Sensitivity to Light (Photophobia) — Any Potential Connection to Tinnitus / Hyperacusis?

I'm just curious. I believe that right around the same time as my noise trauma induced tinnitus and hyperacusis, I also developed photophobia, intense sensitivity to light.

I hate the headlights that aren't brights but to me seem like brights... anyone else?

I didn't see anything about a correlation online, but it's just odd they came for me at the same time. Those extra bright halogen headlights are completely blinding to me.

 

Yeah I get this, but only after having spent a few days alone in my apartment with the curtains drawn switching back and forth between lesbian pornography and video games, in my most depraved state.

When I eventually emerge, I look something like a Morlock out of a Wells novel.

 

You're fun at parties.

Anyways, this can be a form of autism. FYI. Who knows.

 

@Matchbox, thank you! You may be on to something... there is a link to trauma and autistic type behavior. I don't think I have actual PTSD, but 51 years of enough shitty things happening have taken a toll, to be sure... and made me kind of a bizarre individual. Oh well.

 

I watched my wife bleed out in the hospital 2 years ago and it F'ed me up more than anything else that has ever happened in my 67 years. Within the first year I started with severe light sensitivity (could barely leave the house and then tinnitus/hyperacusis. I have been pursuing that thread believing like you that PTSD> Photophobia>Tinnitus/Hyperacusis may be a thing.

What I have concluded so far is that most of my chronic illnesses over the years have been from things being amped up so for me that seems to be a common denominator. One Potential root cause is the NO>ONOO cycle. which I have been studying. Also the role of emotions in illness.

George

 

I was using a chemical to clean records in my basement that ended up messing my eyes up really bad. It’s called Tergitol. It’s what the Library of Congress uses, but my area wasn’t well ventilated.

Anyway, this caused me to develop a lot of eye issues including photophobia.

Within a year I ended up with acoustic trauma induced tinnitus/hyperacusis/noxacusis.

Who knows if it’s related. My eye issues improved immensely over time thankfully. I had really bad visual snow, dry eye etc on top of the photophobia.

 

Yes, I noticed my eyes being extra sensitive to light post acoustic trauma.

It could be a protective mechanism - One of your senses is injured, so your body is protecting your other senses extra cautiously. Related to the nervous system being in a fight/flight state.

Maybe it's also the proximity of the optic and auditory nerves.

How is your light sensitivity now?

 

Not sure if there's a correlation, but my tinnitus came around 1-2 months after I had developed mild light sensitivity and starbursts.

I do think my eye issues are a form of mild HPPD (a condition that some individuals can develop even with a single use of psychedelics).

 

LED blue light day headlights are brutal at night on roads with no street lights. One of the few reasons I don't look forward to winter and driving at rush hour. I'm worried about permanent damage to my retina more so than ever before.

 

I developed general light sensitivity 6 months before the onset of my tinnitus. A couple months after the light sensitivity, I developed halos and starbursts. A month after my tinnitus started, I started to get a lot more floaters. I also started to experience the blue entoptic phenomenon.

 

Ya they are, I can’t believe that they are even legal, they are so bright. It used to be a rare occurrence but most cars seem to be changing to this technology. Night driving has become quite a challenge.

George