When Light Becomes Painful After a Brain Injury
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
Written by Char Scheuermann, Irlen Diagnostician
Char was first introduced to Irlen Syndrome when her niece was diagnosed in 2015. As Irlen Syndrome is hereditary, two more nieces and a nephew were also diagnosed. Her second child, Daniel, was diagnosed in 2021, and her oldest, Anton, in 2022. That's when she decided to pursue becoming an Irlen Screener and later a Diagnostician.
A concussion or traumatic brain injury can happen in many ways, from military service and sports injuries to car accidents, falls, or unexpected blows to the head. While every injury and recovery is different, many people continue experiencing symptoms long after the initial event.
Headaches, migraines, dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating are commonly discussed. One symptom that may receive less attention is persistent sensitivity to light.
For some people, ordinary environments become physically uncomfortable after a brain injury. Fluorescent lighting, computer screens, sunlight, vehicle headlights, and visually busy stores may trigger headaches, eye strain, dizziness, nausea, or exhaustion.
A 2024 study of active-duty military personnel and veterans examined whether individually selected spectral filters could help reduce these persistent symptoms. Although the study focused on a military population, its findings raise an important question for anyone living with lingering symptoms after a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Could sensitivity to light be contributing to how you feel?
Studying persistent symptoms after TBI
The study analyzed clinical data from 392 active duty service members and veterans who had been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and continued to experience headaches or migraines and light sensitivity.
Participants ranged in age from 20 to 51. On average, three years had passed between their TBI diagnosis and receiving individualized spectral filters. These were not simply temporary symptoms immediately following an injury. Many participants had been living with them for years.
Researchers evaluated migraine frequency, symptom severity, medication use, light sensitivity, and difficulties with everyday functioning before participants received their filters and again four to twelve weeks afterward.
A significant change in migraine frequency
Before receiving individualized spectral filters, participants reported an average of 14.8 migraines per month. Following the intervention, that average decreased to 1.9 migraines per month.
Seventy-four percent reported experiencing no migraines during the post-intervention period. The use of prescription and over-the-counter medications also decreased by more than 70%.
Participants additionally reported improvements in light sensitivity, headache or migraine severity, physical discomfort, perceptual symptoms, and overall quality of life.
These findings are especially meaningful given how frequently people encounter light throughout the day. Light sensitivity can affect someone while working at a computer, shopping for groceries, driving, reading, attending school, or simply spending time under bright indoor lighting.
What this could mean beyond the military
The study focused specifically on active duty military personnel and veterans, so its results cannot automatically be applied to every person with a brain injury. However, persistent headaches and light sensitivity are not limited to injuries sustained during military service.
Similar symptoms may occur after:
A car accident
A sports-related concussion
A fall
A workplace injury
Whiplash
A bicycle accident
An unexpected blow to the head
Some people recognize the connection between their symptoms and the injury right away. Others may not notice a pattern until they try to return to work, school, driving, reading, or regular screen use.
They may think they simply need more time to recover. They may avoid certain stores, turn down the brightness on every device, wear sunglasses indoors, or limit how long they can read without realizing that light is contributing to their discomfort.
Why individualized color matters
Irlen Spectral Filters are different from sunglasses, migraine glasses, or generic blue light blocking glasses. They are precision-tinted lenses created using a combination of colors selected according to the individual’s response to different wavelengths of light.
The goal is not simply to make the environment darker. Instead, individualized spectral filtering reduces the specific wavelengths that create visual and physical stress for that person.
The necessary color combination can vary significantly from one individual to another. This is why Irlen Spectral Filters must be selected through diagnostic testing rather than by choosing a favorite color or purchasing a standard tint.
Signs that light may be contributing
A person may not describe themselves as light sensitive. They may simply notice that they feel worse in certain places or during particular activities.
Possible signs include:
Headaches or migraines triggered by fluorescent lights, LEDs, sunlight, or glare
Difficulty tolerating grocery stores, offices, classrooms, or medical facilities
Eye strain or fatigue while reading or using a computer
Discomfort while driving at night
Dizziness or nausea in visually busy environments
Difficulty concentrating under bright lighting
Feeling better on cloudy days or in dimly lit rooms
Frequently wearing sunglasses or a hat to remain comfortable
Needing regular breaks from screens or reading
These symptoms can have many possible causes, which is why appropriate medical and vision care remains important. However, recognizing a consistent relationship between light exposure and symptoms may provide another useful piece of the puzzle.
Understanding the limits of the research
The study’s results are promising, but they should be interpreted carefully. It was a secondary analysis of clinical data rather than a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The participants were also predominantly male.
More controlled research involving varied populations and different causes of brain injury is needed. It is equally important to understand that individualized spectral filters do not heal or reverse a traumatic brain injury. They are intended to address light-related visual and physical symptoms that may remain after the injury.
Anyone with a suspected or diagnosed concussion or TBI should continue working with qualified healthcare providers. Irlen assessment can be considered as a possible addition to medical, neurological, vision, and rehabilitation care, not a replacement for it.
Looking beyond the original injury
People living with persistent post-concussion or TBI symptoms are often focused on the original injury. But recovery may also require identifying the everyday conditions that continue to aggravate the nervous system.
For some people, light may be one of those conditions. The 2024 military study offers encouraging evidence that addressing sensitivity to specific wavelengths of light may provide meaningful relief for certain individuals. Although further research is needed, the findings offer a reason to look more closely at symptoms that are sometimes overlooked.
If a person consistently feels worse under bright lights, while using screens, while driving at night, or in visually busy environments, those experiences deserve attention.
Sometimes, finding greater comfort begins by asking a question that may not have been asked before. What if it is the light?
Read more from Char Scheuermann
Char Scheuermann, Irlen Diagnostician
Char Scheuermann is an Independent Irlen Diagnostician serving clients throughout the Northeastern United States. Driven by both professional expertise and personal experience, she is passionate about raising awareness of Irlen Syndrome and helping individuals find answers to challenges that are often overlooked or misunderstood. As an educator and advocate, Char is committed to making Irlen services accessible and convenient by providing mobile assessments, including Irlen Screenings, Diagnostic Testing, and Filter Check appointments in clients' homes. Her mission is to deliver exceptional care, personalized support, and life-changing solutions that improve comfort, confidence, and quality of life for those affected by Irlen Syndrome.
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