Lighting options for Migraine

[Doggywalker]

Hi everyone,

I've just moved house and I'm getting quotes from electricians to adjust the lighting in my new house. Lighting is my main trigger for my migraines and I'm currently having to walk around with a hat on all the time as the lights are triggering for me! My electricians have come up with some great ideas. But I'm also looking to check in with you all for your wisdom and guidance to add to what I already know - is there anything I've missed? So I have a question, but I'm also putting down what I have so far, please feel free to add your comments:

How do folks feel about clear 'filament' LED bulbs (I'm in the UK so they're all LED) vs frosted bulbs? I've always gone for frosted bulbs as I felt seeing the filament would be hard on my eyes. I'd be interested in other's thoughts?

I'm putting up wall washers in certain key rooms. They shed light on the walls and are easier to tolerate. Lights in the centre of key living areas are hard to tolerate.

Concealed lighting in other rooms, eg on top of kitchen cupboards, so it reflects off the ceiling and lights the room that way. I can't stand light reflected directly off the surfaces I'm working on or off cupboard surfaces.

Using dimmer switches in key rooms helps - I can reduce light levels as I need it. One electrician has sourced flicker free dimmers.

I am finding warm white bulbs work for me, 2700 kelvin. One electrician suggested daylight bulbs may be better for some. I have had to change some bulbs in the house that I think were daylight bulbs as they were hurting my eyes. Do you prefer warm white or daylight?

You can get flicker free LED's now.

I tend to need less lumens / watts than your average person, but too few lumens / watts can be as harmful as too many as it strains my eyes.

I have a very very low wattage light in my bedroom on a dimmer, that I can use when I have a bad migraine. It's a strip about 1watt per metre. Just enough to see to get ready for bed.

When it's really bad, add sunglasses!

[Onthemove1971]

One thing to think about is where in your house do you need task light and where environmental lighting. When needing task lighting,.it always helps me to not see the bulb at all. So having fixtures that are covered from where you are seated.

I also like non-bright white color bulbs.

Hope this makes sense.

[Doggywalker in reply to Onthemove1971]

Yes that makes a lot of sense. I don't like seeing the bulbs either, I guess that's why I like concealed lighting above cupboards etc.

Thanks, that's very helpful.

I think we are saying the same thing with non-bright white colour bulbs are the warm white 2700 kelvin bulbs so that makes sense too.