"Thank You For Changing My Life" (Danny’s Story)
Our nation’s servicemen and women are an incredible source of inspiration for all of us here at TheraSpecs. The words "courage" and "sacrifice" come into sharp focus when we hear their stories, especially as they describe the dangers of combat and the health struggles that follow them home from the battlefield. So it is always special to help those in our military with light sensitivity better manage and relieve their symptoms.
Danny wrote to us recently to share how TheraSpecs have improved his life. He has served in the military for 25 years within the special operations community and has been deployed numerous times to the Middle East in support of the Global War on Terrorism. As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, Danny has been confronted with the perils of war on a regular basis.
"Just think what the bomb squad would do in the United States, I am the one that eliminates IEDs (improvised explosive devices)," he said. "I have been personally struck by these IEDs. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, and several other conditions that include sensitivity to light."
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have been shown to affect military service members at greater rates. In fact, 450,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000, according to the Department of Defense. Follow-on complications, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), post-TBI headaches and migraines, and other issues, often present as well.
Light sensitivity has been connected to all of these conditions, making it a prominent health concern that results from their service. This hypersensitivity to light (also called photophobia) is the most common visual symptom in blast-induced TBI, affecting 60-75% of those with these types of traumas.1,2 Light sensitivity is not just a symptom, but exposure to light—including specific wavelengths in the blue spectrum—can initiate the onset of complications too. Fluorescent lighting, LEDs, computer screens, and bright sunlight all pose a risk. Suffice it to say, light sensitivity after TBI is a big problem for many in our military.
Thankfully, Danny was able to get some insight into his symptoms when he visited a TBI clinic. This is where he learned about TheraSpecs glasses as a key tool for photophobia relief. TheraSpecs has several lens options for brain injury survivors that work by blocking the most harmful wavelengths of light that can trigger symptoms of TBI and other light-sensitive conditions.
Even better, he was able to get them purchased with the help of the Semper Fi Fund, which supports injured service members and veterans as they transition back to the community.
Here is Danny wearing Winslow TheraSpecs (both rose-colored FL-Pro for indoors and dark, polarized FL-Sun sunglasses) to improve his light sensitivity after brain injury.
Like so many others who wear TheraSpecs, Danny felt the IMMEDIATE impact of his new glasses and could not believe he had gone so long without them. TheraSpecs allow him to live his life without the stress of being in areas with bright lights that would otherwise affect his vision and headache issues.
"Imagine being able to be back out in the sun without worrying about the headache that is going to come and the vision that will blur because of the sunlight. With TheraSpecs, I don't worry about that anymore! Thank you for changing my LIFE!" he exclaimed.
We love to see Danny smiling with his Winslow-style TheraSpecs, and we’re proud to support him and all other members of the military!
P.S. In addition to the Semper Fi Fund, TheraSpecs can be ordered through the VA for eligible veterans. Learn more about how you can get TheraSpecs through the VA.
References:
1Magone MT, Kwon E, Shin SY. Chronic visual dysfunction after blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(1):71-80. doi:10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0008
2Abusamak M, Alrawashdeh HM. Post-concussion syndrome light sensitivity: A case report and review of the literature. Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2021;46(2):85-90. doi:10.1080/01658107.2021.1983612.
Last updated 13th Mar 2024
TheraSpecs Glasses for Light Management
Try our light-filtering glasses and stay protected against harsh light from screens, fluorescents, LEDs, unwanted blue light, bright sunlight, flashing lights, and more.
