  The pressure dependence of light-induced effects in single-crystalline
BiFeO$_3$ is studied by optical spectroscopy. At low pressures, we observe
three light-induced absorption features with energies just below the two
crystal field excitations and the absorption onset, respectively. These
absorption features were previously ascribed to excitons, possibly connected
with the ultra-fast photostriction effect in BiFeO$_3$. The pressure-induced
redshift of the absorption features follows the pressure dependence of the
corresponding crystal field excitations and absorption onset, suggesting the
link between them. Above the structural phase transition at
$P_{\mathrm{c1}}\approx{}3.5$ GPa the three absorption features disappear,
suggesting their connection to the polar phase in BiFeO$_3$. The
pressure-induced disappearance of the photo-induced features is irreversible
upon pressure release.
