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Migraines from flourescent lighting

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Posted 12/26/2014 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I’m new in this forum but I hope you guys can help me with my condition.

I just started working fulltime in an office a week ago and am having increasing problems with my vision and headaches, which I feel is related to the frequency of the fluorescent lighting. Since I've never spent so long under fluorescent lighting, this is a new experience for me. I have spells where my eyes go strange, not fuzzy because I can still focus, but strange because I can't see clearly, like a skewed TV screen in a way. Difficult to describe. After the vision disruption, which in some spells lasts about 20 minutes, I have a headache which can last for hours. When the spell passes, I'm normal again with no vision problems.

I need to know how I can protect myself from this negative lighting environment so I can keep working to pay my keep.
Posted 12/26/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

If you do not have an understanding support boss, start with the doctor. Get a diagnosis of migraines with ocular disturbance from flourence lights.

This is not unheard of. the reason is the lights flicker 60 x's a sec that is why when they go bad, they are seen flickering slower.

Once you have that slip in hand, find what works for you. A subtle colored viser to shade your eyes, sunglasses that are not mirrored [that would be rude to your co-workers]. The doctors information is important, because this falls under the handicap rules for working conditions. Most employers are happy to accomadate.

In in the end of my working days I TURNED my glassed in for a baseball cap and that worked the best for me. It all depends on the working environment. The light has to be blocked from you eyes.

When I had my own office, I used a floor lamp and a desk top lamp instead of the overhead lights. Worked very well, I was much more productive.

Hope some this helped you.

Peace and Joy
Trina
Posted 1/6/2015 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
I just want to share my experience about working with fluorescent lights. I work in an office where my seat faces banks of fluorescent lights overhead. Within 5 minutes I am squinting and in an hour my eyes are tearing and I cannot see to do my work. In defense of this, I purchased a visor and wear that all the time I'm at my desk. It leaves an indentation on my forehead, but that's nothing to the pain of having the lights shine into my eyes as I work. You can try it too!
Posted 1/17/2015 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advices. Wearing sunglasses or visor seems the thing I can do for now. I have already informed my boss about my condition but she cannot do anything about the lights as there are other employees in the room that will be affected.

@sayyadina - I'll check the brand you recommended. Thanks!
Posted 1/19/2015 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Best of luck, I understand your frustration.

Stay strong and if need be, be proactive and look for another job that conditions would be more condusive your eyes.

Peace
Trina
Posted 2/8/2015 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
I’ve tried wearing sunglasses at work and it did help reducing the glare of the fluorescent lights. However, I got eyestrain in wearing them while working on my computer. I informed my boss about the discomfort I’m having and she decided to have me repositioned in a dark spot in the office. I am glad that I have an understanding company. I can now focus on my tasks without having the spells.
Posted 2/8/2015 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Seems like there is a problem with the neurotransmitter pathway. Sleeping longer would probably help. You could have a deficiency of melatonin. Not knowing what you eat, there could be a problem with tyrosine levels. If you eat a lot of meat and have too many yeast in your GI tract, you could have too much tyrosine. Most of the time, problems like you have are from too little tyrosine. Either way, I would address this through what I ate and see what happens. There are no guarantees with migraines but with some trial and error in the eating department, you can often find the culprit in a situation like yours.
Posted 3/25/2015 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Georgia! Wish I have the luxury to sleep longer than the usual 6 - 7 hours especially weekdays. How is tyrosine levels measured? Meat, vegetables, and dairy products are parts of my diet and they are source of tyrosine right? Can you tell me what is the normal tyrosine level. Does it vary with age, weight, gender, etc.?
Posted 4/7/2015 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if this will help but I will tell you anyways.

I used to work in a place full of flourescent lighting...back when my migraines were at the worst.

I have worked at a different place for the last 7 years. It has flourescent lighting too. Our maintenance man insists on putting the more expensive day-glow type bulbs in the entire building. I don't seem to be affected by those bulbs as much. Not so much migraines with those bulbs.
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