Can normal aging alone cause light sensitivity?

Yes. The lens becomes clearer after cataract extraction or thinner with age, letting in more light, which some seniors notice as glare.

Do blue eyes make photophobia worse?

People with lighter irises have less pigment to absorb stray light, so mild sensitivity is more common, but severe pain usually indicates another problem.

How long does post-concussion photophobia last?

For most adults it improves within 2–4 weeks, but about 15 % have symptoms longer than 3 months and should see a neuro-optometrist.

Is it safe to keep working on a computer when my eyes hurt from light?

Limit continuous screen time to 20-minute blocks, lower brightness, and use artificial tears; if pain persists, get an eye exam.

Which over-the-counter medicines help?

Lubricating eye drops and oral pain relievers can ease mild discomfort, but avoid numbing eye drops unless prescribed—they can delay healing.

Does wearing sunglasses indoors make photophobia worse over time?

Wearing very dark lenses indoors can increase long-term light intolerance; use medium-tint or photochromic lenses instead.

Should I stop my antidepressant if I developed light sensitivity?

Do not stop suddenly. Talk to your prescribing clinician; dose adjustment or switching agents often resolves the symptom.

Could an eye infection cause only light sensitivity without redness?

Yes. Early viral keratitis or herpetic infections can present with photophobia before visible redness appears.

Can I test for dry eye at home?

You can try the ‘blink test’: if discomfort appears before you can keep eyes open for 10 seconds, dryness is likely, but formal testing requires an eye clinic.

Why does light suddenly hurt my eyes? Understanding photophobia in plain English

Why does light hurt my eyes in the first place?

Photophobia means ordinary light feels painfully bright. The problem usually lies in the cornea, retina, optic nerve, or the brain’s pain pathways. Addressing the root cause is key to relief.

Migraine alters brain light processingUp to 85 % of people with migraine report photophobia because their trigeminal nerve releases inflammatory peptides that lower the light-pain threshold.
Dry eye exposes corneal pain fibersWhen the tear film evaporates, tiny nerves on the cornea fire with even moderate light, creating a gritty, bright-light discomfort.
Concussion disturbs pupil reflexesAbout 50 % of patients with mild traumatic brain injury develop temporary photophobia as the brainstem recovers.
Certain drugs increase retinal glareMedications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, isotretinoin, and tropicamide enlarge the pupil or affect neurotransmitters, intensifying brightness.
Inherited disorders make the retina oversensitiveConditions like albinism or Achromatopsia reduce retinal pigment, so more light reaches photoreceptors, causing lifelong glare.
Blue light wavelengths are often the most irritatingWebMD explains that specific wavelengths—especially blue light from digital screens—tend to trigger or worsen photophobia in many people. (WebMD)
Meningitis can produce sudden, severe light aversionHealthline lists infections like meningitis and encephalitis among the urgent neurological causes of photophobia, noting that light sensitivity can be an early warning symptom that needs prompt medical attention. (Healthline)

Which symptoms with light sensitivity mean I should seek emergency care?

Photophobia is sometimes the first warning of sight-threatening or life-threatening disease. Recognizing red flags can protect your vision and health.

Eye pain plus halos can signal acute angle-closure glaucomaVision fog, rainbow halos, and a rock-hard eye require treatment within hours to prevent permanent damage.
Severe headache, stiff neck, and fever raise concern for meningitisPhotophobia occurs in up to 90 % of bacterial meningitis cases—call 911 if these symptoms coexist.
Sudden vision loss suggests optic neuritis or retinal detachmentIf bright light hurts and you notice dark curtains or color washout, same-day eye evaluation is essential.
Recent eye surgery with worsening light pain may indicate infectionPost-operative endophthalmitis is rare (0.05 %) but vision-saving antibiotics must be started quickly.
Chemical burns plus photophobia are sight-threatening emergenciesAny splash of alkali, acid, or other chemical that triggers sudden light sensitivity should be flushed right away and assessed in the ER—Baptist Health lists chemical exposure with photophobia among the situations that need immediate care. (Baptist)
Unequal pupils or double vision alongside light sensitivity can indicate brain or eye injuryThe Colorado Optometric Association warns that anisocoria or sudden diplopia paired with photophobia is a red flag requiring emergency evaluation to rule out serious neurologic or ocular trauma. (EyesCO)

What common conditions sit behind most cases of photophobia?

