Light Sensitivity: Definition, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Published on December 8th, 2023

Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, is a common symptom associated with several different eye problems and is characterised by pain or discomfort when the eyes are exposed to light. Those with light-sensitive eyes may experience photophobia symptoms such as the need to squint or blink when they are outside or when they are faced with a bright source of light. Having eyes sensitive to light may stem from causes such as an eye infection, eye injuries and burns, eye diseases, headaches and post-surgery effects.

What is Light Sensitivity?

Light sensitivity refers to the need to squint or close your eyes when you are exposed to bright light. Light sensitivity can bring on discomfort and possibly pain in one or both eyes and typically accompanies other symptoms as an indication of an underlying condition.

What Does Light Sensitivity Look Like?

Light sensitivity may look like an individual who requires closing their eyes or squinting in order to alleviate any pain or discomfort. This may be more noticeable when going outside in sunny conditions or where there is bright artificial light.

Girl squinting eyes due to light sensitivity

What is the Medical Term for Light Sensitivity?

The medical term for light sensitivity is known as photophobia. Photophobia is defined as an unusual sensitivity to light according to Kathleen B. Digre and K.C. Brennan.

How Common is Light Sensitivity?

Light sensitivity is considered widely common as it can occur as a symptom of many different eye problems as well as migraines. Light sensitivity is a common symptom during migraine episodes, neurological and ophthalmic disorders according to Kathleen B. Digre and K.C. Brennan (2012). There are different conditions that contribute to the common occurrence of light sensitivity with around 90% of those who experience migraines, 75% of dry eye patients with severe symptoms, 70% of traumatic brain injury patients and 70% of individuals with ADHD experiencing this symptom, according to the Optometrists Network.

How Does Light Sensitivity Differ From Colour Blindness?

Light sensitivity differs from colour blindness as colour blindness is related to how one sees colours and light sensitivity is a symptom that causes discomfort when exposed to bright light. Colour blindness is the inability to distinguish between certain colours, to know how bright colours are or not to see certain shades of colours according to the National Eye Institute.

What Age Does Light Sensitivity Usually Appear?

Light sensitivity can appear at any age, depending on what eye disease or condition you have that may be causing it. There are a wide range of eye diseases and conditions that can affect children and adults that can trigger light sensitivity. Common examples of eye diseases that can cause sensitivity to light include eye infections, eye inflammation and dry eye.

Can Kids Develop Light Sensitivity?

Yes, kids can develop light sensitivity. Eye problems such as conjunctivitis and neurological conditions such as autism can commonly occur in children and can cause light sensitivity. If your child is exhibiting signs of light sensitivity, it is recommended to take them to an optometrist for a complete eye test for a professional diagnosis and suitable treatment plan.

What are the Eye Diseases that Cause Light Sensitivity?

The eye diseases that cause light sensitivity are shingles, glaucoma, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, cataracts, nystagmus, keratoconus, corneal abrasion, iritis, retinitis pigmentosa, blepharospasm, uveitis, dry eye, keratitis and paediatric cataracts. These eye diseases can develop commonly in a range of different age groups and can occur in mild to severe forms. The eye diseases that cause light sensitivity are listed below.

Shingles: Shingles is an infection caused by the Herpes Zoster Virus, that results in painful rashes on the body, around the eye and can bring on light sensitivity.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is an eye disease that can result in the loss of central vision due to damage to the optic nerve.
Blepharitis: Blepharitis is an eye condition that causes swelling, redness, irritation and itching of the eyelids that can lead to light sensitivity.
Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva and results in redness, teary eyes, eye discharge, pain and itchiness.
Cataracts: Cataracts is a form of eye disease that causes clouding of the lens in the eye.
Nystagmus: Nystagmus is an eye condition that affects vision, causing the eyes to involuntarily and rapidly move in up and down, circular, or side-to-side motions.
Keratoconus: Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the centre of the cornea thins and becomes cone-shaped.
Corneal Abrasion: Corneal abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the cornea and can occur from an injury, dust, sand, or dirt getting into the eye or rubbing your eye.
Iritis: Iritis is defined as inflammation of the coloured part of the eye (iris) and can be caused by trauma or injury, inflammatory conditions or genetics.
Retinitis Pigmentosa: Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare eye disorder that can cause the cells in the retina to gradually break down and can cause loss of vision.
Blepharospasm: Blepharospasm is defined as the involuntary movement of the eyelids or involuntary blinking.
Uveitis: Uveitis is inflammation that occurs due to an infection or an autoimmune disease. The types of uveitis are anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis.
Dry Eye: Dry eye is an eye problem that can occur when the eyes lack a sufficient amount of moisture or when produced tears are of poor quality and evaporate too quickly.
Keratitis: Keratitis is a corneal disease and refers to the inflammation or infection of the cornea.
Paediatric Cataract: A paediatric cataract is the clouding of the lens and either appears at birth or occurs after birth.

