Written By Alan

 

 

This is the same information from the Headaches From Reading section. If you've already read it, then skip this. I will write more information about visual headaches and symptoms in other articles. 

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Do you get headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and other issues when using your eyes? Or does doing anything visually related make your existing symptoms worse? If so, there are many possible causes, including eyestrain, an eye misalignment (even slight ones), color sensitivity, difficulty for your brain to process visual information, and more. 

 

I'll cover these topics in other articles, but for now, here are some self care tips to try and reduce your symptoms.  

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Use A Text To Speech Program

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If you are anything like I was, any sort of reading can be excruciating. If it gets to the point where it makes you feel really sick, the best thing to do would be to use a Text to Speech software which can read everything to you. I know how frustrating it is to have to resort to this and not be able to function like a normal person, but this is probably the best way for you to still be able to do some of the things you need to do, without feeling utterly miserable. Hopefully, some of the other things on this site will be able to help you feel better over time.

 

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If you are an Iphone user, here is how to set up text to speech:

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/spoken-content-iph96b214f0/ios

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For Android users, here are the instructions for text to speech:

https://www.lifewire.com/use-google-text-to-speech-on-android-4767200

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If you are a Chrome user, there is an extension you can install which will read most web text to you with one click. It can be found here:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/read-aloud-a-text-to-spee/hdhinadidafjejdhmfkjgnolgimiaplp/related?hl=en

 

For documents and other text, there is free software that allows you to copy and paste the text to the program for it to read to you. Natural Readers is a free web based version found here:

https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/

 

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Change The Background And/Or Text Color Of What You're Reading

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One thing that can potentially be very helpful is to change the background color and text color of the page you are looking at, as this can help reduce the amount of strain on your eyes. Depending on the cause of your headaches, for others who experience headaches from visual stimulation, certain colors or color combinations can be more difficult for the brain to process (especially for those who've had a brain injury), and being exposed to them may cause the brain to go into overdrive, causing symptoms. 

 

The colors that help vary tremendously from person to person. For some, it might be black text on a yellow background, while for others, it may be black text on a red background. Try experimenting with different colors and combinations to see if any help you.

 

Below are some great tools that can actually help you change the background color on web pages. If you find that changing the colors help, you can also purchase colored overlays, which are colored sheets of plastic that you can put over books and paper. Tinted glasses may also be very beneficial, though we will discuss both of these more in another article. Glasses that filter out light frequencies (especially blue lights from screens) can help tremendously as well. If you wear glasses, getting Crizal lenses that filter out blue lights can be very helpful. 

 

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For now, here is an example of color overlays here on Amazon.  ​

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Here are tinted glasses found on Amazon. 

*Please consult with an optometrist or ophthalmologist prior to using if lights or colors bother you tremendously.

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Here are blue light blocking glasses found on Amazon. 

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Info on Crizal anti-glare eyeglass lenses found on Crizal.

*Your Optometrist or Ophthalmologist will be able to provide you more info on the lenses. 

 

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How to change background page color for Chrome Users:

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/care-your-eyes/fidmpnedniahpnkeomejhnepmbdamlhl?hl=en

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/whitebuster/kkgacobcjapebahjhkabbkacbpmddeco

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/deluminate/iebboopaeangfpceklajfohhbpkkfiaa

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hacker-vision/fommidcneendjonelhhhkmoekeicedej

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/turn-off-the-lights/bfbmjmiodbnnpllbbbfblcplfjjepjdn?hl=en

 

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For Firefox:

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https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/dark-background-light-text/?utm_source=addons.mozilla.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=search

 

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/midnight-lizard-quantum/?utm_source=addons.mozilla.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=search

 

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/protect-eye/?utm_source=addons.mozilla.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=search

 

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/site-color-changer/?utm_source=addons.mozilla.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=search

 

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For Internet Explorer:

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https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/all/changing-background-color-for-webpages-in-internet/b7993751-3c05-4813-a4e3-e4bd70f0de5b

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Turning Down The Brightness Of Your Monitor

 

Many people may not realize it, but a big part of the reason you may be experiencing issues from screens is a sensitivity to light. Something as simple as turning down the brightness of your screen can make a huge difference in the comfort of your eyes. On a similar note, adjusting the contrast to something more comfortable can be very beneficial as well. A higher contrast setting may cause your eyes to strain more, worsening symptoms. 

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Eliminate Glare

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Glare can be a huge trigger if you are light sensitive, so take note of your environment to see if any glare is present that may be adding to your discomfort. Reducing any surfaces where light can reflect brightly from (such as mirrors, shiny shiny surfaces, or even glossy screens), and eliminating sources of light that you may not realize is shining onto you or your field of vision could be beneficial.

 

For example, if you have a window in front of or right next to your computer monitor that allows sunlight to stream in full force, putting a curtain to block, reduce, or eliminate the amount of sunlight that enters and any resulting glare may help. 

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Change The Type Of Lighting Around You

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If you are light sensitive or if reading gives you issues, the type of lighting you are in can play a huge role in worsening your symptoms. Fluorescent lights are typically a huge problem for those who deal with light sensitivity for two main reasons:

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• The first reason is that fluorescent lights emit a flicker or pulsing that is barely perceptible at normal glance. We don't really notice it, but our brains do, and this can cause eyestrain and even trigger migraines.

• The second reason is that the color temperature of fluorescent lights tend to be on the bluer side. For some, this can be a huge trigger for symptoms.

 

If possible, using traditional incandescent light bulbs that have a warmer color and tone can make a huge difference. When possible, try to use lightbulbs that are Soft White or Cool White- since they are softer on the eyes- as opposed to Daylight. On a light temperature scale, anything around 3,000 Kelvin will probably provide the most visual comfort, while anything over 4,100 Kelvin may be too harsh. This is different for everyone however, so you may need to try different things to see what works for you. 

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On a similar note, neon lights, blue decorative lights, or any lighting (ie. red bulbs, green lighting, etc) that is a different color from typical light bulbs can be a big trigger. If possible, try eliminating them to see if it makes a difference for you.