Photophobia is a hypersensitivity to light. It’s an issue that many people with migraine know all too well. “I work in a doctor’s office with fluorescent lighting, and I have to wear sunglasses over my glasses. … I just want to lie in a dark room ALONE!” said a member of MyMigraineTeam.

Up to 90 percent of people with migraine say they experience photophobia during an attack.

Both natural and artificial light act as a trigger in roughly 30 percent to 60 percent of attacks. Here’s why photophobia and migraine are so closely linked and what you can do to manage them.

Understanding the Connection

Photophobia and migraine are both neurological issues. In photophobia, there’s a problem with how the eye and the brain communicate. Interestingly, this problem isn’t related to vision. Even blind people can have photophobia.

Photophobia isn’t the same thing as a general sensitivity to light. It involves a hypersensitivity that can cause problems even if a light is dimmed or a curtain is opened. This type of extreme light sensitivity can make migraine pain worse even after small lighting adjustments.

Researchers are still learning about the different connections between photophobia and migraine, but several studies have found potential links.

During a migraine attack, certain parts of the brain become more active. For people with photophobia, light increases this brain activity even more. Even normal lighting can seem way too bright during a migraine attack.

The connection between photophobia and migraine may also involve heightened nerve signaling in the brain or sensitivity to certain colors. More research is needed to further determine what’s behind the connection.

Photophobia as a Trigger

The ophthalmic branch, or first branch, of the trigeminal nerve (V1) helps carry pain signals from the brain meninges (dural inputs) and visual signals from the retina and cortex. During a migraine, even moderate light levels (around 500 to 1,000 lux, like a cloudy day) can worsen throbbing pain, eye discomfort, and facial pain.

Wavelength is important because studies show blue light (around 480 nanometers) tends to worsen migraines the most, while green light is often better tolerated and may even lessen discomfort. Screen‑based blue‑rich light and fluorescent lighting are common triggers.

Many people say photophobia can be a migraine trigger for them. Photophobia can also happen during, in between, or after migraine attacks.

“Fluorescent lighting in offices and supermarkets will bring on nausea and confusion before a migraine,” said a MyMigraineTeam member. “Work training days are a nightmare. Once I HAVE a migraine, any light is totally unbearable.”

In some cases, light sensitivity may be a symptom of an aura (the phase that can happen just before a migraine headache). This means bright light may not always be a migraine attack trigger — photophobia may simply be the aura symptom that comes before the head pain. Paying attention to when your photophobia happens, along with your other migraine symptoms, can help you understand your condition better.

Living With Photophobia

Members of MyMigraineTeam have shared different experiences with photophobia. “Flashing/strobe lights are a huge trigger (can be in films on TV/cinema),” said one member. “Also, driving and passing a series of trees on the motorway can have the same flashing effect.

Headlights and fluorescent lighting are common pain points with photophobia. Both of these light sources cause flickering light, which is an issue for many people with migraine.

“Driving at night if the lights of an oncoming vehicle hit my eyes just so, even watching TV if a light beam from a flashlight or car flashes a certain way — instant migraine,” wrote one member.

Another said, “Sensitivity to light is strongest during a migraine. It makes the pain worse. So many neurologists have fluorescent overhead lights. You would think they would be more aware of the issue.”

Bright sunlight is a problem for some people but not others. One member explained, “I just walked my dog, and it’s a beautiful sunny day. By the time I got home, the migraine pain had started. I enjoy those walks and wear sunglasses, but it doesn’t seem to help on the brighter days — just another trigger.”

“The sun doesn’t trigger migraines for me,” wrote another member. “However, I am on the road all day for my job, and if the sun reflects off any bright metal into my eyes, it triggers an aura. Then I get a migraine in less than 30 minutes.”

Photophobia Prevention and Treatment

There’s no specific medication or treatment for photophobia. Dim lighting, avoiding screens, and using sunglasses in bright environments can lower triggers and reduce pain during an attack. Special tinted glasses, called FL-41 lenses, help filter the type of light associated with migraine attacks. These tinted lenses can be helpful when worn consistently indoors and outdoors.

Blue light is the biggest trigger for most people with migraine. This is the color wavelength that comes through phone screens and computers. Some people find it helpful to wear yellow- or red-tinted glasses to filter blue light. Limiting screen time can reduce eye strain associated with photophobia. Green light is the least likely to promote migraine symptoms. Using green light bulbs may also provide some relief.

If you have photophobia during a migraine episode, migraine treatment can also work to improve photophobia.

How MyMigraineTeam Members Manage Photophobia

MyMigraineTeam members have tried different strategies to manage photophobia. “I have permanently brown-tinted prescription reading glasses that I wear when I go shopping or if somewhere is too bright, especially if there’s fluorescent light,” one member said. “I changed most of the lights in my home to LED lights. I find that they seem not as hard on the eyes.”

“For outside, my prescription-lens, polarized sunglasses are a must-have,” shared another member. “When I’m having a migraine, wearing them inside is helpful as well.”

Others have said dimmer switches and blackout curtains help at home. One member shared this tip for auras:

“I accidentally found a way to thwart migraine. I don’t go into a dark room now. That causes me to see the bright aura against the dark background. Instead, I close my eyes and turn my face toward a window with a shade that isn’t totally light-blocking. This allows the aura to blend in with the small amount of light, and you barely notice it. Within about 10 minutes, the aura is gone, and the migraine does not progress further.”

Several members who work in schools and offices have issues with fluorescent lighting. Some have had luck getting permission to lower the light at work.

“I finally have my work making adjustments to make the lighting more migraine-friendly and reduce the glare that can make tough days worse. I plan to invest in Theraspecs or a similar product,” one member said. “I seem to be more sensitive now ... than I used to be.”

Another member noticed improvements after having cataract surgery. “I had been experiencing increased migraine attacks due to glare over the past five to 10 years,” they said. “I was diagnosed with cataracts about four years ago but didn’t make the connection between the glare caused by the cataracts and my migraine. Two weeks ago, I had surgery to remove the cataract from my left eye. My migraine attacks have been reduced, I believe, from eliminating the glare caused by that cataract.”

Talk to Your Doctor

Your healthcare provider can help you decide if another problem, like cataracts, would benefit from treatment to help manage photophobia. Dry eye, allergies, medication side effects, a brain injury, and other neurological conditions can also cause photophobia.

After reviewing your medical history and doing an eye exam, your provider can give you personalized medical advice to create a photophobia and migraine action plan.

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