Knowing the usual suspects helps you and your clinician focus investigations.

Migraine tops the list in adults under 50Data from the American Headache Society show photophobia in 80-90 % of migraineurs.
Dry eye and blepharitis drive up to one-third of clinic visitsTear film osmolarity above 308 mOsm/L correlates with light discomfort severity.
Anterior uveitis often presents with ciliary spasm painEye redness, small pupil, and photophobia are classic—the team at Eureka Health notes that delayed steroid drops can double the risk of synechiae.
Post-concussion syndrome lasts longer in childrenIn pediatric studies, 25 % still report photophobia at 3 months; Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI, explains, “Developing brains need more time to recalibrate light reflex pathways.”
Meningitis is a red-flag neurological causeHealthline lists meningitis among the key brain conditions that provoke photophobia and warns that light sensitivity paired with fever or neck stiffness should prompt urgent medical evaluation. (Healthline)
Corneal abrasions spark sudden light sensitivityAll About Vision notes that even small scratches to the cornea are frequent sources of acute photophobia encountered in eye-care clinics. (AAV)

What can I do at home right now to ease the glare?

Simple measures reduce light entering the eye and calm irritated tissue while you arrange further care.

Use wraparound sunglasses with 99 % UVA/UVB blockingLarge lenses and side shields cut light by roughly 60 %, often enough for short-term comfort.
Apply preservative-free artificial tears every 2 hoursKeeping the cornea moist can halve light pain scores in dry-eye studies.
Dim device screens and enable blue-light filtersReducing screen luminance from 400 to 200 cd/m² lowers perceived brightness without compromising readability.
Stay hydrated and limit caffeine to avoid pupil dilationMild dehydration can shrink tear volume, while high caffeine intake temporarily enlarges pupils by 1–2 mm.
Track triggers in a migraine diaryIdentifying patterns—such as glare after skipping meals—helps personalize prevention; the team at Eureka Health notes that consistent trigger logs improve diagnostic accuracy.
Replace fluorescent bulbs with warm-white LEDsThe Vestibular Disorders Association notes that swapping flickering fluorescent lights for warm-white LEDs or incandescent bulbs cuts harsh blue light and can quickly lessen indoor photophobia. (VEDA)
Wear a wide-brimmed hat in addition to sunglassesVEDA recommends pairing sunglasses with a brimmed hat or cap to shield the eyes from overhead rays, making outdoor brightness feel noticeably gentler. (VEDA)

Which tests and treatments might my clinician order?

Evaluating photophobia usually starts with an eye exam but may extend to imaging or lab work depending on associated symptoms.

Slit-lamp exam checks cornea and anterior chamberFluorescein staining can detect abrasions, while cells and flare hint at uveitis.
Intraocular pressure measurement rules out glaucomaPressures above 25 mmHg with photophobia need urgent ophthalmology review.
Blood tests screen for autoimmune uveitisHLA-B27 positivity triples the risk of recurrent anterior uveitis.
Brain MRI is ordered if neurologic signs appearIn optic neuritis, 90 % show demyelinating lesions that guide therapy decisions.
Targeted medicines treat the root causeOptions range from lubricating drops to triptan tablets or steroid eye drops; Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI, emphasizes, “Relief comes fastest when therapy aligns precisely with the cause, not just the symptom.”
Migraine work-up is often included when photophobia accompanies headacheAround 80 % of migraine sufferers report light sensitivity, so your clinician may coordinate neurology evaluation or migraine-specific therapy. (AAO)
FL-41 tinted lenses can ease persistent light sensitivityAARP highlights specially tinted FL-41 eyewear that filters bothersome blue light, an option worth discussing especially since 25 % of patients leave eye centers without a clear diagnosis. (AARP)