What should you know about increased sensitivity to light?

Light sensitivity may cause discomfort in bright sunlight, indoor lighting, or screens. It can accompany a migraine, especially with headache or nausea. Redness, watering, discharge, or gritty discomfort may occur with Conjunctivitis. A sudden severe headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, confusion, or a rash raises concern for Meningitis and requires urgent assessment.

New or worsening sensitivity can also follow an eye injury, contact-lens problem, inflammation, or a medicine effect. The timing, whether one or both eyes are affected, and changes in vision help guide the assessment.

Move to softer lighting, use sunglasses outdoors, reduce screen glare, and take regular visual breaks. Do not rub painful or red eyes, and remove contact lenses if they feel uncomfortable. Avoid using someone else’s eye drops; a pharmacist or clinician can advise on suitable treatment.

Arrange an eye or medical review if the symptom is new, persistent, affecting daily activities, or associated with pain, redness, discharge, or blurred vision. Keep a note of headaches, triggers, medicines, and whether darkness provides relief.

Seek emergency help for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, an eye injury, a severe new headache, fever with a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, or repeated vomiting. Prompt assessment is also needed for a painful red eye or rapid change in vision.

Could this fit Migraine, an eye problem, or a medicine effect? Should my eyes and vision be examined? Which changes mean I should seek emergency care?