IIH and Photophobia - How to cope with bright lights, UV glare and sunlight.
As a sufferer of IIH, you will have noticed that your eyes are more sensitive to bright lights, flashing lights, the glare from your PC monitor, and sunlight. Having a problem with these kind of things, can often bring on a headache. As we need light to see, this can throw up quite a few problems especially when you go out anywhere, to shops and shopping centres (Malls) for instance who have flourescent lighting. It can be worse when walls and surfaces are white, as the light reflects off of them.
At home you can soften the light in rooms by using low wattage bulbs, and/or have a dimmer switch. If you have lamps in your room, pick your lampshade carefully, so that it doesn't amplify the light, and position it where it doesn't shine directly in your face. You could also invest in some night vision glasses.
If you wear glasses, you could have them tinted, or get lenses that react to the light by darkening, and you can also have a UV filter coating put on them, which helps with your computer use too. You can also invest in an antiglare cover for your computer screen which is just as good.
Outside, the obvious solution is to wear a good pair of sunglasses. If you have the reaction lenses and UV filter coat on your glasses, this does help with the sunlight and also in places where they have flourescent bulbs, but when the sun is high and very bright, sunglasses are the best thing.
Most Opticians do UV coating and reaction/transition lenses. Ask your Optician about them next time you go.
You can also go for a cheaper idea for when you're sitting at your computer,watching TV or going to the cinema and invest in a pair of Anti Glare Glasses which ease the discomfort caused by glare but still optimises your vision.