Most people reach for sunglasses when light bothers them. But if fluorescent office lighting, a computer screen or an overcast day is enough to cause discomfort, that is light sensitivity, and it is worth understanding why it is happening rather than simply dimming everything.
Light sensitivity, or photophobia, is discomfort or pain in normal light levels that most people tolerate easily. It ranges from mild irritation under bright lighting to genuine pain that makes screens and daylight difficult. It is a symptom rather than a condition in itself, which is why identifying the cause matters.
An unstable tear film scatters light across the eye surface, which increases glare and discomfort. This is one of the most common causes we see, and often the most treatable.
Light sensitivity is a common feature of migraine, both during an attack and between them.
Photophobia is one of the most frequently reported symptoms after a concussion, and it can persist for months.
When the eyes struggle to work together, visually demanding environments become harder to tolerate, and bright or flickering light adds to the load.
Inflammation and certain eye conditions cause light sensitivity and need proper assessment, particularly if it comes on suddenly.
Some medications increase light sensitivity as a side effect. It is worth mentioning any new medication at your appointment.
Occasional squinting on a bright day is normal. It is worth having your eyes examined if light sensitivity is persistent, if it has come on suddenly, if it follows a head injury, if it comes with eye pain or redness, or if it is affecting your ability to work or drive comfortably.
Ordinary sunglasses reduce all light more or less evenly. They help outdoors, but they are a blunt instrument, and wearing dark lenses indoors can actually make the eyes more sensitive over time as they adapt to the lower light level.
Medical filter lenses work differently. Rather than dimming everything, specific tints selectively reduce the parts of the light spectrum that tend to cause discomfort, while keeping vision comfortable and colours usable indoors. That means the lens can be far lighter than a sunglass while still easing symptoms.
Different people are bothered by different parts of the light spectrum, depending on what is causing their sensitivity. That is why the same tint that transforms one person’s day does very little for another, and why trialling matters more than picking a colour.
Some tints have been studied more than others. A rose tint known as FL-41 has the most research behind it for light sensitivity, particularly where migraine is involved. Even so, the right tint varies from person to person, which is why we trial rather than assume.
There is no single tint that suits everyone, because the cause and the trigger differ from person to person. We use a medical filter lens kit with a wide range of tints, so you can trial them in the environments that actually bother you, including under our lighting and against a screen, before anything is prescribed.
The tint can then be made into your normal prescription lenses, or into a separate pair for the situations you need them.
