Generality
Photophobia is an abnormal intolerance to light, so exposure to it causes discomfort or eye pain with repeated contraction of the eyelids and other reactions aimed at avoiding light.
Symptoms
Photophobia can be associated with different symptoms, which depend on the underlying cause. Some people are only sensitive to very intense light, while in severe cases considerable pain may arise from exposure to any light source (sunlight or artificial light, candle flames or fires).
Some obvious symptoms allow us to recognize if the sensitivity to light is increased, such as:
- Moderate or severe eye pain, even in low light conditions;
- Need to close your eyes;
- Burning eyes;
- Excessive tearing.
In some cases, in addition to photophobia, there are no further demonstrations; in others, however, people have many symptoms. This depends on the disease that causes photophobia.
If light intolerance is severe, persists for over two days and eye pain is extremely intense, it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist. Other signs, which highlight the presence of a problem that requires medical attention, are:
- Headache and / or migraine;
- Vertigo and nausea;
- Neck stiffness;
- Blurred vision, diplopia and / or distorted vision;
- Redness of the eyeball and eyelids;
- Pain, itching and irritation of the eyes, eyelids and conjunctivae;
- Numbness or tingling in other parts of the body;
- Hearing variation (example: phonophobia).
Causes
Photophobia can be caused by:
- Excessively intense light . Excessive amounts of light can enter the eye if it is damaged, such as corneal damage or retinal damage. This effect is also found when the pupil is unable to react normally to a light stimulus (for example, due to damage to the oculomotor nerve).
- Albinism . Albinism is an inherited condition characterized by a deficit of melanin pigmentation in the skin, iris, choroid, hair and hair. In particular, the absence of pigment makes the iris somewhat translucent, exposing the subject to greater sensitivity (it cannot completely block the light that penetrates the eye thus).
- Drugs . Some drugs can cause light sensitivity as a side effect, including scopolamine, atropine, furosemide, quinine, tetracycline and doxycycline. The mydriasis, ie the dilation of the pupil, can also be caused by the intake of cocaine and amphetamines.
- Clear eyes . The color of a person's eyes can also influence the onset of symptoms. People with lighter colored eyes may experience different levels of light sensitivity than subjects with dark eyes. Photophobia is believed to be due to the reduced amount of melanin, which gives less protection against solar lighting.
Patients can develop photophobia as a result of various medical conditions related to the eye or nervous system. The main ocular pathologies related to photophobia are:
- Cataract;
- Coloboma;
- Viral conjunctivitis;
- Abrasion, dystrophy and corneal ulcer;
- keratitis;
- Congenital anomalies of the eye;
- Ocular trauma caused by illness, injury or infection such as calazion, episcleritis, glaucoma and keratoconus;
- Iritis and uveitis;
- Optic neuritis;
- Pupillary dilation (natural or induced);
- Retinal detachment;
- Scarring of the cornea or sclera.
Conditions that affect the nervous system and manifest themselves with photophobia are:
- Encephalitis;
- Meningitis;
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Some brain tumors;
Other causes that can induce photophobia include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis;
- Benzodiazepines (prolonged use or suspension);
- Chemotherapy;
- Influence;
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- Vitamin B2 deficiency;
- Magnesium deficiency;
- Cluster headache and migraine;
- Botulism;
- Anger;
- Mercury poisoning;
- Late effects of alcohol abuse.
Treatment
The best method to alleviate the discomfort associated with photophobia is to address the root cause. In many cases, when the condition that triggers the symptoms is treated properly, the sensitivity levels decrease and the photophobia disappears. For example, if the problem is caused by taking a drug, the patient can contact his doctor to evaluate the suspension or replacement of the therapy.
The discomfort caused by light sensitivity can be reduced by adopting the following measures:
- Avoid sunlight and intense light sources;
- Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses (with UV protection);
- Darken the room.
Photochromic lenses are another solution to excessive sensitivity to the sun: they automatically become dark outdoors, protecting the eye from UV rays and solar glare. Even sunglasses with polarized lenses offer protection against glare caused by light reflections from sand, water, snow, concrete roads and other reflective surfaces. In extreme cases, it is possible to wear special prosthetic contact lenses that can reduce the amount of light entering the eye and make it more comfortable to stay in bright environments.
