fluorescent lights on tennis courts - bad reactions

[Jacjul33]

I have always suffered with light reactive problems to fluorescent lights and it is a very real causing extreme adverse reactions such as dizziness, attention focus, fatigue, blurry eyes, sickness, impatience, stress, sickness, etc...
Once removed from fluorescent lights the problems go away.  I love to play tennis and our courts to save money, have switched to fluorescent lighting which is causing many adverse symptoms and affecting my game and concentration and making me feel ill.  I noticed the first day, that I felt off kilter with the new lights and it's getting progressively worse.  Others too are experiencing problems with the lights.  I feel these lights should not be used for games where we are forced to look up into the light (no matter how far away) - if we are sensitive, we are sensitive and it's a problem.

Unless, there are special glasses I can wear or these lights are removed, I feel I will not be able to play without feeling ill - which in turn means I cannot play competitively.

Are there special sports glasses and I feel these lights should be banned in sports facilities.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

=

[654uyt]

I am so thankful I found this site.  I have been working in an office for 1 1/2 years and suffering slowly by my right eye, burning and can't seem to focus, and finally figured out the only time I am in agony is at work, and right above my desk are bright Flourescent lights. I ask my employer to have the building change them and he yes'd me off, then told me I should get my glasses tinted.  What a jerk, anyways, thank you for the information.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[walkietalkie]

I trawl some engineering forums (I am an engineer). I have heard of photo-sensitive epilepsy caused by flourescent lightings. And I agree with Anton. Probably its the older type of fluorescent lightings that may cause problems for some individuals. The lighting should be upgraded with high frequency (w/out magnetic) ballast.

[AntonReiser]

For me it sounds like a matter of lighting technology.
Fluorescent lamps should be the daylight color type and should be operated with high frequency electronic ballast to avoid flicker.
And the lamps should have shades so you normally don't see the tubes.

I found some kind of luxury version of such a lamp on:
http://www.thornlighting.co.uk/PDB/Ressource/photo/TLG_TITU_F_SWG.jpg

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Although other report this problem from time to time it is extremely rare.  Changing all the worlds lighting for your problem is like banishing the automobile because some people get car sick.

JCH MD