For some people, bright light isn't just annoying.
It can genuinely feel uncomfortable, or even make a migraine worse.
This sensitivity to light is known as photophobia, and it's something we hear about surprisingly often.
Why can light feel so uncomfortable?
When you're experiencing light sensitivity, things that other people barely notice can suddenly feel intense.
Bright sunlight. Glare. Fluorescent lighting. Screens. Reflections.
Sometimes even normal indoor lighting can feel like too much.
Light sensitivity is commonly associated with migraine, but it can also occur for other reasons. That's why it's worth talking to your optometrist if you're regularly finding light uncomfortable.
It's not just about being outside
Light sensitivity can affect everyday life in ways you might not expect.
You might find yourself:
reaching for sunglasses even on cloudy days
turning down your screen brightness
avoiding harsh office lighting
struggling with glare while driving
looking for darker rooms during a migraine
feeling uncomfortable in shops, offices or other brightly lit spaces
And if you're constantly adjusting your environment just to feel comfortable, it's worth looking at whether there are ways to make things easier.
Could your glasses help?
Sometimes, the right lens can make a difference to how comfortable your eyes feel around light.
That's where specialised lens options can come into the conversation.
Avalux is a lens designed specifically for people who experience light sensitivity associated with migraine.
Rather than simply putting a dark tint over your lenses, Avalux uses a specialised tint designed to filter specific wavelengths of light.
It's not a cure for migraine, and it won't be the right option for everyone - but for some people experiencing light sensitivity, it may be worth discussing.
If light is bothering you, don't just put up with it
If you've noticed that light regularly makes you uncomfortable, especially if it's associated with headaches or migraine, mention it during your next eye test.
Your eyes and your vision are worth looking at as a whole, not just whether you can read the smallest line on the chart.
Experiencing light sensitivity in Coffs Harbour? Talk to the team at Lens Lounge about your symptoms and whether a specialised lens such as Avalux Migraine could be appropriate for you.
