Validation of the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale and Visual Discomfort Scale in Chronic Pain Conditions

Discomfort provoked by normally innocuous visual stimuli has been reported people with chronic pain. Visual discomfort may be higher in pain conditions which central sensitization is implicated, such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. In an online study, we validated the Leiden Sensitivity Scale (L-VISS) (VDS) CRPS ( n = 57), fibromyalgia 75), general 53); investigated whether these groups pain-free controls 125) differed discomfort; evaluated effect of age. The L-VISS VDS had good internal consistency. Both scales were positively related experimentally induced distortions for mid-spatial frequency striped patterns, suggesting construct validity. each other, dissociated between similar ways, There was no relationship age scores a small negative scores. highest group, followed group. This research confirms utility measuring sensitivity adds to evidence that important mechanism discomfort.