Photophobia refers to increased sensitivity to light. People with this condition think that normal light is too bright. Photophobia may present as eye discomfort, pain, or an avoidance reaction.
Photophobia is a combination of the Greek words “photo” meaning light and “phobia” meaning fear. It literally means “fear of light”. This does not actually manifest as a fear of light, but as hypersensitivity.
Everyone has some level of light sensitivity. When you step out of a movie theater, you feel that the sunlight is disturbing. This discomfort is usually short lived and your eyes will adapt to the ambient light after a while. People with photophobia experience this sensation of brightness and pain every day. Even normal light causes discomfort and pain.
Photophobia is related to the connection between the light-sensing cells in the eyes and the nerve to the brain. Photophobia is actually a symptom of another disease, not a disease.
Photophobia can occur as a symptom of many conditions such as migraine, headache, brain damage, meningitis, eye injury, dry eye, cataract, and retinal damage. Among them, it is the most common symptom of migraine. Photophobia can also affect those who suffer from conditions such as agoraphobia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and panic attacks. Photophobia can be a side effect of some medications, such as antianxiety medications and drugs that produce sedation.
Photophobia can be uncomfortable and in some cases painful in everyday life. Avoiding sunlight as much as possible and using dim lights in the evening can help reduce photophobia.
Certain wavelengths of light, such as the blue light emitted by computer and smartphone screens, cause greater sensitivity. For this, it may be a good solution to use settings or programs that reduce the blue light on the screen, dim the screen brightness and limit the usage time.
If you think you have photophobia, it is important to see your eye doctor for an examination. Your doctor will check your eye and brain health with the help of a special light microscope or magnetic resonance imaging. As a result, the doctor may identify and treat the condition that causes photophobia, or recommend that you wear safety glasses to reduce the symptoms.
