Question about the link between poor lighting and my recent migraines during board inspections

I've been getting brutal migraines after long sessions staring at circuits under harsh LED lights in my shop. We talk endlessly about magnification and tools, but if the basic lighting is wrong, we're just damaging our health for no good reason. Have any of you switched to specific lamps or light temperatures that eased eye strain without killing visibility?

4 comments

4 Comments

jamesf418h ago

But come on, is it really the LED flicker or the color temperature causing migraines? Feels like we're overcomplicating this... I've worked under terrible fluorescent tubes for years with no issues. Could just be dehydration or staring without breaks. Sometimes a headache is just a headache, not a lighting conspiracy.

alicehernandez17h ago

I remember reading in an optometry journal that LED flicker above 100 Hz can trigger migraines even if you don't consciously see it. Your harsh shop lights might be operating at a problematic frequency. In my experience, moving to lights with a high CRI and a color temperature around 4000K reduced my eye strain dramatically. The cooler blues in standard LEDs seem to aggravate headaches, while warmer tones diffuse better. You might want to look for fixtures labeled 'flicker-free' and try dimmable options to adjust brightness during long sessions. It's surprising how much the quality of light matters beyond just having enough of it.

the_wyatt12h ago

Does unseen LED flicker actually trigger migraines?

anthony_campbell888h ago

The reflective surfaces in your workshop might be doubling the problem. My old shop had concrete floors and white walls that bounced every bit of that harsh LED glare right back. Wrapping a matte grey film around my workbench cut the reflected glare in half.