You’re driving home from dinner one night, and you notice the headlights from the other lane are brighter than usual. You continue driving, and the headlights seem brighter and brighter as you make your way home. Before long, they’re unbearably bright your vision becomes blurred. Now you’re starting to have trouble seeing. You pull over to collect yourself, and the results seem clear; you have intense light sensitivity. What is the source of this sensitivity? One source might be TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ is notorious for affecting systems people wouldn’t expect. One of those systems is your eyes. Some of the ways that TMJ might affect your vision include:

• Pain behind the eyes
• Bloodshot eyes
• Potential for your eyes to “bulge out”
• Sensitivity to light

TMJ and Light Sensitivity

Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is a possible consequence of TMJ. A dislocated temporomandibular joint can cause pain behind the eyes, thus resulting in sensitivity to light. Due to the TMJ’s position, irritation and inflammation can affect other adjacent structures such as the ears.

How TMJ-Based Light Sensitivity Can Affect Your Life

If you suffer from light sensitivity due to a TMJ disorder, the consequences can be much farther reaching than one might expect.

• Aversion to fluorescent lights can keep you from being able to work in an office environment.
• Light sensitivity can keep you from driving, especially at night.
• Light sensitivity anxiety is a condition where the aversion to specific light sources can induce anxiety or nervousness.
• Severe light aversion can cause migraines.

TMJ Treatment at Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics in Lynnwood, WA

The effects of TMJ extend far beyond the confines of the teeth and jaw. TMJ can affect a patient’s ability to see, which can be justifiably terrifying for people who have to experience it. Dr. Buck specializes in the treatment of TMJ. Through an innovative, ever-evolving approach to modern dentistry, he can often provide much-needed relief to patients who haven’t known comfort in years. Call Dr. Buck and the experts at Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics in Lynnwood, WA at (425) 409-2180 or visit our contact page today for a consultation and path to living pain-free.