SymptomEyes & vision
Photophobia (Light Sensitivity)
Photophobia means light causes discomfort or pain, making you squint, shut your eyes or seek darkness. It is not a fear of light. The most common causes are migraine, dry eye and eye irritation, but it can also signal eye inflammation, a corneal injury, meningitis or bleeding in the brain. Sudden light sensitivity with a severe headache, stiff neck or fever, or with a painful red eye and blurred vision, needs urgent care.
Also called: Light sensitivity, sensitivity to light, photalgia, eyes sensitive to light
At a glance
- What it is
- Discomfort or pain in the eyes or head from normal levels of light.
- Common causes
- Migraine, dry eye, conjunctivitis, contact lens overuse, light-colored eyes.
- Serious causes
- Uveitis, corneal ulcer, acute glaucoma, meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Key clues
- Eye pain and redness point to the eye. Headache, fever or stiff neck point to the brain.
- Relief
- Treat the cause. Sunglasses and dim light help temporarily.
When to get help
Call 911 or go to the ER
- Light sensitivity with a sudden, severe "worst ever" headache
- Light sensitivity with fever, stiff neck, confusion, drowsiness or a rash that does not fade when pressed
- A painful red eye with blurred vision, halos around lights, nausea or vomiting
- Light sensitivity after a head injury with vomiting, confusion or worsening headache
- A chemical splash in the eye. Rinse with running water for 20 minutes while getting help
See a doctor within a day or two
- A painful red eye with light sensitivity, especially in a contact lens wearer
- Light sensitivity with a scratch, foreign body or blow to the eye
- A red, painful eye with a small pupil and blurred vision, which may be iritis
Book a routine appointment
- Ongoing light sensitivity without pain or redness
- Light sensitivity with recurring headaches
- Light sensitivity after starting a new medicine
Usually safe to manage at home
- Mild light sensitivity during a familiar migraine, or with tired, dry eyes after screen use, that clears with rest
What photophobia means
The word comes from Greek for "light fear," but it describes physical discomfort, not anxiety. Light signals travel from the eye along the optic nerve and also activate pain pathways of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies the eye and the coverings of the brain (meninges). When the eye is inflamed or these pain pathways are sensitized, ordinary light hurts. Our sensitivity to light page covers the everyday side of this symptom.
Causes of photophobia
Eye causes
| Cause | Clues |
|---|---|
| Dry eye | Gritty, burning eyes, worse with screens and wind |
| Conjunctivitis | Red, sticky or watery eyes. Light sensitivity is usually mild |
| Corneal abrasion | Sharp pain, watering, a feeling of something in the eye after a scratch |
| Keratitis or corneal ulcer | Painful red eye, discharge, often in contact lens wearers. Can threaten sight |
| Uveitis (iritis) | Deep aching eye, redness around the colored part, blurred vision, strong light sensitivity |
| Acute angle-closure glaucoma | Severe eye pain, halos, headache, nausea, a mid-dilated pupil |
| After eye surgery or dilation drops | Temporary |
| Light-colored eyes, albinism | Less pigment to filter light |
| Cataracts | Glare more than true pain |
Brain and nerve causes
- Migraine: the most common cause of photophobia overall. Most people with migraine are light sensitive during attacks, and many between attacks.
- Tension-type and cluster headaches.
- Meningitis: fever, headache, stiff neck and light sensitivity. A medical emergency.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: a sudden, explosive headache, often with neck stiffness and vomiting.
- Concussion and traumatic brain injury: light sensitivity can persist for weeks.
- Blepharospasm: involuntary eyelid closing, often worse in bright light.
- Rarer causes: pituitary tumors, progressive supranuclear palsy.
Other causes
- medicines: some antibiotics (doxycycline), furosemide, quinine and drugs that dilate the pupil
- withdrawal from benzodiazepines
- hangover and viral illnesses with fever
- depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue syndrome are associated with heightened light sensitivity
Is it the eye or the brain?
| Points to an eye problem | Points to a brain or nerve problem |
|---|---|
| Red eye, eye pain, discharge or watering | Headache, nausea, sound sensitivity |
| Affects one eye more | Both eyes equally |
| Blurred vision in the affected eye | Fever, stiff neck, confusion |
| Contact lens use or injury | Head injury, history of migraine |
How doctors find the cause
A doctor will ask about headaches, eye pain, redness, injury, contact lens use, fever and medicines, then examine:
- vision, pupils and eye movements
- the eye surface with a slit lamp and fluorescein dye to show scratches or ulcers
- eye pressure and inside the eye
- neck stiffness and a neurological exam if headache or fever is present
Further tests depend on findings, such as an urgent CT scan and lumbar puncture for suspected bleeding or meningitis, or an MRI for unexplained neurological symptoms.
Treatment and relief
Treating the cause is the priority: lubricating drops for dry eye, antibiotic drops for bacterial keratitis, steroid and dilating drops for uveitis, and acute and preventive treatment for migraine.
To ease light sensitivity while the cause is treated:
- Wear sunglasses outdoors. Avoid wearing dark glasses all the time indoors, because this can make your eyes more sensitive over time.
- Adjust screens: lower brightness, use dark mode and take breaks every 20 minutes.
- Use warm, dimmable lighting and avoid flickering fluorescent lights.
- Try tinted lenses: some people with migraine find rose-colored (FL-41) lenses reduce light sensitivity.
- Remove contact lenses if your eyes are red or painful, and see an eye doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What causes sudden light sensitivity?
Sudden light sensitivity is often from a migraine or an eye problem such as a corneal scratch, keratitis or uveitis. With a severe sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or confusion, it can signal meningitis or bleeding in the brain, which need emergency care.
Is photophobia a symptom of migraine?
Yes. Light sensitivity is one of the main symptoms of migraine, along with throbbing headache, nausea and sound sensitivity. Many people with migraine remain somewhat light sensitive between attacks, and bright or flickering light can trigger attacks.
Can dry eyes cause light sensitivity?
Yes. Dry eye leaves the cornea's nerve endings exposed and irritated, making light uncomfortable, especially with screens, wind and air conditioning. Lubricating drops, blinking breaks and treating eyelid inflammation usually help.
What does photophobia mean?
Photophobia is the medical term for discomfort or pain caused by light. Despite the name, it is not a fear of light. It is a symptom, so the next step is to find the cause, which may be in the eye or in the brain.
Should I wear sunglasses indoors for light sensitivity?
Generally no. Wearing dark glasses indoors can make your eyes adapt to darkness and become more sensitive over time. Wear sunglasses outdoors, and indoors use dimmer, warmer lighting and lower screen brightness instead.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Photophobia (Light Sensitivity)
- MedlinePlus: Eyes, sensitivity to light
- American Migraine Foundation: Light Sensitivity and Migraine
- NHS: Meningitis symptoms
- National Eye Institute: Uveitis