Headache, painful eyes and light sensitivity

Light sensitivity, also called photophobia, can accompany migraine, especially with nausea, pulsing pain or a need to rest in a dark room. Conjunctivitis may cause redness, watering, discharge and gritty discomfort. Dry eyes, prolonged screen use, contact lenses and bright glare can also irritate the surface of the eye. Meningitis is uncommon but serious; headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, vomiting or marked light sensitivity needs emergency attention. One symptom pattern cannot diagnose the cause.

Rest away from glare, reduce screen brightness, use clean spectacles if needed and avoid rubbing your eyes. Remove contact lenses while the eye is painful or red. Drink fluids and follow the label of a suitable pain reliever; ask a pharmacist if you have other conditions or take regular medicines. Do not use someone else’s eye drops, especially antibiotic or steroid drops.

Get emergency help for sudden vision loss, a severe sudden headache, a very painful red eye, unequal pupils, confusion, weakness, seizure, fever with stiff neck or repeated vomiting. Seek same-day eye or medical assessment for new eye pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity after an eye injury or symptoms in a contact-lens wearer. Recurrent headaches should be reviewed even when they improve in darkness.

Ask whether the eye surface, vision and neurological examination are reassuring, whether the pattern fits migraine, and which treatment is suitable. Tell the clinician about contact lenses, injury, discharge, fever, nausea and any change in vision.