What should you know about eye pressure light sensitivity?

[Migraine](/conditions/migraine/) may cause pressure or pain around the eye with sensitivity to light, nausea or visual symptoms. Surface irritation and inflammation, including [Conjunctivitis](/conditions/conjunctivitis/), can make light uncomfortable, especially when the eye is watery or gritty. The intensity, onset, vision, redness and discharge help a clinician distinguish these patterns. Light sensitivity itself is described more fully in [Light Sensitivity](/symptoms/light-sensitivity/).

Rest away from bright light, avoid rubbing the eye, remove contact lenses and use clean hands around the face. Keep a record of onset, headache features, redness, discharge, nausea and any change in vision. Do not use someone else's eye drops. Arrange assessment if symptoms persist, recur or are becoming more intense, particularly if one eye is affected.

Seek urgent care for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, a very red eye, an irregular pupil, injury, chemical exposure or rapidly worsening symptoms. Light sensitivity with fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion or a rash can occur with serious illness such as [Meningitis](/conditions/meningitis/) and needs emergency assessment.

Is the pressure coming from the eye surface, the surrounding tissues or a headache pattern? Are my vision and eye movements normal? Should I stop contact lenses, and what changes mean I need emergency care?