Photophobia: Causes, Triggers, and What You Can Do About Light Sensitivity
When bright lights make your eyes hurt, it’s not just being picky—it’s photophobia, an abnormal sensitivity to light that can stem from neurological, ocular, or drug-related causes. Also known as light sensitivity, it’s not a disease on its own, but a symptom that points to something else going on in your body. You might feel pain, squint, or want to close your eyes even under normal indoor lighting. It doesn’t always mean you have bad eyesight. Sometimes, it’s your brain reacting too strongly to light signals—especially if you have migraines, a neurological condition where light can trigger or worsen head pain. Studies show over 80% of people with migraines report photophobia during attacks, and it can linger even when the headache is gone.
Photophobia can also come from medications. Drugs like tetracycline, an antibiotic known to increase skin and eye sensitivity to UV light, or even common antidepressants like fluoxetine, which can alter how the brain processes sensory input, may cause this side effect. It’s not rare. In fact, drug-induced photophobia shows up in multiple posts here, tied to reactions that affect the nervous system or eye function. If you started a new pill and now sunlight feels like a punch to the eyes, it’s worth checking with your doctor. It could be temporary, or it could mean you need a different treatment.
Other causes include eye conditions like uveitis, corneal abrasions, or albinism—where lack of pigment makes the eyes more vulnerable to light. Neurological disorders like meningitis or traumatic brain injury can also trigger it. And yes, it can be linked to chronic conditions like lupus or multiple sclerosis. The key is not to ignore it. If photophobia is new, worsening, or paired with headaches, nausea, blurred vision, or eye redness, it’s not something to wait out. It’s a signal your body is sending, and the posts below dig into exactly how medications, diseases, and even simple lifestyle changes can make it better—or worse.
What you’ll find here aren’t generic tips like "wear sunglasses." You’ll see real connections: how certain antibiotics worsen light sensitivity, why some migraine treatments help more than others, and what drug interactions might be hiding behind your discomfort. Whether you’re dealing with this after starting a new prescription, living with chronic migraines, or just trying to figure out why your eyes won’t adjust to daylight, these posts give you the facts you need—not fluff, not guesses, just what works.
