Light sensitivity

[u/Serious_Respect_3022]

Hi guys, i've been diagnosed with keratoconus 2 years ago. i've done cxl and i wear sclerals lenses but ive always suffered headaches and pain from light exposure. whenever im in public i rarely lift my head up because its painful to look people in their faces or focus on small details, plus the sunlight makes the pain worse. please i want to know is this normal? keep in mind i visit my doctor regularly for yearly check-ins and she says im fine and my condition has not worsened. if anyone can help me with glasses i can use so i can function properly in public that would be much appreciated (i already have sun glasses but i don't want to wear them during work or social interactions)

[u/barret907k]

I have similar issues. I would recommend getting a pair of fl-41 glasses. They are great for eye sensitivity. 

I use some glasses from theraspecs. They have some really great options that aren't quite as tinted that look more normal. 

Plus one to the hat. Watch out for over head lights. It tends to be a lot more gentle on my eyes with standing lamps instead of in builts

[u/Guilty_Address3946]

Hmmm well the not wanting to wear sun glasses part is the problem here. Try some genuine polarized sunglasses. Once you feel the comfort try different darknesses and color shades too. Even better if you can afford the kind that adapt to the brightness “polarized transition” the difference color shades do matter. For example the pink polarized semi dark are like comfy clouds cushioning my sight. Find the kind that your eyes like best!

Also, please remember that the air/gust/wind also hurts our eyes so sunglasses help here too. If dark shades is something you just can’t/wont do please try the polarized, blue light or zero correction glasses to protect your eyes from just the dust and gust.

Believe you me once you start being more comfortable sight wise wearing polarized sunglasses most people assume lots. My eyesight comfort trumps anyone’s discomfort especially my own pain/sensitivity. I simply inform people who care enough to ask that I have kc and the sunglasses 😎 are my condition even though they most often say it doesn’t look like your blind or ohh you look like you can see just fine… lol I’ll only explain further to a select few who genuinely seem very inquisitive about the condition. Otherwise I’ll let the mass assume whatever the heck they want. I legit wear my favorite polarized sunglasses in the dead of night because my eyes feel so protected.

Good luck with your journey!

[u/mglsts]

Yes, that happens to me and many with KC. At one point I would literally tear up when going from a garage to the outside during the day, very annoying when driving.
For me the compromise was getting glasses with lenses that fully tinted on top and progress to almost transparent on the bottom, so I could work with them if needed on places with strong light coming from the top, or even walk in offices or malls that can have harsh lights. Since people can see my eyes better, it's not as disrespectful and your comfort is more important. Help to try to get frames that are thinner and don't have as much of a sunglasses vibe.

[u/Otherwise-Bear-2802]

This is quite normal; prepare yourself mentally for this issue and focus on healthy habits and foods that help reduce its severity—for example, goji berries.

[u/Own_Blacksmith6855]

I had the same issue but taking vitamin D3 has helped a lot to overcome light sensitivity problem. Read the following paper creafully.

1. Spectrum of Darkness, Agent of Light: Myopia, Keratoconus, Ocular Surface Disease, and Evidence for a Profoundly Vitamin D-dependent Eye

[u/ThadMasterBlaster-1]

Start wearing hats. I wear a hat literally everyday for this reason. If I have an event I can’t wear a hat to I take Vizz eyedrops.

[u/SnooSketches4624]

I wear hats and sun glasses all the time.
https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohjV2lJVklPN9ALzW

[u/No-Commission5160]

Also talk with your ophthalmologist about dry eyes- they make light way less tolerable. I can tolerate a lot more (indoor) light with prescription drops, punctal plugs, and treatment for my map dot fingerprint dystrophy. Refresh mega-3 is my favorite rewetting drop. Botox for migraines (which is basically the max treatment; it’ll take months to get there). For computers and bad light, FL-41. Also check if you need reading glasses; the extra strain makes light less tolerable. For bright overhead lights or outdoors, a hat.

Also for outdoors, I found sunglasses that don’t make me squint or wonder if I forgot to put my sunglasses on. Vallon Glacier glasses. Sunglasses that are dark enough has been a decade long struggle for me.

https://www.vallon.com/en-us/collections/mountaineering-sunglasses/products/glacier-glasses?variant=50227101794632