Headache when light hurts your eyes: what to know

Migraine commonly causes sensitivity to light, with throbbing or pulsing head pain, nausea, and a wish to rest in a dark room. Bright screens, glare, dry eyes, uncorrected vision, or long periods of close work can strain the eyes and forehead. A viral illness such as Common Cold or COVID-19 may cause headache with feeling unwell, while sinus congestion can add pressure around the eyes. Severe eye pain, a red eye, halos, or a sudden change in vision is a different pattern and needs urgent assessment. Light sensitivity is a symptom, not a diagnosis.

Rest in a dim, quiet room and lower screen brightness; avoid staring at a phone in darkness or at a bright display. Drink fluids, eat regularly, and use a cool cloth over closed eyes if comfortable. Remove contact lenses if the eyes feel irritated and do not drive when vision is blurred or light is difficult to tolerate. Record the timing, possible triggers, nausea, visual symptoms, sleep, and medicines so a clinician can identify a pattern.

Seek emergency care for sudden severe headache, new weakness, confusion, fainting, seizure, trouble speaking, loss of vision, severe eye pain, or a stiff neck with fever. Prompt review is needed for a painful red eye, persistent vomiting, a new headache after injury, or a first or rapidly changing episode of light sensitivity. Fever with marked dehydration, rash, or severe illness also needs medical advice; Dengue Fever can be serious in some settings.

Ask whether the pattern fits migraine or eye strain, whether your eyes and vision need checking, how often pain medicine can be used, and which visual or neurological changes are emergencies.