
When I was first introduced to Syntonic Light Therapy, I started a trauma protocol designed for those within a year of a brain injury, and I was very close to the one-year mark. Now, almost two years in, I still find it helpful. It seems to depend on the doctor you see and how your brain is responding. Given my past trauma in addition to the brain injury, I was also told that this therapy could be triggering as the brain healed. Because of that, I needed to find a therapist who understood the therapy and how to support me through it (which turned out to be quite challenging).
I believe this therapy not only helped with some of my injury symptoms but more so helped my brain calm down and avoid reliving the daily trauma.
For me, this therapy has been a slow but steady process. While it didn’t provide immediate relief, I noticed improvements in how my eyes tolerated light over time. Less squinting, fewer headaches, and less anxiety were key signs that it was working, even though it’s been a gradual journey.
Update: While I wrote this post in the beginning of my time with both of the Neuro-Optometrists I worked with, I have since stopped light therapy because I was not longer receiving benefits from the protocol and in fact, I would get overwhelmed and it would send my autonomic nervous system haywire. I have learned that this is a common issue with those harmed by TMS and one of the most important things we can do is undo the damage done to our Central Nervous Systems - this is something that I am actively working on for myself.
2. Trauma Glasses
After my brain injury, I started noticing constant strain and fatigue when looking at bright screens or overhead lights. My neuro-optometrist recommended trauma glasses, which are specifically designed to filter out harsh lighting that can exacerbate light sensitivity after a TBI. These glasses are a variation of my regular prescription, but with one eye adjusted to a super low prescription, which helps give the left side of my brain (the area impacted by the TMS device and injury) a break. The other eye continues with my normal prescription, forcing the right side of my brain to pick up the slack and aid in my healing.
Trauma glasses also help in the brain’s healing process by modifying how the brain processes visual information. The glasses assist by reducing strain and giving the injured side of the brain a break, allowing it to focus on its recovery while still receiving the necessary input. This gives the brain a chance to heal and recalibrate while ensuring that the process of taking in and processing information remains balanced.
As I healed, my neuro-optometrist explained that I would need to adjust the prescription of my trauma glasses as my brain responded to treatment. I did this two times before completing my six-week light therapy protocol. Now, I’ve grown out of my trauma glasses and primarily use prisms for support.
Wearing my trauma glasses during this process made a noticeable difference in how my eyes felt throughout the day. They’ve been a lifesaver in environments with harsh lighting, helping me function with reduced discomfort. It’s been a journey of gradual adjustment, but they’ve played a significant role in supporting my healing and easing the strain that my brain injury caused.
3. Prisms
Prisms have been an important tool in my overall visual rehabilitation, and their impact on my walking has been surprisingly profound. When I first started working with my neuro-optometrist—who also guided me through my light therapy and trauma glasses protocol—they discovered that my brain and eyes weren’t working together as seamlessly as they should. This is a common issue for many who have sustained a TBI. To help with this, prisms were incorporated into my prescription glasses to correct eye misalignment and improve focus.
During a session, the doctor placed additional lenses over my existing glasses and asked me to walk down the hall. When I compared how I walked with and without the prisms, I was amazed at the difference. With the prisms, my walking felt smoother—less chunky and stiff. I was able to move more fluidly, and my feet and toes didn’t feel like they were dragging as they had before. I hadn’t even realized how heavy and awkward my walking had become until I felt the difference. The prisms helped my brain process visual information more efficiently, which not only improved my eye fatigue and light sensitivity but also made a noticeable improvement in my walking.
It’s a subtle but significant change, and it’s one I wouldn’t have expected. I guess I had simply adapted to the heavier, more laborious walking, but with the prisms, it became much easier. While prisms aren't a cure-all, their impact on my visual function—and even my physical movement—has been a crucial part of my healing journey.
4. Reading Glasses
Along with the trauma glasses and prisms, I also rely on reading glasses. The brain injury made reading for long periods of time incredibly challenging. I found myself getting dizzy or disoriented after even short reading sessions, particularly under fluorescent lights or in environments with inconsistent lighting.
Reading glasses help to reduce eye strain and make focusing on the text easier. I also use them when doing tasks like sewing or other fine motor activities where I need to maintain focus for an extended period. These glasses have made it easier for me to manage my daily activities without becoming overwhelmed by visual challenges.
5. Rose-Colored Glasses
I’ve also incorporated rose-colored glasses into my routine. While these glasses are often associated with improving mood, I was surprised to find that they also help with light sensitivity. The gentle tint of rose-colored lenses helps to soften harsh lighting, reducing glare and making it easier for my eyes to tolerate various light sources. I primarily wear these glasses inside, as they reduce indoor lighting that would otherwise feel too intense.
The calming effect of rose-colored lenses has also helped me with emotional regulation. The brain injury left me with heightened anxiety and mood fluctuations, and wearing these glasses has had a calming effect. While they don’t completely eliminate the anxiety I feel around light, they definitely provide a sense of relief and reduce the intensity of my symptoms.
6. Yellow-Tinted Glasses
Yellow-tinted glasses are another tool I use to manage light sensitivity, especially when driving at night. These glasses help reduce the harshness of bright lights and glare from oncoming headlights, streetlights, and other sources of light that can be particularly challenging after a brain injury. The yellow tint enhances contrast and filters out blue light, which is known to strain the eyes more after an injury like mine.
I primarily use these glasses when driving or riding in a car at night, as they make it much easier to see by softening the glare and reducing visual discomfort. They also help with the harsh light from electronic devices like my phone or laptop, providing more comfort during short screen sessions. While they aren't a complete solution, they significantly improve my ability to function in bright or glare-heavy conditions, especially at night, making daily tasks more manageable and reducing eye strain.
Managing light sensitivity after a brain injury is a complex and ongoing process, but I’ve found that combining various therapies has made a huge difference. Syntonic light therapy, trauma glasses, prisms, reading glasses, and different types of tints have all played a part in helping me navigate the world with less discomfort. It’s still a balancing act, and there are days when the light feels overwhelming, but these tools have given me some relief and control over my symptoms.
If you're struggling with light sensitivity after a TBI or concussion, I highly recommend exploring some of these therapies with your healthcare team. It may take time to find what works best for you, but each step forward is worth it. As I mentioned above, there are some protocols that are temporary and there are others that require some trial-and-error, or those that stopped working for me, so I hope that one or all of these tips help you in your recovery. I truly hope that you heal.
All my light. All my love.
Namaste.
Jordan
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