Hidden Triggers: How Light Can Cause Your Headaches

LIGHT CAN BE CAUSING YOUR HEADACHES

Various types of light can cause photophobia. Photophobia can lead to headaches. The lights that typically cause problems are those with too much glare, artificial lights (LCD, LED, and fluorescent), computer and other screen lights (including television), and flickering lights. and sometimes even UV light from the sun.

Some people are predisposed to photophobia because the pain receptors in their eyes are sensitive, or they have an eye disease like iritis or uveitis. It can be due to an underlying medical condition (sometimes severe), migraines, vitamin deficiencies, dry eyes, or botox injections (occasionally, Botox actually helps photophobia). It can even be related to a mental health condition.

The headache associated with photophobia is often described as severe and throbbing, occurring behind one or (usually) both eyes. The eye(s) may be red and watery, vision may be blurred, and frequent blinking or squinting may occur. Depending on the cause, a headache from photophobia can last from hours to several days (longer if the sufferer has had a head injury) and may be recurrent. ​

While photophobia may cause migraines, it can also be caused by migraines. Light is sometimes associated with an aura migraine (see migraines). These migraines have a visual-sensory component (vision changes sometimes with unusual patterns).

Headache From Looking at the Screen

Hidden Triggers: How Light Can Cause Your Headaches

General Recommendations for Treatment

• ​Modify lighting – Use dimmer switches and change background lighting on computers.

• Use special filters on screens.

• Reduce screen time

• Specially polarized or tinted sunglasses/special eyewear (speak to an optometrist or ophthalmologist).

• Of course, try to avoid triggering light situations.

• Change to different bulbs (incandescent "warm" or halogen lights tend to cause less photosensitivity). Use natural light

• Hydrate: Dehydration can cause light sensitivities

• Check your medications. Some medications cause photophobia, including eye drops.

• Eye rest

Over-the-Counter Medications

• Artificial tears may help photophobia caused by dry eye.

• Supplement with vitamins, especially vitamins A, C, and E.

• Magnesium supplements.

• NSAIDS: Ibuprofen (common: Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (common: Aleve, Naprosyn), and the combination of caffeine, acetaminophen, and Aspirin (common: Excedrin Migraine, Goody’s Powder). These are probably the best choices for headaches. Try to take NSAIDS with a little bit of food (as simple as a cracker) to avoid stomach irritation. If your headache is minor, take the lowest dose. If it is moderate, take the higher recommended dose.

• Acetaminophen (common: Tylenol). 

  Take as directed over-the-counter if there are no contraindications.

  For Other Approaches to Headaches Follow This LINK

  
  

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​Natural Remedies and Approaches

Carotenoid Supplements may help with light sensitivity, which may help with related headaches. These supplements include lycopene, α-Carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These are available as over-the-counter supplements, or you can get them through your diet with your diet. Look for yellow and orange vegetables and fruits, green leafy vegetables (including broccoli), and egg yolk.

Prescription Medication

​If you cannot determine the cause of your photophobia or do not see any improvement with the measures mentioned in Hidden Triggers: How Light Can Cause Your Headaches (above) speak to an ophthalmologist about the issue. It would be best if you had your eyes examined for underlying problems. They should be able to discover the cause of your photophobia and treat it, in turn eliminating your headaches.

Depending on the particular cause, an ophthalmologist may prescribe various eye drops and recommend botox injections, surgery, etc.

The sudden new onset of severe photophobia should be investigated as soon as possible by a healthcare provider, particularly if it is associated with other symptoms like vision loss, nausea and vomiting, fever, or neck pain.