Light sensitivity is a common side effect of concussions and brain injuries. Light sensitivity sometimes referred to as “photophobia” which literally translates to “fear of light”. However, phtophobia is not necessarily “fear” of light. Usually it is only extreme sensitivity to light.
Victims of concussion related light sensitivity typically respond as follows:
-By avoiding bright sunlight and fluorescent lights.
-By wearing sunglasses and caps or hats to shade their eyes, even when indoors.
-By avoiding driving a moter vehicle in bright sunlight or with oncoming bright headlights.
-By experiencing headaches when exposed to bright lights.
A recent study of the US Department of Defense revealed that nearly 70% of US soldiers who had suffered a concussion experience abnormal light sensitivity.
If the light sensitivity came on after a head injury, even after a delay, and in association with other symptoms of a concussion, it is highly likely that the light sensitivity is the result of the brain injury.
Concussion related light sensitivity can be caused by injury to one or all of the following areas of the brain:
Thalamus: The thalamus is a region of the brain that acts as a filter for all visual information. It can become dysregulated by neurovascular coupling as the result of a concussion injury, causing the brain to be overwhelmed by too much visual information.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): The auatonomic nervous system controls many subconscious human processes, including heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and, yes, dilation of the pupils of the eyes which can cause light sensitivity.
Vestibular System: The human brain uses three systems to control our proprioception (our ability to sense where we are relative to things around us), namely our inner ear vestibular system, our vision, and our sense of touch. Dysregulation of the inter-action of these three systems can cause an overload of sensory information, including excessive sensitivity to light.
Superior Colliculus: The superior colliculus in located in the midbrain and responsible for visual mapping and coordination of vision with other sense. If dysfunctional, it can contribute to the increase of multiple senses, including vision.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian car accidents, and bicycle accidents. It has many years’ experience in workers compensation , products liability and medical malpractice cases.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has extensive experience with concussion injuries, traumatic brain injuries, neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries, broken bones, injured joint injuries (knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, ankle, spinal), amputation injuries, and vision and eye injuries.
The firm offers contingent fee agreements (You don’t pay lawyers fees until you collect and then only as a percentage of the settlement). It also offers home and hospital visits to clients whose injuries present difficulty in coming to the office.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Osseo, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Blaine, Shoreview, Woodbury, Falcon Heights, Columbia Park, Stillwater, Hastings, Inver Grove, Cottage Grove, South St. Paul, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, Richfield, Bloomington, Chaska, Chanhassen, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Hopkins.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Dean M. Salita, with more than 30 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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