What is Photophobia?
In medical terms, photophobia is the visual sensitivity to light. Literally, the term means fear of light. People who suffer with photophobia will tell you it is the pain lights bring that they fear, not the light itself. For those who experience photophobia, any type or amount of light can bring irritation and discomfort. This light can include natural sunlight and fluorescent lights as well as common incandescent light bulbs. Some photophobics experience discomfort only when the light is extremely bright or direct. In rare cases, all forms of light can cause discomfort and irritation, causing the sufferer to sequester themselves in their homes in a darkened room.
People who experience photophobia generally feel uncomfortable in bright light. They often find themselves squinting or even having to close their eyes when the light is bright. Their eyes may also water or tear as a result of exposure to light. Photophobics also tend to have headaches which may be triggered by exposure to bright light. Those who suffer headaches, such as migraines, will often experience sensitivity to light. While everyone may suffer photophobia at one time or another, some are predisposed to it. Those who are predisposed to photophobia include albinos, people who only see in shades of gray, those who suffer from migraine headaches, those with cataracts and those with light colored eyes.
In most cases, those with photophobia have an underlying medical condition that causes the sensitivity to light. Once the condition is cleared up, the sensitivity to light goes away. Some of the problems that can lead to photophobia include conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, uveitis and detached retina.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye disease. This disorder causes the eyes to become inflamed, pink and itchy. Conjunctivitis is caused by an allergy or infection and must be treated with antibiotic eye drops. Conjunctivitis is also highly contagious, so be sure to wash your hands before touching your eyes, especially if you’ve been around someone with pink eye.
Corneal abrasion, which occurs when the cornea or top layer of the eye is scratched or injured, happens most often among patients who wear contact lenses as well as those who are play sports. This disease is very painful and the affected eye will become highly sensitive to light. Once the scratch is completely healed, however, this sensitivity to light will usually go away.
Inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, the part that includes the iris, is called uveitis. Uveitis is usually caused by an infection or an immune system disorder such as M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Uveitis is a condition that must be treated with steroid eye drops or oral prednisone. If left untreated the disorder can lead to permanent blindness.
A detached retina may is another condition that may cause sensitivity to light. While there are many reasons that the retina can become separated, it is always a serious condition. Surgery is often the only way to re-attach the detached retina.
The above mentioned eye conditions are usually the underlying causes of photophobia. As soon as they have been treated properly, the sensitivity to light also disappears.
If you suffer from photophobia under normal conditions, you can help your sensitivity by wearing a hat or sunglasses. These items can help protect your eyes from glare which will lessen sensitivity and headaches. If you have an extreme case of photophobia, you might consider getting your eye doctor to fit you with special contact lenses. These lenses will help with your photophobia by greatly reducing the amount of light that passes through your eyes.
Generally, photophobia is a sensitivity to light caused either by a medical condition or a natural predisposition. If your sensitivity to light is the result of a disorder, it will go away once the problem has been treated. However, if sensitivity to light is a condition you live with daily, you might need to take measures, such as carrying a hat or sunglasses to cut down on glare.
