Help - Light sensitivity, now Eye Pain too?!

Discussion in 'Eye-Care' started by klintholland, Feb 24, 2006.

  1. klintholland

    klintholland Guest

    I have never posted to a newsgroup before, so I appreciate any help
    that other members here can provide. Thanks in advance for reading.

    This past year, around the first week in November is when I noticed my
    eyes seemed to be more sensitive to oncoming headlights and traffic
    lights. This was right after daylight savings time kicked in so I
    figured that after driving home during daylight for 8 months that
    perhaps just the time change, forcing me to drive home in darkness now,
    was the cause and that my eyes just weren't used to it. Now, three
    months later - headlights still bother my eyes.

    Now, even driving during the day if the sun is reflecting in someones
    window or off of a chrome bumper it seems EXCESSIVELY bright and it
    hurts my eye for that brief moment. This is something that I have
    never noticed before. Also Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are very
    bright and I have to make an effort not to look directly at them. I
    also must add that I have a habit of watching oncoming cars while I'm
    driving --- I don't know why but I've always done it. I would have
    tried sunglasses but I can't really wear sunglasses b/c of my
    prescription glasses that I have to wear while driving. Even
    taillights seem very bright at night, especially if I look directly at
    them --- even momentarily.

    Recently, in the past 3-4 days I have started experiencing eye pain as
    well. It seems to start in the early afternoon around 2-3 o'clock and
    gets worse until the end of the work day. Naturally after hours of eye
    pain, I also usually have a headache behind my eyes or along my
    forehead. Another note, I work on a computer for 8-10 hours a day and
    up until the last month routinely would spend between 10-12 hours a day
    behind a computer monitor. Most of my work as a designer requires
    detailed work and intense staring at the monitor is not uncommon.

    I am currently taking 25mg of Atenolol daily but do not really suspect
    this has anything to do with my eye problems. I have recently begun
    taking a concentrated multivitamin to see if it helps - I've heard that
    vitamin B (all of them) are good for eyesight.

    I just had an eye exam in December which came back normal. My eyesight
    hadn't changed much (it's not that bad anyway) and all other tests were
    normal. I mentioned the light sensitivity to my optician and he said
    that it's a common complain "this time of year" (meaning after Daylight
    Savings Time).

    My questions:
    - Could this just be a bad case of dry eye from all the computer work?
    - Could this be something worse like Optic Nueritis? (doubtful I think)
    - Anyone else had symptoms like this? Can you point me in a helpful
    direction?
    - Am I just being paranoid and over-analyzing what I see???

    This has me mildly concerned since my eyes are my job and my life. If
    they get damaged --- I may not be able to do my job effectively
    anymore. Thanks for any advice or suggestions that you can offer!
     
    klintholland, Feb 24, 2006
    #1
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  2. klintholland

    drfrank21 Guest

    If the pain/ache is not constant and is in both eyes and is noted
    after hours of computer usage I'd lean towards dry eye as the culprit.
    Usually a condition such as an iritis the discomfort /ache will
    be constant and one eye (not always).

    I'd advise another eye evaluation to rule out anything serious (just in
    case) and I would start using pfats (preservative-free artificial
    tears)
    starting with 1 drop 4 times daily to see if the symptoms at all are
    alleviated.

    frank
     
    drfrank21, Feb 24, 2006
    #2
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  3. klintholland

    k2 Guest

    Frank, thank you for your prompt response!

    I should also note that the eye pain, particularly today, is worse in
    my dominant eye - my right eye. As a matter of fact it's down right
    painful tonight. Once it starts hurting, the pain increases throughout
    the day. To this point, the pain has never been sudden.

    To be honest it's the light sensitivity that is really bothersome.
    However, I will try to locate some pfats tomorrow at our local drug
    store and begin trying that.

    I guess I should also ask, typically how long after computer use has
    stopped do symptoms subside? I've noticed that over the weekend, even
    if I don't use the computer much - the light sensitivity seems to be
    about the same while driving. Perhaps 48 hours isn't enough time to
    rebound from nearly 60 hours of computer use during the week?
     
    k2, Feb 24, 2006
    #3
  4. klintholland

    p.clarkii Guest

    atenolol is a beta-blocker. this class of drugs promotes dry eyes. as
    dr. frank suggested, dry eyes seems like a plausible explanation for
    the pain you are describing and your medications may be exacerbating
    the problem. have you tried using lubricants?
     
    p.clarkii, Feb 25, 2006
    #4
  5. klintholland

    Dom Guest

    My suggestion: latent hyperopia.

    You'd need to ask for a cycloplegic eye test to tell whether you've got
    it (but there are other clues too).

    Latent hyperopia can cause photosensitivity, eye strain, headaches,
    especially associated with near work.

    Dom
     
    Dom, Feb 25, 2006
    #5
  6. klintholland

    k2 Guest

    Latent hyperopia? I'm nearsighted. Perhaps I just don't understand
    the details of how hyperopia effects the eye.

    I went out last night and purchased some Visine Pure Tears and have
    been using those. We'll see over the coarse of the week if they make a
    difference. I will continue posting to this thread with my progress
    for others that may encounter a similar problem.
     
    k2, Feb 26, 2006
    #6
  7. klintholland

    Dom Guest


    I didn't know you were nearsighted (until now), although I suppose it's
    still possible that you're overcorrected or pseudomyopic - which is sort
    of the same as being a latent hyperope. I was really 'going out on a
    limb' to begin with and if you now say you're nearsighted then that
    makes my guess a little less likely to be the case.

    If you *are* overcorrected or a pseudomyope, the way to tell is still
    the same - cycloplegic refraction. Call it a process of elimination.

    Dom
     
    Dom, Feb 27, 2006
    #7
  8. klintholland

    Dom Guest


    I didn't know you were nearsighted (until now), although I suppose it's
    still possible that you're overcorrected or pseudomyopic - which is sort
    of the same as being a latent hyperope. I was really 'going out on a
    limb' to begin with and if you now say you're nearsighted then that
    makes my guess a little less likely to be the case.

    If you *are* overcorrected or a pseudomyope, the way to tell is still
    the same - cycloplegic refraction. Call it a process of elimination.

    Dom
     
    Dom, Feb 27, 2006
    #8
  9. klintholland

    Charles Guest

    Not to hijack the thread, but how does this latent hyperopia thing
    work? Is it like your eyes are semi-permanently overcorrecting toward
    near, so if you put more plus power in front of your eyes, you couldn't
    focus through it (even though you should be able to)? If you detect
    this with eye dilation, does it take a while to work up to the
    appropriate plus power then?

    --
     
    Charles, Feb 28, 2006
    #9
  10. klintholland

    Charles Guest

    Fair enough. I assumed that there may be strain involved, or
    difficulty with or aversion to near work. I was thinking of it as
    uncontrolled continuous exertion by the muscles, which might not be as
    desirable as having that stress unloaded.

    When it was mentioned, I wondered if I could have this problem (if it
    is one), since I also seem very light sensitive, and I have a low
    tolerance for reading for long periods. I recently got some computer
    glasses with extra plus power and it makes it so much more comfortable
    to read for long periods of time. It's probably nothing, but it got me
    thinking anyway.

    --
     
    Charles, Mar 1, 2006
    #10
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