Am I Light Sensitive? Photophobia Symptoms, Causes and a Quick Self-Check

Squinting under office lights, needing sunglasses on cloudy days, or getting a headache in bright shops? You may be more light-sensitive than most people. This guide covers the common signs of photophobia, a simple self-check, the usual causes, the red flags that need a doctor, and what you can do day to day.

Sleepaxa Optometry Team · Updated October 2026

Signs you might be light sensitive

• You squint or frown under normal office or shop lighting
• Headaches or eye pain after time under bright or fluorescent light
• You keep phone and laptop brightness very low
• You wear sunglasses on overcast days or indoors
• Bright light makes you feel dizzy, nauseous or anxious
• Car headlights, glare or flicker bother you more than others

A quick self-check

Score each statement 0 (never), 1 (sometimes) or 2 (often):

1. Normal indoor lighting feels too bright.
2. I get headaches linked to light.
3. I avoid places because of the lighting.
4. I dim screens below most people's settings.
5. Light makes existing headaches worse.

0–2: typical. 3–6: mild to moderate sensitivity. 7–10: marked sensitivity worth discussing with an eye-care professional or doctor. This is an informal guide, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Why it's becoming more common

Brighter LED lighting, more screen time and long indoor days mean many people now spend hours in light environments that their eyes and brains find taxing. We review the prevalence and biology in The Light-Sensitivity Epidemic: Prevalence, Pathophysiology, and the Case for Photobiological Intervention (DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19683319), and migraine-specific mechanisms in Photophobia in Migraine (DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19644849).

What helps day to day

1. Get the cause assessed by an optometrist or doctor.
2. Avoid dark sunglasses indoors. They can make you more sensitive over time.
3. Use a selective tint indoors: FL-41 Light for everyday wear, FL-41 Dark for bad days.
4. Warm, diffused lighting at home; flicker-free bulbs.
5. Screens: moderate brightness, regular breaks.

Full guide: photophobia & light sensitivity glasses · flickering lights and migraine.

FAQ

How do I know if I'm light sensitive?
If normal indoor light regularly makes you squint, ache or get headaches, or you avoid places because of lighting, you likely have some light sensitivity.

What causes sudden light sensitivity?
Causes include migraine, eye inflammation or infection, head injury and other conditions. Sudden onset, especially with eye pain or a severe headache, needs urgent medical attention.

Is light sensitivity a sign of migraine?
It's one of the most common migraine symptoms, but it has other causes too, so get it assessed.

What glasses help light sensitivity indoors?
FL-41 tinted glasses are the best-researched option for indoor light sensitivity.

Educational content written by optometrists. This self-check is not a diagnosis; speak with your doctor about the cause of your light sensitivity.