Light sensitivity success. Big thumbs up, optometry rocks.

I've had a number of visual processing and light sensitivity issues after BI. The visual processing, pattern glare, was treated successfully with colorimetry methods, it took 14 months.

At the beginning of March I was retested and a pair of transition lenses were prescribed, for sensitivity to bright sunlight, with a clear to grey to green colour change. They also have varying focal elements to improve peripheral vision.

They arrived by post earlier in the week. I put them on and went out into the bright sun, my brains did not turn to scrambled eggs but just stayed 'normal', I felt really calm. It took a few days to get used to the feeling of walking on air and seeing everything clearly in my field of vision.

I am now laying in the sun every day (while it shines) getting a tan for the good of society during the covid lockdown.

The effects were instant and life has changed dramatically for the better again. A very big thanks to my optometrist.

[TaIaV]

Wow. Congratulations. So happy a year + of effort has been so successful. Can I ask, what professional group does the colorimetry work? Is it occupational therapists? I was not aware of that.

[Hidden in reply to TaIaV]

Hi the group is behavioural optometry, google BABO. A note, not all optometrists can deal with neuro-related visual issues. Get in touch if you need more info.

[TaIaV in reply to Hidden]

Thanks very much!

[Braindeadhead in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I didn't know

[Braindeadhead]

That is excellent. Thanks for sharing this. I didn't know such things existed. I do know since my BI I am extremely photo sensitive. Bright daylight and especially sunny days and car headlights at night are now really painful. I now wear sunglasses loads and bought a pair of yellow tinted clip ons to go over my glasses for night time - which have reduced car headlamp glare mildly but not greatly. I haven't told my OT or neurologist about it. Never thought to. I have told my opticians (Specsavers) who just shrugged. It has quite an impact on me so I will follow it up when the health care system has calmed down

[Hidden in reply to Braindeadhead]

Optometry is not integrated into the NHS you will need to go private.

[Braindeadhead in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Braindeadhead]

Before trying anything I would encourage you to read 'The ghost in my Brain.' Remember because this is a non standard practice/therapy and is not recognised by the health authority it is not fully understood and so is not fully regulated. You will need to make your own decision. My optometrist is now retiring however you may want to check out Cardiff university eye clinic for colourimetry. They teach neuro-optometry in their medical sciences department and will have set standards to the procedures.

I first went for testing after reading the book mentioned above. I was a little concerned that it was a non recognised treatment and saw it as a bit of a gamble. I've had 2 tests and two sets of lenses and it has cost in total including travel etc less than £1000 and it has totally changed my life, in fact, has given me my life back. The money is irrelevant in comparison.

[twice in reply to Hidden]

Hi, i am new here, I had a tbi 3 years ago and really had problems with light sensitivity and visual processing, I also came across the book a ghost in my brain by dr Clark Elliott, and started my journey to find out more about colometry and syntonic glasses,

Like you say it is not recognized here much and I was told by the nhs that it was controversial and not recognized by them. I finally found a ophthalmologist that were doing them, after a test to find the right colour for my eyes , I waited 3 weeks for my glasses to arrive and the difference they have made to my vision is nothing short of a miracle,

They are amazing for my sensitivity to light and help so much with visual processing,

Like you say they are expensive but worth every penny, it's a incredible feeling to get my sight improved so much.

[Hidden in reply to twice]

That's good. The difference these lenses make is astonishing and I really struggle to understand why it's not a recognised treatment.

[twice in reply to Hidden]

Yes I don't understand that either,

It's so frustrating to be told by the NHS that it's not recognized treatment.

For me these lenses help so much with my vision,

I spent over 2 years after my tbi thinking that my vision had changed forever,

Then getting these lenses has given me so much of it back.

[Hidden in reply to twice]

Not just lenses, there are so many other methods for improving many aspects of BI. I've had huge success with focused and attention based meditation/mindfulness mixed with repetitive practical exercises for cognitive deficiencies. It's like retraining the brain.

[twice in reply to Hidden]

That's great thanks for the information,

I've been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to brain damage so I will look in to that.