1. Shingles

Shingles refers to the painful and blister-like rashes that can develop on different parts of the body including the area around the eye. Shingles can cause light sensitivity due to the scar tissue that typically forms from the rashes, which can lead to nerve sensitivity according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Symptoms of shingles other than light sensitivity can include a burning, tingling and itchy sensation in the affected areas and headaches according to Health Direct. The early stages of shingles may involve pain or a burning sensation and redness in the regions where the rash may likely develop. When the rash appears, blisters can also develop. Shingles can occur when the varicella-zoster virus reactivates. The varicella-zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox and stays dormant in your body. The reactivation of the virus can occur as a result of the body’s declining cellular ability to decimate infected cells, which can take place due to increased age and other factors.

2. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can develop when the optic nerve is damaged and can lead to loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma may bring on light sensitivity as a result of built-up pressure in the eye. The causes of glaucoma can include increased pressure in the eye, trauma or eye diseases. The two types of glaucoma are open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma with variants within the types such as primary, secondary, chronic and acute. It is important to note that the form of acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency and requires urgent care to prevent vision loss. Symptoms of open-angle glaucoma can cause loss of peripheral vision according to Better Health. Chronic angle-closure glaucoma may result in symptoms such as halos around lights and possible vision problems. Acute-angle closure glaucoma may induce sudden and severe pain in the eye, headaches, vomiting, nausea, halos around lights and blurry vision according to Health Direct. Treating glaucoma can typically involve prescribed eye drops or surgery depending on the severity of the condition.

3. Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an eye condition that causes swelling, redness, itchiness and irritation in the eyelids as well as light sensitivity. Blepharitis can stem from having too much bacteria on your eyelids or at the base of your eyelashes according to the National Eye Institute. The two types of blepharitis are anterior blepharitis, which affects the areas around the eye, and posterior blepharitis, which affects the inner edge of the eyelid that touches the eyeball. Treating blepharitis may involve using antibacterial or steroid-based eye drops prescribed by an optometrist.

4. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis can lead to inflammation of the white part of the eye (sclera) as a result of allergies, viral or bacterial infection. Conjunctivitis can induce light sensitivity among other common symptoms such as clear or yellow eye discharge, crusting around the eyes, pain, irritation, puffy eyes and itchiness. Treating conjunctivitis typically involves prescribed eye drops depending on the cause. Therefore it is always important to have your eyes examined if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms to ensure you receive the right form of treatment.

5. Cataracts

Cataracts refers to the clouding of the lens as a result of the proteins in the lens breaking down and clumping together. Cataracts can develop due to natural changes in the lens of the eye when you get older. Risk factors such as exposure to ultraviolet light over a long period, diabetes, smoking, use of corticosteroid medication, eye injuries and previous eye surgery can accelerate progression of cataracts. Cataracts can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, light and glare sensitivity, double vision, seeing halos around lights and poor night vision. Treating cataracts typically requires surgery if symptoms start to disrupt everyday life. However, in the early stages of cataracts, prescription glasses and better light may help improve vision according to Health Direct. It is strongly recommended that you have your eyes examined by an optometrist to determine the most appropriate treatment plan according to the stage of your condition.

6. Nystagmus

Nystagmus is a vision condition that causes involuntary eye movement either in an up-and-down, circular or side-to-side direction. Nystagmus can induce light sensitivity as well as other symptoms such as the sensation that their stationary environment is moving, dizziness, poor night vision and vision problems. The different types of nystagmus are congenital nystagmus and acquired nystagmus. The causes of nystagmus may include albinism, high-grade refractive error, congenital cataracts, conditions in the inner ear, certain medications, multiple sclerosis and diseases related to the central nervous system. Treating nystagmus may involve prescription glasses, although they may not correct the condition, but they may improve vision. An optometrist will be able to diagnose this condition through a comprehensive eye test.

7. Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye condition that causes the cornea to become thin and bulge into a cone shape. The cornea is the clear window at the front of the eye that helps people to see by bending and focusing light as it enters the eye. Symptoms may include blurry or distorted vision, light sensitivity, difficulty when driving at night and a frequent need for prescription adjustments according to the Lions Eye Institute. Treatment for keratoconus may require prescription glasses to correct vision in the early stages. In the advanced stages, a corneal transplant may be needed when glasses are no longer effective. Diagnosing keratoconus typically involves a comprehensive eye exam performed by an optometrist.

8. Corneal Abrasion

Corneal abrasions are either scratches on the surface of the eye or a result of an injury. Corneal abrasions can be caused by dirt, sand or dust entering the eye or even from rubbing your eyes. Symptoms of corneal abrasion can include foreign body sensation in the eye, eye redness, pain, watery eyes, sensitivity to light and blurred vision according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Diagnosing corneal abrasions usually involves the use of fluorescein dye that is placed on the surface of your eye which will highlight where an injury or scratch has occurred on the cornea. The treatment of corneal abrasions may include flushing out the eye, as well as topical antibiotics according to the Cleveland Clinic, however, this will depend on the nature and severity of your condition. If you experience any injury to your eye, it is important to seek prompt medical attention to prevent any further injuries.

9. Iritis

Iritis is characterised as inflammation of the iris, which is the coloured part of the eye. Iritis can bring on light sensitivity, eye pain, blurred vision and redness. Causes of iritis are not well established, however, it may be linked to inflammatory conditions, trauma or genetics according to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. Treatment may include steroid eye drops to alleviate the inflammation or dilating eye drops to aid with pain and discomfort.

10. Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa refers to an inherited degenerative eye disease that can cause the cells in the retina to gradually deteriorate causing loss of vision. Retinitis pigmentosa can result in loss of vision, sensitivity to light and loss of colour vision according to the National Eye Institute. Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic condition that develops at birth and while there is no cure, low vision resources and rehabilitation programs may help improve vision.

11. Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is characterised as the involuntary movement of the eyelids or blinking. The early stages of blepharospasm may just induce twitching which can then occur more frequently and eventually lead to the eyes squeezing and closing according to the National Eye Institute. Blepharospasm may develop due to the region of the brain that is responsible for eyelid muscle movement stops functioning, or due to genetics. It is important to note that twitching of the eyes does not always inherently mean you have blepharospasm, it can occur as a result of other minor issues such as lack of sleep. Treatment may include the use of Botox injections to paralyse the eyelid muscles according to Better Health. Spasms may be induced by triggers such as bright light or fatigue, they may also occur more during the day with or without triggers.

Eyes with red marks on eyelid, indicating twitching.

12. Uveitis

Uveitis is defined as inflammation that occurs inside the eye. Uveitis is typically a consequence of the body fighting off an infection or when your immune system attacks the eye’s healthy tissues according to the National Eye Institute. Uveitis implicates the region of the eye known as the uvea which can be found in between the sclera and the retina. The types of uveitis are anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis, which affect different regions of the eye. Possible causes of uveitis can include autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms of uveitis may include light sensitivity, blurry vision, floaters, eye pain and red eyes. It is important to see an optometrist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms as uveitis can lead to loss of vision when left untreated. Treatment may require prescribed eye drops, oral medication and injections.

13. Dry Eye

Dry eyes can be caused by either a lack of tears produced or when the tears that are secreted, evaporate too quickly. Symptoms of dry eyes may include light sensitivity, redness, eye pain or irritation, itchiness, foreign body sensation, excessive tears and blurry vision. Treating dry eyes generally requires prescribed eye drops to increase moisture in the eyes, however, this can depend on the initial cause of symptoms and severity. The optometrist will be able to diagnose your condition through a comprehensive eye test.

14. Keratitis

Keratitis also known as corneal infection or corneal inflammation is caused by an infection or an injury to the eye. Keratitis may present symptoms such as light sensitivity, blurry vision, eye pain, redness and excessive tears and can either be infectious or non-infectious. The causes of keratitis can potentially stem from viruses, eye injury, fungal infections, contaminated water, bacterial infections and parasitic infections. Sensitivity to light may be a common symptom of keratitis and other certain eye conditions as the cornea is considered to be a significantly sensitive tissue and is highly receptive to pain according to the Centre For Sight. Treating keratitis may involve eye drops depending on the initial cause of symptoms as the condition may require antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal or anti-inflammatory eye drops.

