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What You Need To Know About Dry Eyes and Light Sensitivity

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Dry eye syndrome can be a truly uncomfortable eye condition that can severely reduce your quality of life. Some of the most inconvenient symptoms include dry, itchy, gritty-feeling, red eyes, excessive watering and a feeling as though there’s something in your eye. But did you know that dry eyes can also make your eyes extremely sensitive to light? This is a condition known as photophobia, and it can affect as many as 3 out of every 4 individuals with dry eye.

How To Treat Light Sensitivity From Dry Eyes

So, what can you do to reduce the impact of light sensitivity from dry eye syndrome? Our eye care team discusses two important tips below:

Wearing sunglasses indoors and avoiding going out don’t help

Patients suffering from light sensitivity should not wear sunglasses indoors. Though it may feel better at the moment, it can make your photophobia a lot worse over time.

Skipping out on social obligations like family get-togethers or hanging out with friends can also make symptoms worse, as it does not allow your eyes to acclimate to light at all. Instead, your eyes adapt to darker environments, making them even more sensitive to light in the long-term.

Try prescription eyeglasses for photophobia

Our eye care team can prescribe specialty prescription eyeglasses for those with photophobia. These can be tinted for indoor use, and do not pose the same issues as sunglasses; This is because they are not as darkly tinted as sunglasses and also filter specific wavelengths of blue light that have been linked to photophobia. These glasses can also be worn out of the house to help people with light sensitivity participate in activities with friends and family.

At Advanced Eyecare Center, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 310-620-1345 or book an appointment online to see one of our Manhattan Beach eye doctors.

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Q&A

What are some major symptoms of photophobia?

Photophobia is not usually a very serious condition, though it can be quite uncomfortable and severely reduce a person’s quality of life. Symptoms of photophobia include:

  • Constant urge to shut your eyes
  • Excessively watery eyes
  • Seeing bright colored spots, even in the dark or with your eyes closed
  • A severe feeling of dryness in the eyes

Can dry eyes cause headaches?

No. Though they are often experienced together, one does not cause the other. Conditions such as digital eye strain and dry eye syndrome can cause squinting, head tilting and similar symptoms, which can cause the muscles in the head, neck and shoulders to tense up. This can lead to headaches.

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