Energy-Saving Bulbs Causing Migraine Headaches

I'm not a lighting expert, but I am a sufferer from Irlen syndrome.

Any form of strong lighting - fluroescent or sunlight will bring on migraines.

The reason? The lighting - particularly fluro lighting - causes me to have dyslexia. Add that to a busy job and hey presto, migraines!

I have these bulbs in my house. I actually went out and replaced the 'normal' bulbs with these believing that I was doing the right thing. Now as soon as I can I'll be ripping them out.

I run three desk lamps at work. Oh yes. All you energy experts will be horrified. We've had to switch off the four fluro lights that bored into my brain all day long from above so now I sit in semi-darkness. If I have a headache coming on, I might even turn them off.

Migraines/dyslexia can be managed. How can you compare the cost of four desk lamps with the cost of my sick leave, my emotional turmoil and the duty of care that my workplace has so thankfully fulfilled in me?

These light-saving bulbs are not the answer.

The people who run the Irlen Syndrome clinics estimate that up to 10% of the Australia population may suffer from the problem. If the problem is genetic and my children suffer from it, then don't force them to endure a life-time of life under flurescent lighting at school AND at home!

Allow people the freedom to choose what they use in their homes.

Don't make those of us who already suffer in other way have to pay stupid prices for a $1 bulb!

For those of you who are saying this is BS - IT IS NOT.
Just because fluorescent light doesn't cause you problems does not mean everyone else is like you.
I always used CRT computer monitors, and then switched to LCD monitors (which are backlight by fluorescent light) and had daily horrible headaches. It took me 6 months of daily headaches to figure out that it could be fluorescent light. Once I eliminated the LCD monitor and all of these "ECO" lights, I no longer have daily headaches.
I'm all for green energy savings but we need to figure out a way to make a more natural light.

I can not be in the same room for more than a few minutes where these exposed bulbs are used.

I do have trouble with overhead lighting to begin with, and have been told it was due to my astigmatisms but the almost instant issue I have around these bulbs is extreme - and hurts!

We have had to leave more than one public place because they switched to these bulbs.

I am concerned about the possible legislation to make these mandatory but I guess I'll spend more time eating and shopping at home, by candle light if need be!!!

Most people don't know that the contents of fluorescent bulbs can be hazardous and must be disposed of properly. And you need to be especially careful if you accidently break one. Unlike traditional light bulbs where all you have to worry about when breaking one is cleaning up the glass, fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury.

1) Mercury, According to Popular Mechanics there is very little mercury in the bulbs and this mercury is easy to properly dispose of. Likewise, the coal that would be burned to provide more electricity for using regular incandescent bulbs dumps about three times as much mercury right into our atmosphere for us to breath.
2) Migraines, Migraines have long been touted as a byproduct of old fluorescent and similar devises like monitors because they work at a slow 60hz. New compact fluorescent lights have ballasts that work at VERY high speeds that are WAY beyond our comprehension where flickering is noticed or might cause headaches. Many TVs and monitors are also faster now, up to 120hz, though still much slower than current CFL's and more likely to cause this type of problem.

This could be true. I have lived with this Migraine pain for about 2 years. i work in an office space that has many of these bulbs lighting from 8 am till the time we close at 8 pm. Back home i have my house full of these bulbs.In life i have come to accept this pain as i could not easily find the cause. What is so bad is that in Uganda my country, the government imports them and gives the out freely to save on power. The old bulbs are no more.
Bigger danger is that we don't even know how to dispose them off when they burn out. The best is to throw them out through the window. This is going to be a killer health bomb to many of the developing nations. What the way forward?

I have never had issues with chronic headaches until just recently when I fitted my bedside lamp with a new CFL. And now, almost immediately after turning it on, I get a migraine that lasts for an extended period. Ugh. It's definitely true.

Why its true that LED lights will be brighter and less energy the fact is that they are just too expensive for the average consumer to want to use.

Compact Flourescent Lighting will save you money and they do have 100 watt equivalent or more, you have to make sure you choose the right kelvin to determine the color, the higher it is, the more blue the color will be and may be more sensitive to your eyes.

And as for the Mercury problem, there is less mercury in the CFL bulbs then you may think. Did you know that Fish have trace amounts of mercury in them, and is sometimes more then a CFL bulb

Just some helpful advice,
Bryan
www.lightingsupplywarehouse.com

I have occasional "Complex" Migraines. I have noticed that the flourescent lighting in my office causes me to have more frequent headaches and migraines than when I used to travel,... A larger concern for me is the reference of LED lighting. One glance at LED lighting and I start to see small "halos" in the center of my eyes that grow to large prism-like crescents on the outer edge within an hour. This is followed by severe migraine pain and an inability to view my PC screen.
I hope they keep options open for those of us who have to deal with these issues...

The high mercury content is dangerous as well. These can not be disposed of safely-landfills are not equipped to deal with mercury any longer.

I installed one bulb that lasted about two months. Another blew up within two minutes. I have stocked up on incadescent bulbs. The mercury will fill the ground when they are placed in the dump

More unintended consequences of the greenies or is this an intended consequence?

You also just can't throw them out when they burn out either. They have to be taken to a waste disposal terminal because of the mercury used in them. More tax money to be spent to hire people to do those jobs.

How should these be disposed of?
Thanks, Carol in NC

www.Nikken.com/Riddick

The same goes for the elongated flourescent bulbs used in most major stores. Meaning, people with flourescent sensitivity can't just go into a story these days anyway.

This is the problem in America. We rush into what "sounds" good all the time without doing any research. It is the reason why we have endless pages of laws too vast to ever read. We are drowning in regulation and may never get out. Ron Paul in 08, do the research.

will these new bulbs ever be available in 3 way types?

I hate those new bulbs and find the cold light depressing. Isn't there anything we can do to keep our nice warm cheery incandescents?

The answer is LED light bulbs. They don't flicker, they do not contain mercury, thay are 100% eco friendly, They consume very little enery, produce no heat and last 50,000 hours!

I tried using the "eco" lights and found out that they do cause migraines! I didn't figure it out until after a couple of them, but I did notice the flickering especially when reading!
Guess I'll have to hang out in the dark when these are the only bulbs available! Maybe I can start a stockpile of the incandescents!

you know after reading this I can believe it. my entire home is done in the eco lights. and I suffer from a long exsisting migraine condition. the thing is though, ive been having them more often. and the lamp on my nightstand has one, and it has no lamp shade, and I get them the most in the middle of the night when I get up to get a drink or go potty, about 10 times a night, as I am also preggers. soooo the headaches could be cause of the pregnancy as any woman who has been preggers knows that headaches are a side effect due to swelling of all the membranes in your face and head. but I do find it strange it hurts the most when I use that lamp. two and two has probably been put together thanks to this artical. time to buy a new lamps shade or put a reg bulb in it while i still can lol