Photophobia and vision

Photophobia is discomfort or pain triggered by light. You may squint, water, close one eye, or find screens and headlights hard to tolerate. This can happen with dry eyes, surface irritation, [Conjunctivitis](/conditions/conjunctivitis/), migraine, or inflammation. [Migraine](/conditions/migraine/) can cause visual discomfort even when the eye itself looks normal.

Separate temporary glare sensitivity from a true change in vision. Tell a clinician if objects look blurred, doubled, distorted, or partly missing, or if you notice flashes, new floaters, halos, or a curtain-like shadow. The [Light Sensitivity](/symptoms/light-sensitivity/) page explains the symptom in more detail.

Move away from direct glare, adjust screen brightness to match the room, enlarge text, and use frequent breaks. Wear sunglasses outdoors if needed, but do not use them to hide worsening vision. Avoid driving at night if headlights trigger pain or your vision is unclear.

Remove contact lenses when they sting or blur your sight. Do not rub the eye or use unprescribed drops. Arrange an eye examination if symptoms persist, recur, affect reading or work, or occur after a new medicine, injury, or infection.

Seek urgent care for sudden vision loss or distortion, severe eye pain, a painful red eye, flashes with a shower of new floaters, a curtain-like shadow, injury, or chemical exposure. Emergency help is needed for light sensitivity with fever, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache, vomiting, or rash; [Meningitis](/conditions/meningitis/) can present with this group of symptoms.

Ask whether your visual change comes from the eye surface, migraine, medication, or another cause; whether you need a dilated eye examination; and whether you should avoid screens, contact lenses, or driving until review.