![]() ![]() Watching television or using the computer.Supermarket or shop environments (with fluorescent lighting).Similar to other vestibular conditions, Meniere’s patients can also be triggered by visual environments that feature intense lighting and/or disorienting movement. Even though people with migraine and vestibular migraine are far more likely to experience regular photophobia, evidence suggests that at least 40% of those with Meniere’s are still subject to these sensitivities. Even in the absence of a formal diagnosis of headache disorder, nearly half of Meniere’s patients have at least one migrainous symptom as part of their vestibular attacks-including sensitivity to light. Research has shown that people with Meniere’s Disease are twice as likely to also have migraine. You might be wondering then: How does an inner ear disorder translate to symptoms of light sensitivity? The answer likely lies in the connection between Meniere’s Disease and migraine. 4,5 Much like migraine, this makes patients susceptible to having their post-concussion and post-TBI symptoms induced by light-even at levels that others may not consider bright at all! Meniere’s DiseaseĪnother leading cause of dizziness and vertigo is Meniere’s Disease, which is caused by a chronic buildup of fluid in the inner ear. And this is reinforced by repeated findings that people with concussion have a lower threshold for bright light. 3 While motion sensitivity may also be a compounding factor, it is likely that the artificial light exposure also contributed to these experiences. One study found that more than half of teenage athletes who endured a sports concussion cited computer use and television watching as triggers of their dizziness. ![]() Only recently have researchers begun to explore how light sensitivity and other visual inputs can lead to the vestibular effects associated with brain injuries. 2 Sadly, they can also become a chronic problem for many, persisting for years after the initial trauma. Not only are dizziness and light sensitivity regular symptoms within the first few days after a concussion (>40%), but their presence during this time may predict the likelihood of long-term symptoms a year or more later. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), regardless of severity, are one of the leading causes of vestibular complications, and they also can negatively impact a patient’s tolerance for light as well. Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post-Concussion Syndrome dizziness and lightheadedness) as well as typical migrainous features (e.g. Light sources that may cause the most problems include:Īs a result, exposure to this and other forms of bright light can lead to hallmark vestibular symptoms (e.g. Bright and/or flashing lights are frequent triggers for more than one-quarter of patients with the condition. Similarly, we cannot discount the role of light exposure in the onset of vestibular migraine attacks. ![]() Even between attacks, people with vestibular migraine can have a heightened sensitivity to their environment and feel discomfort under bright lighting. More than 90% have reported negative or painful reactions to light during their vestibular episodes, ahead of other issues like nausea and headache. Patients with vestibular migraine (also known as migraine-associated vertigo) are similarly affected by photophobia. InĪddition, photophobia is included as a key diagnostic indicator for migraine with and without aura, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (3rd Edition). Second most common symptom during attacks after only head pain. ![]() Noise and/or smell and in fact, sensitivity to light is often cited as the Migraine and headache disorders have long been associated with external sensitivities to light, It should come as no surprise that vestibular migraine carries perhaps the highest risk of light sensitivity symptoms. Types of Vestibular Disorders Affected by light-sensitivity Vestibular Migraine In this article, we take an in-depth look at the experiences of those with vestibular-related photophobia and offer tips for keeping it in check. And in their case, light acts as a catalyst for dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, headache and other symptoms that are often associated with these disorders. A significant number of patients with these conditions must also endure the challenges of being light sensitive. The connection between light sensitivity and certain vestibular disorders is no different. It can cause pain in the eyes and brain, trigger physical symptoms of an underlying condition and even produce feelings of anxiety and isolation-and sometimes it only takes just a few seconds or minutes of exposure. The effects of chronic light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, are profound for those who experience it on a daily basis. ![]()
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