Do you hate going to the mall or driving in the middle of the day because all the light hurts your peepers? Then this article is especially made for you. Keep on reading to learn about photophobia, which is something that you may have.
Remember to repost this article afterwards to get everyone you care about introduced to photophobia, too!
What is It?
Simply put, photophobia is excessive sensitivity to the light. It’s for this reason exactly why it is sometimes referred to as light sensitivity. Somebody who has photophobia is just like a vampire who hates the sun, but of course without the fangs and craving for human blood.
Aside from the sun, other sources of light such as fluorescent and incandescent bulbs can also cause a person with photophobia to experience discomfort.
Most of the time, people with photophobia are only bothered by extremely bright light. However, those with severe cases of photophobia may also find any light quite irritating.
What are Its Causes?
Do take note that photophobia is not a disease affecting the eyes. According to eye specialists, photophobia is merely a symptom of all kinds of conditions, such as inflammation and infection affecting the eyes.
For instance, suffering from pinkeye or conjunctivitis can cause mild sensitivity to light. If your eyes become irritated by contact lenses, then you may experience photophobia. Other eye-related issues that can be associated with photophobia include uveitis (inflammation of the area between the white of the eye and retina) and corneal abrasion (scratched cornea, the clear layer forming the front of your eye).
However, there are cases in which photophobia is brought about by a problem that has nothing to do with the eyes. As an example, having a migraine attack can cause your eyes to hurt when exposed to bright light. There are also certain illnesses due to viruses that can also cause photophobia, such as meningitis.
Who are at Risk?
Aside from having the health concerns mentioned above, other people who are susceptible to having photophobia include those whose eye colors are light. That’s because their peepers do not contain enough melanin, which is a dark-colored pigment hat has light-protecting properties. Melanin is the same thing that makes people with dark skin less susceptible to sunburns and premature aging signs.
Eye experts say that people with albinism usually suffer from photophobia as their eyes completely lack melanin.
Are you taking certain medications like doxycycline, tetracycline, quinine and furosemide? Then you may be at risk of suffering from photophobia. According to health authorities, the said medications are known to cause photosensitivity as one of their common side effects.
What are the Symptoms?
Someone who has photophobia experiences discomfort each time he or she is exposed to light. Oftentimes, the individual has to squint or close the eyes completely to put an end to the discomfort.
Most of the time, only bright light can bother those with photophobia. However, extreme cases of it can leave someone experiencing a lot of discomfort no matter how bright or dim the light is.
By the way, it’s not unlikely for someone who has photophobia to also experience headaches.
How is Photophobia Treated?
Earlier in this article, it was mentioned that all kinds of things may cause photophobia to strike. Some of them have something to do with the eyes, while others have nothing to do with the eyes. No matter the case, it’s important to deal with the underlying cause in order to put an end to photophobia.
If you believe that the medication you are taking is the culprit, don’t just stop taking it. What you need to do is approach the doctor who prescribed it so that you may report such side effect.
Someone who is naturally sensitive to light should avoid the sun by wearing wide-brimmed hats and tinted sunglasses with UV protection. There are also polarized sunglasses and photochromic lenses that may be worn.
