We report measurements of photoluminescence (PL) intensity enhancement in poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) films induced by light irradiation in the presence of air. This effect is dependent on laser intensity and the ratio between film thickness and excitation penetration depth. The results suggest that an efficient spectral diffusion of excited carriers to nondegraded PPV segments by Forster energy transfer is an important consideration in the PL efficiency of conjugated polymers light-irradiated in air. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.