Photophobia

External and internal eye anatomy

The cornea allows light to enter the eye. As light passes through the eye the iris changes shape by expanding and letting more light through or constricting and letting less light through to change pupil size. The lens then changes shape to allow the accurate focusing of light on the retina. Light excites photoreceptors that eventually, through a chemical process, transmit nerve signals through the optic nerve to the brain. The brain processes these nerve impulses into sight.

Also known as: Light sensitivity, Vision - light sensitive or Eyes - sensitive to light

Definition

Photophobia is eye discomfort in bright light.

Considerations

Photophobia is a fairly common symptom. For many people, photophobia is not due to any underlying disease. Severe photophobia may be associated with eye problems and cause severe eye pain even in relatively low light.

Common Causes

  • Excessive wearing of contact lenses, or wearing badly fitted contact lenses
  • Eye disease, injury, or infection (such as chalazion, episcleritis, glaucoma )
  • Burns to the eye
  • Common migraine headache
  • Meningitis
  • Acute iritis or uveitis (inflammation inside eye)
  • Corneal abrasion
  • Corneal ulcer
  • Drugs such as amphetamines, atropine, cocaine, cyclopentolate, idoxuridine, phenylephrine, scopolamine, trifluridine, tropicamide, and vidarabine
  • Eye testing in which the eyes have been dilated

Home Care

The discomfort of light sensitivity can be reduced by avoiding sunlight, closing the eyes, wearing dark glasses, or darkening the room. However, the cause for the light sensitivity should be determined, since proper treatment may cure the problem. Seek urgent medical attention if pain is moderate to severe in low-light conditions.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if light sensitivity is severe. For example, if you need to wear sunglasses indoors.

Also call if the sensitivity occurs with headaches, red eye or blurred vision or does not go away in a day or two.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will perform a physical examination, including an eye exam. You may be asked the following questions:

  • 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?
  • Do you use contact lenses?
  • Have you used soaps, lotions, cosmetics, or other chemicals around your eyes?
  • Have you been around dust, wind, sun, pollens, 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:

See also:

Review date:
April 13, 2009
Reviewed by:
Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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