Photophobia
Photophobia is a sensitivity to light that causes discomfort or pain. It’s often a symptom of other eye conditions or migraines.
What Is Photophobia?
Although its name translates to “fear of light,” photophobia is actually a visual sensitivity to light, especially the sun and other bright lights. It causes a large measure of discomfort or pain. Photophobia is fairly common and associated with many different causes.
Causes
Photophobia isn’t a disease or condition in and of itself. It’s a symptom of another problem you’re experiencing. If you want to know what causes photophobia, you need to dig a little deeper into the underlying problem.
Some common conditions that can cause photophobia include migraines, dry eye and swelling in your eye. Migraines and other types of chronic headaches are the most common source of light sensitivity complaints.
Other sources of photophobia can include:
- Dry eye
- Damage to your cornea or retina
- Swelling or inflammation in the eye or optic nerve
- Cataracts
- Eye surgery
- Blepharospasm (a condition involving uncontrollable eye twitching or blinking)
- Meningitis
- Brain injuries or disorders
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Some mental health conditions, including agoraphobia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression and panic disorders
- Certain medications
- Some illegal drugs
These are just some of the numerous circumstances that can give rise to photophobia.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of photophobia is discomfort or pain when you’re exposed to bright light. You may also find yourself:
- Squinting or blinking a lot
- Shielding your eyes from sources of light
- Using sunglasses when others don’t appear bothered by the light
- Seeking shade or avoiding going out in the daylight
- Preferring low lighting indoors
If you experience moderate to severe eye pain along with your light sensitivity, you should seek medical help right away. You should also contact your doctor if you experience headaches, red eyes or blurred vision or if your mild symptoms don’t go away in a day or two.
Diagnosis
Because photophobia is a symptom, your medical or eye doctor must determine the cause. This will include a history of the problem and, depending on your other symptoms, a physical exam.
Tests they might perform include:
- Dilated and slit-lamp eye exams
- Pupillary response tests
- Corneal scraping
- MRI
- Blood work
- Spinal fluid tests
Regular eye exams can help detect many of the eye conditions commonly associated with photophobia.
Treatment Options
Recommendations on how to treat photophobia will depend on the condition causing the eye discomfort. The best treatment is to control the disease process or condition causing the photophobia.
In the meantime, you may be able to ease your symptoms by:
- Avoiding bright light
- Adjusting the lighting on your devices or in your home, if possible
- Closing your eyes to give them a rest when you experience discomfort
- Wearing sunglasses outdoors
- Trying tinted glasses—look for rose-colored lenses with a tint called FL-41
Schedule an eye exam to discuss your symptoms with an optometrist and explore potential causes and treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Photophobia Dangerous?
Can Photophobia Be Prevented?
Are Photophobia and Photosensitivity the Same Thing?
