What should you know about sudden eye sensitivity to light?

Light sensitivity, also called photophobia, means ordinary light feels uncomfortable or painful, causing squinting, eye watering or a need to darken the room. Migraine may bring light sensitivity with headache, nausea or visual symptoms. Conjunctivitis may cause redness, discharge and irritation. Painful light sensitivity can also arise from inflammation inside the eye. Meningitis is uncommon but can present with light sensitivity alongside fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting or confusion.

The pattern matters: one painful red eye, a sudden visual disturbance or symptoms after an eye injury should be assessed differently from familiar light sensitivity during a typical migraine.

Move to gentle, indirect light and wear sunglasses briefly outdoors if needed. Remove contact lenses, avoid rubbing the eyes and rinse only if an irritant has entered the eye. Rest, hydrate and note headache, redness, discharge, vision changes, fever and recent injury. Do not drive if vision is blurred or light makes it unsafe. Arrange an eye or medical assessment if the symptom is new, persistent or keeps returning.

Seek emergency care for light sensitivity with sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, a fixed or irregular pupil, chemical exposure, a serious injury, confusion, weakness, seizure, fever with stiff neck or a sudden severe headache. A painful red eye or rapidly worsening symptoms need same-day assessment because delay can threaten vision or signal serious infection.

Ask whether the symptom fits migraine, surface irritation or deeper eye inflammation; whether you need an eye examination; and which changes should prompt urgent review. Mention contact lens use, medicines, injury and whether one or both eyes are affected.