Definition
Photophobia is eye discomfort in bright light.
Alternative Names
Light sensitivity; Vision – light sensitive; Eyes – sensitivity to light
Considerations
Photophobia is a fairly common symptom. For many people, photophobia is not due to any disease. Severe photophobia may occur with eye problems and can cause severe eye pain even in relatively low light.
Common Causes
- Acute
iritis oruveitis (inflammation inside eye) - Burns to the eye
Corneal abrasion Corneal ulcer - Drugs such as amphetamines, atropine,
cocaine , cyclopentolate, idoxuridine, phenylephrine, scopolamine, trifluridine, tropicamide, and vidarabine - Excessive wearing of contact lenses, or wearing badly fitted contact lenses
- Eye disease, injury, or infection (such as
chalazion ,episcleritis ,glaucoma ) - Eye testing when the eyes have been dilated
Meningitis - Migraine headache
Home Care
You can reduce the discomfort of light sensitivity by:
-
Avoiding sunlight
-
Closing your eyes
-
Wearing dark glasses
-
Darkening the room
If eye pain is severe, see your health care provider to determine the cause of light sensitivity. Proper treatment may cure the problem. Seek urgent medical attention if your pain is moderate to severe, even in low-light conditions.
Call your health care provider if
Call your doctor if light sensitivity is severe or painful — for example, if you need to wear sunglasses indoors.
Also call if the sensitivity occurs with headaches,
What to expect at your health care provider’s office
The doctor will perform a
- When did the light sensitivity begin?
- Does it hurt all the time or just sometimes?
- How bad is it?
- Do you need to wear dark glasses or stay in dark rooms?
- Did a doctor recently dilate your pupils?
- Have you used any eye drops?
- Do you use contact lenses?
- Have you used soaps, lotions, cosmetics, or other chemicals around your eyes?
- Have you been around dust, wind, sun, pollen, or chemicals?
- Does anything make the sensitivity better or worse?
- Have you been injured?
- What medicines do you take?
- What other symptoms do you have?
Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
Pain in the eye - Headache
- Nausea
- Neck stiffness
Blurred vision - Sore or wound in eye
- Redness
- Itching
- Swelling
- Dizziness
- Numbness or tingling elsewhere in the body
- Changes in hearing
The following tests may be done:
- Corneal scraping
Lumbar puncture - Pupil dilation
Slit-lamp examination