Will wearing contact lenses increase or decrease light sensitivity?

Question

I get really bad headaches with nausea, vomiting, and sweating whenever bright light (such as sunlight at noon time) hits my eyes. I don't know what causes it but I am going to an eye-doctor soon to find out. My insurance will cover either the basic exam (then will give me a pair of glasses) OR the contact lenses exam and $150 of contacts. So I'm trying to decide between contacts and glasses. I'd prefer contacts (currently I'm wearing glasses but have worn contacts in the past...before the light sensitivity began), but I need to know if it will help with the light sensitivity or if it will make the problem worse.

Answer 1

Light sensitivity or "Photophobia" is not usually caused by refractive errors and therefore neither spectacle or contact lens correction will have an effect (positive or negative) on photophobia.

Though there may be several disease conditions that can cause photophobia (including non-ophthalmic ones), majority of the ophthalmic causes will all be within the anatomic vicinity of the iris and ciliary body (muscle inside the eye right behind the iris). Neither of which can not be evaluated by a lay person without the proper equipment.

Your initial plan of seeing your ophthalmologist first is the best thing you can do. Though simple sunglass will actually help, you must first find out WHY you have photophobia.

Answer 2

I have this same problem with light; it triggers migraines for me, and I would guess that is what you are experiencing too. I have noticed that the sensitivity to natural (outdoor) light seems worse when I am wearing my contacts, but I actually prefer the contacts because it is easier and cheaper to slide on a pair of dark sunglasses. If you just have your glasses, then you are stuck with having to buy RX sunglasses too. Or those huge clunky sunglasses they sell at Walmart that go over your glasses. Not the best fashion statement.

A suggestion; regardless of what other medicine they might give you for the migraines, ask for phenergan, too. It is a cheap, effective nausea treatment and it usually makes my other symptoms (sensitivity to light, sound) better, too. The downside is that it makes you sleepy. I can remember many times, though, when I counted the seconds until my phenergan kicked in 23 minutes later.

Answer 3

I no longer wear my contacts due to age and tri-focals (I'm 50). But did wear contacts for 15 years. They caused me to become photo-sensitive, light sensitive and I had to wear sunglasses all of the time when outdoors. If I didn't I would get very irritated, watery eyes.

As far as the nausea, vomiting and sweating associated with bright sunlight, I hope that if the eye doctor does have a solution, that you go and see a regular doctor. It might be more of a problem than just eye problems.

Answer 4

It increases light sensitivity, because your not wearing these lenses over your eyes. If the sun is that bad just get some sunglasses or if you are rich or wealthy you can get contact lenses with a sun protection in them already. They are like contact sun lenses!

Answer 5

I don't think that contacts will have any effect on light sensitivity. I've been wearing both glasses and contacts for years and I've never noticed a difference when I switch between them. Good Luck!

Answer 6

See your eye doctor, you CAN get a contact lense with a tint.

Answer 7

The symptoms you describe are consistent with an eye infection. I would take out contacts until the eye is looked at and treated. It could be your lens solutions. Are they fresh? I might replace them just because.

Answer 8

contacts won't change the problem, you will still need to protect your eyes from the sun, but they won't make it any worse either.

Answer 9

increase.

Answer 10

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