Does migraine cause light sensitivity?

Ordinary daylight, overhead lighting, phone screens, or glare may feel painfully intense during migraine. This symptom can accompany headache, nausea, dizziness, or visual aura, and some people notice it before the pain begins. Sensitivity that is new, constant, or paired with eye redness, severe eye pain, or visual loss may have another cause and needs assessment.

Lower screen brightness, take regular screen breaks, and use a quiet room with comfortable, gentle lighting. Sunglasses can help outdoors, but wearing very dark lenses indoors for long periods may increase sensitivity for some people. Rest, hydrate, and follow your clinician’s migraine treatment instructions. Record the light sources, timing, related symptoms, and recovery pattern.

Seek urgent care for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, a red eye with blurred sight, a sudden severe headache, weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, seizure, fever with a stiff neck, or light sensitivity after an injury. Prompt advice is appropriate when the symptom is persistent or unlike your usual episodes.

Could my light sensitivity be migraine-related, or should my eyes be checked? Which lighting changes are sensible for work and travel? What symptoms would change the urgency of my care?