Lupus and Sjogren's Dry Eye: Rose-Tinted Glasses

So, I've waited to post about my new glasses because I was trying to figure out the full effects for me. I still haven't reached my final conclusions, but I wanted to share at least what I've gathered so far.

Since manifesting lupus, I've known of my photosensitivity. But when a doctor used the term photophobia, I looked into it and came to learn more fully that dry eye itself, from my lupus and Sjogren's, causes photosensitivity. The two terms are often used interchangeably. Yet, photophobia led me to sites that mentioned the benefits of rose-tinted glasses. In particular, Theraspecs manufactures a line of glasses to aid dry eye patients and those who get migraine headaches.

Therapecs will create plain or prescription lenses. My particular insurance could not be applied to their line so I went to my optometry department to see what I could find independently. The migraine lens tint is FL41 and only ran about $20.

In the above picture, the left glasses are Theraspecs (thanks to my mother-in-law) and the right are mine. There's a difference in the red saturation between the two, but both are effective. My value is about 1.5, and the left lenses are likely a 2. I found value 3 to be too dark to see in dim places. It also kept others from seeing my eyes which created a sense of isolation.

Here are my results, after a month:

1. I'm able to walk through a room where the blinds are open. (Because of lupus, I still wouldn't choose to sit in the light and expose my skin for a longer period.)
2. I can sit in a room with artificial light that others would consider normal.
3. I can look at screens for a longer period.
4. With extended exposure, say if I'm driving, only 1-2 symptoms of lupus manifest at a time, rather than 5 or so.
5. My full lupus flares last a couple of days instead of 1-2 weeks.

This is life-changing! I'll continue to monitor how it goes and if the benefit sustains. Right now, I'm rocking the groovy glasses and the world looks very rosy.