15. Paediatric Cataract

Paediatric cataracts are cataracts that occur in children and are either present at birth or develop through other causes. A cataract is the clouding of a normally clear eye lens. The two main types of paediatric cataracts are congenital cataracts, which means the condition is present when the child is born and acquired cataracts refers to when it occurs after birth. Causes of paediatric cataracts include genetics, eye injury, rheumatoid arthritis and infections in relation to pregnancy. Symptoms can include sensitivity to light, cloudy appearance of the eye’s lens, nystagmus or uncontrollable rhythmic eye movements and the need to bring objects closer to see better. Treating paediatric cataracts may involve resources to correct vision such as glasses, contact lenses or surgery. Surgery, if required, is performed by an ophthalmologist and involves the removal of the affected lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

What are the Other Causes of Light Sensitivity?

The other causes of light sensitivity may be migraines. Migraines differ from headaches and are categorised as a neurological disease. Migraines are typically caused by gender, stress, smoking and genetics according to the Cleveland Clinic. Migraines can present many symptoms such as a sudden headache that occurs on one side of the head along with nausea, confusion, blurry vision, fatigue and increased sensitivity to light and noise. According to Medical News Today, light sensitivity has frequently occurred along with migraines, with 85-90% of migraine cases reporting experience of light sensitivity. Treating migraines may require a combination of anti-inflammatory medications, anti-nausea medication and triptans, which is a group of medicines that are considered effective for treating migraines. According to Health Direct, sitting in a dark and quiet room and trying to sleep may help to alleviate a migraine attack.

How is Light Sensitivity Diagnosed?

Light sensitivity is diagnosed through an eye test. The optometrist may also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history to determine the potential cause and rule out any underlying conditions.

How Long Does Light Sensitivity Last?

Light sensitivity can last for weeks, months or up to a year depending on what is initially causing it and its severity. According to Mohammad Abusamak and Hamzeh Mohammad Alrawashdeh (2021), post-concussion-related light sensitivity may be most severe for up to 3 weeks and with post-head trauma, light sensitivity may last up to 6 months.

How do Ophthalmologists Diagnose Light Sensitivity?

Ophthalmologists can diagnose light sensitivity through an eye test. Ophthalmologists can likely identify light sensitivity problems easily through a physical exam, which they may conduct before using any machines or tools.

What are the Treatments for Light Sensitivity?

The treatments for light sensitivity are medications and surgery. Medications such as triptans, botox, artificial tears, gels, ointments and steroid eye drops can all address specific conditions that may trigger light sensitivity according to Medical News Today. Triptans are a form of medication that can aid with migraine headaches as they can reduce overactive pain nerves and botox can assist with treating blepharospasm. Artificial tears, gels and ointments may be helpful with restoring or maintaining moisture in the case of dry eyes and steroid-based eye drops can treat uveitis-related light sensitivity. Light sensitivity that is associated with certain eye conditions such as cataracts may require surgery to treat the initial cause.

Is Light Sensitivity Curable?

Yes, light sensitivity is curable, the condition that is causing it should be identified first and addressed to relieve light sensitivity. Treating the initial cause may help cure light sensitivity. Therefore, it is important to see an optometrist when experiencing light sensitivity to receive a professional diagnosis.

Can Eye Drops Get Rid of Light Sensitivity?

Yes, eye drops can help get rid of light sensitivity, if it is related to certain conditions such as dry eyes or inflammation and infection-related conditions. However, for conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma, light sensitivity may not be helped with eye drops, as they require more complex forms of treatment depending on the severity.

Woman using eye drops to relieve light sensitivity.

What Happens if Light Sensitivity Goes Untreated?

If conditions that can cause light sensitivity go untreated, symptoms such as light sensitivity may remain or worsen. Other complications can also develop if eye conditions are left untreated, therefore, it is important that you see an optometrist for any symptoms you may be experiencing.

Should Light Sensitivity be Treated?

Yes, light sensitivity should be treated, as it can interfere with everyday life or become a nuisance, especially during warmer seasons, when conditions are more likely to be bright and sunny. Light sensitivity should be treated also to avoid discomfort when in rooms or buildings that use bright artificial light.

Is Light Sensitivity Dangerous?

Yes and no, light sensitivity itself can be dangerous if you are driving during sunny and bright conditions without sunglasses and struggle to keep your eyes focused on the road. However, in other cases, light sensitivity itself may not be considered dangerous. The underlying condition that may be triggering light sensitivity may be dangerous to your vision depending on which condition you have and the current stage it is at.

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