Fibromyalgia and light sensitivity

Light sensitivity, also called photophobia, means that ordinary light feels uncomfortable or worsens symptoms. In fibromyalgia, the nervous system can process sensory input more intensely, so bright sunlight, glare, screens, or flickering light may aggravate headache, eye discomfort, or fatigue. This symptom varies from person to person and may come and go.

Light sensitivity is not specific to fibromyalgia. Migraine, conjunctivitis, medication effects, and eye inflammation can also cause it. Meningitis is an uncommon but serious cause when sensitivity occurs with severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, confusion, or a rapidly worsening illness.

Notice which settings bring symptoms on and adjust them gently: use curtains or a brimmed hat outdoors, lower screen brightness, take breaks from close-up viewing, and choose steady indoor lighting. Sunglasses may help outdoors, but wearing very dark lenses all the time can make ordinary light harder to tolerate for some people.

Keep regular sleep, meals, hydration, and activity as far as your symptoms allow. Record light exposure with headache, pain, medicines, and other symptoms. A clinician can review the pattern and examine the eyes and nervous system when needed.

Seek urgent help for sudden severe headache, fever with neck stiffness, confusion, fainting, weakness, a new rash, severe eye pain, vision loss, or marked redness. Arrange a routine review when sensitivity is new, persistent, worsening, one-sided, or accompanied by repeated headaches or changes in vision.

Ask whether your pattern fits fibromyalgia or migraine, whether your eyes need examination, which medicines may contribute, and how to manage screens, sunlight, and headaches without increasing avoidance.