Eye light sensitivity symptoms: what to know

Light sensitivity, also called photophobia, can make daylight, screens, or indoor lamps feel harsh. You may squint, keep your eyes closed, develop watering, or feel discomfort after a short time in bright surroundings. Dryness, an irritated surface, contact-lens problems, and eye inflammation are possible explanations. Migraine can also cause light sensitivity, sometimes with headache, nausea, or visual changes. Conjunctivitis may cause redness and discharge alongside sensitivity. Light sensitivity is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and its meaning depends on whether it affects one or both eyes, how suddenly it began, and what else you notice.

Move to softer, indirect light and reduce screen glare while your eyes are uncomfortable. Sunglasses can help outdoors, but wearing very dark lenses continuously indoors may make ordinary light harder to tolerate. Rest your eyes, blink regularly, and avoid rubbing them. Remove contact lenses if they feel irritating and use glasses until the discomfort settles. Note the start time, triggers, eye redness, discharge, headache, visual disturbance, and any recent injury or new eye product. Arrange an assessment if the symptom persists, keeps returning, or interferes with normal activities.

Seek urgent medical care for sudden or severe eye pain, a marked change in vision, a very red eye, light sensitivity after an eye injury, or trouble keeping the eye open. Get urgent help if sensitivity comes with fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, or repeated vomiting. A contact-lens wearer with pain, redness, or reduced vision should be assessed promptly. These warning signs can point to a problem needing examination rather than home care.

Could dryness, inflammation, migraine, or a medication explain this symptom? Do you need to check my vision and the front of my eye? Should I pause contact-lens use, and which warning changes should prompt urgent care?