For many years I have been conscious of frequently swapping from normal glasses to prescription sunglasses & back again… much more than most people. Someone said something recently about their own sensitivity to light & the need to wear really dark glasses a lot of the time. I’m not so much really sensitive to light, as liking a very narrow range of light, not too bright, not too dark. But both, I’m guessing, are indications of light sensitivity experienced by autistic folk. Who knew? @actuallyautistic#actuallyautistic
@Susan60@actuallyautistic For me it's both. I love bright sunlight but it also harms me. It's bad because I love going for walks in the sun, sitting or lying in the sun. And afterwards I feel like if someone did BBQ with me but I was the food.
@Carex@actuallyautistic The sun is strong in Australia & I’ve had 1 skin cancer removed, & my partner is balding & always wears a hat, which reminds me.
@Susan60@actuallyautistic I hate bright light in my eyes. When we moved to the opposite side of the city, I realised a lot of my pent up annoyance was from walking towards the sun to work every day.
I also get eye strain in dim light. I saved up for reactive lenses, to avoid constantly swapping glasses.
I have astigmatism too, so don't get me started on "mood lighting" or lighting rooms with lots of fairy lights!
@Susan60@actuallyautistic I'm sensitive to light. I hadn't realized until really about a year ago, but I've been really averse to sunny days my whole life, much preferring my dark room or evenings.
I guess it's my brain rather than my eyes.
I don't recoil in horror when it's a bit too bright. It just slowly makes me really tired, anxious and dysregulated. Though when my fatigue/burnout was at its worst my brain cramped pretty instantly.
It feels so odd to know that this really is a thing, but it's wonderful, too. I too have always been averse to sunny days and very much prefer overcast, fog, twilight, dawn, night and inside diffuse lighting. I used to just think that it was just hot sunlight on my skin being too overstimulating, but it's more.
@neversosimple I was always being told off for squinting. I would look at the ground, too, if the adult talking to me had the sun/bright light behind them. It is a relief to know that I have light sensitivity. @Susan60@actuallyautistic
@Tooden@Susan60@actuallyautistic I keep my eyes in the ground too. Not only for the light but also general visual stimulus. I almost always wear a cap as a blinder!
@Tooden@neversosimple@actuallyautistic Too much light gives me a headache, & flickering of any type (sun coming through trees while driving, flickering fluorescent light, flashing lights) can provoke a migraine.
@Susan60 I don't get migraines but I do feel nauseated. Remember the Disco balls, and the UV at the local dances? I would have to go outside. @neversosimple@actuallyautistic
@Susan60@actuallyautistic I have both prescription and prescription sunglasses. I stopped wearing both early in the pandemic because no matter what I'd do they'd fog up when wearing a mask. I think my eyesight has improved since dumping them.
I think there’s something to this. When I got my first glasses for astigmatism (more common amongst autistics) 46 years ago (!!!), I also started doing eye exercises and stopped wearing them for several years.
But working full time in less than ideal circumstances , poor lighting, close work etc, aggravated the situation. Now I need glasses both for astigmatism & reading & wear multifocals which I love. I have to be able to read anything at anytime with no notice, such as signs, plaques etc. So it’s prescription glasses & prescription sunglasses for me, & no putting off updating them. Must be able to see as well as possible at all times. 🤨
@Susan60@actuallyautistic In 2011, I was hospitalised for an extended period and couldn't wear my glasses. My eyesight improved drastically, but not enough to throw away my glasses, and it only took wearing them for about half-an-hour for my eyesight to revert back. The improvement this time isn't as great but as long as I don't drive I can do without them.
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