Why migraine and dry eye cause eye pain and light sensitivity
Official title: Mechanisms of Pain and Photophobia in Migraine and Dry Eye
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11170416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for nerve and immune changes that make people with migraine, dry eye, or after refractive eye surgery feel eye pain and sensitivity to light.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $856,520 |
| NIH project number | 5U01EY034680-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic migraine that includes eye pain or photophobia, patients with persistent dry eye symptoms, and those with ongoing pain or light sensitivity after refractive eye surgery would be the most relevant groups.
✕Less likely to help
People whose eye pain comes from unrelated causes like active infection, acute glaucoma, or purely psychiatric pain syndromes may not benefit from findings focused on trigeminal-mediated photophobia.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will study the nerves and immune cells that link the eye and nearby tissues to understand why touch and light become painful. They will use well-established rodent models of migraine, dry eye disease, and refractive surgery to map neural circuits and measure nerve activity and behavior. The team will look at molecular players already tied to light sensitivity and pain (including CGRP, TRPM3, and melanopsin) and test whether changing these signals alters pain-like responses. Findings are meant to reveal shared mechanisms across conditions that cause photophobia and persistent ocular pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new non-opioid treatment targets that reduce eye pain and light sensitivity for people with migraine, dry eye, or post-surgical pain.
How similar studies have gone: Some related work (for example CGRP-blocking therapies) has improved migraine pain, but linking trigeminal circuits, immune interactions, and light-sensing cells for ocular photophobia is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aicher, Sue a — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Aicher, Sue a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding migraine and eye pain: how light and nerves cause discomfort in migraine and dry eye
A research project is studying why eye pain and sensitivity to light happen in people with migraine and dry eye, and how surgery to correct vision may contribute to these symptoms.
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Understanding pain and light sensitivity in migraine and dry eye conditions
This study is looking into why people with migraines and dry eye often feel pain and sensitivity to light, hoping to find new ways to help treat these uncomfortable symptoms.
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This project tests new ways to stabilize the tear film in people with evaporative dry eye, with the goal of longer-lasting comfort.
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A scientist-led study at a major hospital tests whether the brain chemical oxytocin can help stop or prevent migraine attacks that involve aura.
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Meningeal pain and migraine brain hyperexcitability in people
A short study in adults with migraine to understand how pain signals from the brain coverings might make the visual cortex more excitable and trigger migraines.
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Light exposure and sleep in teens with migraine
Teens with migraine and light sensitivity will wear sensors to track daily light and sleep, helping researchers understand how light exposure affects symptoms and nighttime rest.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.