Photophobia

Photophobia
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 H53.1
ICD-9 368.13
DiseasesDB 24599
MedlinePlus 003041
MeSH D020795

Photophobia is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light and the aversion to sunlight or well-lit places. In ordinary medical terms photophobia is not a morbid fear or phobia, but an experience of discomfort or pain to the eyes due to light exposure.

Contents

Causes

Light sensitivity is usually due to too much light entering the eye, which causes over stimulation of the photoreceptors in the retina and subsequent excessive electric impulses to the optic nerve. This leads to a reflex aversion to light, and discomfort or pain. Too much light can enter the eye if it is damaged, such as with corneal abrasion and retinal damage, or if a pupil(s) is unable to normally constrict (seen with damage to the oculomotor nerve).

Patients may develop photophobia as a result of several different medical conditions, related to the eye or the nervous system.

Common causes of photophobia include migraine headaches, cataracts, or severe ophthalmologic diseases such as uveitis or corneal abrasion.[1] A more extensive list follows:

Eye-related

Causes of photophobia relating directly to the eye itself include:

Nervous-system-related

Neurological causes for photophobia include:

Other causes

Treatment

The best treatment for light sensitivity is to address the underlying cause. Once the triggering factor is treated, photophobia disappears in many but not all cases.[25]

Patients with photophobia will avert their eyes from direct light (sunlight and room lights), or may seek the shelter of a dark room or wear sunglasses.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hazin R, Abuzetun JY, Daoud YJ, Abu-Khalaf MM (July 2009). "Ocular complications of cancer therapy: a primer for the ophthalmologist treating cancer patients". Curr Opin Ophthalmol 20 (4): 308–17. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e32832c9007. PMID 19491683. 
  2. ↑ "Achromotopsoa". Scottish Sensory Centre. http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/resources/vi&multi/eyeconds/Achro.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 Day, Susan (January 15, 1997). "P9: Photophobia". In Taylor, David. Paediatric Opthamalogy (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 1034–1036. ISBN 9780865428317. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Photophobia". Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/anomalies/Photophobia.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  5. ↑ "Conjunctivitis". Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch101/ch101c.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Corneal ulcer". Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch102/ch102c.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  7. ↑ Fan X, Miles JH, Takahashi N, Yao G (2009). "Abnormal Transient Pupillary Light Reflex in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 
  8. ↑ "Light sensitivity - photophobia". Royal National Institute of Blind People. http://www.rnib.org.uk/EYEHEALTH/EYECONDITIONS/EYECONDITIONSDN/Pages/photophobia.aspx. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  9. ↑ "Photophobia - Glossary Entry - Genetics Home Reference". United States National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary=photophobia. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  10. ↑ "Ankylosing spondylitis". United States National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=ankylosingspondylitis. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  11. ↑ "Albinism - MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". United States National Library of Medicine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001479.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  12. ↑ Harris, Robert S.; Kenneth V. Thimann (February 11, 1943). Vitamins & Hormones, Volume 1. Academic Press. p. 88. ISBN 9780127098012. 
  13. ↑ Wakakura M, Tsubouchi T, Inouye J (March 2004). "Etizolam and benzodiazepine induced blepharospasm" (PDF). J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 75 (3): 506–7. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.019869. PMID 14966178. PMC 1738986. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1738986&blobtype=pdf. 
  14. ↑ Pelissolo A; Bisserbe JC (Mar-Apr 1994). "[Dependence on benzodiazepines. Clinical and biological aspects]". Encephale 20 (2): 147–57. PMID 7914165. 
  15. ↑ "A case of bilateral presumed chikungunya neuroretinitis". Indian Journal of Opthamalogy. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684432/. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  16. ↑ "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". University of Virginia Health System. http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_infectious/cfs.cfm. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  17. ↑ Dr. Diana Driscoll, Ehlers-Danlos Eye Dr PDF
  18. ↑ Sjaastad, Ottar; Bakketeig, Leiv S. (December 22, 2004). "Hangover headache: accompanying symptoms. Vågå study of headache epidemiology". The Journal of Headache and Pain (Springer Milan) 5 (4): 224–229. doi:10.1007/s10194-004-0130-5. ISSN 1129-2369. 
  19. ↑ "Influenza Virus (Orthomyxovirus)". University of South Carolina School of Medicine. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/flu.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009. 
  20. ↑ Gauthier-Smith, P.C. (December 22, 2004). "Neurological complications of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)". Brain (Oxford University Press) 88 (2): 323–334. doi:10.1093/brain/88.2.323. 
  21. ↑ Durlach, Jean; Hirotoshi Morii, Yoshiki Nishizawa (March 6, 2007). "10: Clinical forms of Magnesium Depletion by Photosensitization and Treatment with Scototherapy". New Perspectives in Magnesium Research. Springer London. pp. 117–126. doi:10.1007/978-1-84628-483-0_10. ISBN 781846283888. 
  22. ↑ "Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Elemental Mercury Poisoning in a Household -- Ohio, 1989". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 39 (25): 424–425. June 29, 1990. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001652.htm. 
  23. ↑ Drummond, Peter D. (1986). "A Quantitative Assessment of Photophobia in Migraine and Tension Headache". Headache: the Journal of Head and Face Pain 26 (9): 465. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2609465.x. 
  24. ↑ "Human Rabies -- Miami, 1994". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 43 (42). October 28, 1994. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/publications/mmwr_4342.html. 
  25. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/lightsensitive.htm

External links