Answer Summary

Members overwhelmingly confirmed that bright lighting is a common and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia, with fluorescent lights and direct... Read more

Members overwhelmingly confirmed that bright lighting is a common and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia, with fluorescent lights and direct sunlight being especially problematic triggers that cause eye pain, headaches, migraines, and vertigo. Many members shared practical coping strategies including wearing sunglasses indoors and outdoors year-round, using smaller lamps instead of overhead lighting, sitting in dark rooms, applying eye drops multiple times daily for accompanying dry eye symptoms, and limiting time in brightly-lit stores. A recurring theme was heightened sensory sensitivity beyond just light, with many describing how loud noises, strong smells, and overstimulating environments also trigger symptoms, which several members connected to sensory processing disorder as part of fibromyalgia.