Do you sometimes have a blue-eyed, blue-eyed reaction when you look at a bright light? Or do you feel like squinting and covering your eyes with your hands when the sun comes out? While this is normal for some people, sometimes it can be a symptom of another underlying condition. Today we are talking about photophobia, a condition in which the eyes cannot tolerate light.
Simply put, what is photophobia?
Although the word means "fear of light," in medical terms it does not mean a fear of the outdoors. It refers to the excessive sensitivity of your eyes to light, especially bright light. This sensitivity can cause discomfort and sometimes even pain in the eyes.
Imagine that when you go for an eye exam, they put medicine in your eyes to dilate your pupil . Then when you go outside, it feels so uncomfortable that you can't keep your eyes open for a while, right? That's what happens here too. But it's temporary. Photophobia can be a more permanent condition.
See if you have these symptoms too.
If you also have sensitivity to the outside, you may be doing these things:
- Frequent blinking or squinting.
- Automatically covering eyes with hands to protect them from bright light.
- Reluctance to go out on sunny days and preferring to go out after dark.
- Preferring dim light over bright lights, even at home.
- Sometimes the eyes feel sore from bright light.
Why are my eyes so sensitive? There could be many reasons.
Photophobia is actually a symptom of another disease. There are many things that can cause it. Some are related to the eye itself, some are related to our nervous system, and some can be caused by the medications we take. Let's look at these separately.
Ocular Causes
In most cases, the main cause of this is a condition called dry eye . Apart from that, there are several other causes.
| Condition | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Dry eye | It is a common condition that occurs when the eye does not produce enough tears. |
| Eye diseases (Conjunctivitis) | It is a common infection that causes the eye to become red and watery. |
| Cataracts and surgery | This can also occur after cataracts, cataract surgery, and laser surgery (LASIK). |
| Uveitis | Inflammation inside the eye. The eye may become red and painful. |
| Other eye diseases | Conditions such as albinism (lack of pigment), aniridia (congenital absence of the iris), astigmatism (change in the shape of the eye), and corneal disease. |
Neurological Causes
Sometimes the problem is not in the eye, but in the brain or nervous system.
Migraine is a very common neurological condition that causes photophobia. Many people with migraines cannot tolerate things like bright light and noise.
| Condition | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Migraine | Severe headache with intolerance to light and noise. |
| Meningitis | An infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This is a condition that requires emergency medical treatment. |
| Head injuries (Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI) | Brain damage due to a car accident or fall. |
| Other neurological diseases | Severe conditions such as blepharospasm (a problem with the eyelid muscles) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (a bleeding in the brain). |
Other medical conditions and medications taken
In addition, certain allergies, diseases such as fibromyalgia, and mental conditions such as anxiety and depression can also increase sensitivity to light.
Photophobia can also be a side effect of some medications we take. For example, some sleeping pills, medications for mental illness (Haloperidol, Lithium), and medications for malaria (Chloroquine) can cause this condition.
How is this condition treated?
The most important thing is to treat the underlying condition that is causing the photophobia, rather than just treating it. Therefore, the first thing you should do is see a qualified doctor.
Your doctor may do these things:
- Obtain a complete medical history about your symptoms, family medical history, and medications you are taking.
- Performing a complete eye examination .
- If necessary, referral for other tests related to the nervous system.
After these tests, the cause of the disease is determined and appropriate treatment is prescribed. These treatments may include:
- Prescription of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Giving pills, eye drops, or injections.
- In some cases, surgery.
- If this condition is caused by a medication you are taking, change or stop that medication (only on medical advice).
What can be done to reduce this discomfort at home?
While you are receiving medical treatment, the following can help you manage this discomfort:
- Wear good quality sunglasses and a hat when going outside. Sunglasses with polarized lenses are best.
- Switching to natural light or other types of lighting instead of fluorescent lighting at home.
- If you can install dimmer switches on your home lights, you can increase or decrease the brightness of the light as needed.
- Use your phone, TV, and computer with the brightness turned down.
- If this condition is caused by dry eyes, use moisturizing eye drops with your doctor's approval .
The most important thing is, if you have new sensitivity to light, or if your condition worsens, be sure to see your doctor. Don't ignore it as something minor.
Take-Home Message
- Photophobia is not a fear of the outdoors, but an extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light.
- The cause of this could be something as simple as dry eye, or something as serious as a migraine or meningitis.
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause, so an accurate diagnosis is very important.
- Temporary relief can be achieved by wearing sunglasses and reducing the brightness of the lights.
- It is wise to seek medical advice about any new discomfort or pain in the eyes.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What is shivering/chilling? Is this a common cold?
This is not the usual cold you feel when you go to Nuwara Eliya/stay in the AC! 'Chills' means that even though you can see the heat, you feel an unbearable cold inside your body that makes you wrap yourself in 4-5 layers of clothes and you shiver to the point of your teeth chattering with involuntary muscle contractions! This is the main symptom of a severe war/toxin going on inside your body.
💬 What are the main reasons for shivering until your teeth chatter while you roll over in bed?
The main reason for this is 'Severe Bacterial or Viral Infections'! When the body's immune system increases fever to kill the germs, our muscles tremble like this to add heat to it. The main diseases are: 1) Malaria/Dengue-like diseases (Malaria/Flu). 2) 'Meningitis' - In this, the neck becomes stiff with shaking. 3) Lung Infections (Pneumonia). 4) Severe Urinary Tract Infections (Pyelonephritis).
💬 When you have a fever, what are the 'life-threatening/emergency situations' where you should go to the hospital immediately without waiting for a Panadol baby?
In a normal fever, this subsides in 2 days. But the biggest danger! If, along with the shivering, 1) 'Confusion/Delirium', 2) Difficulty breathing/chest pain, 3) Stiff neck, 4) Purple spots/rash (Petechiae) appear on the skin, this means that the virus has entered the blood and spread throughout the body (Septicemia/Sepsis) and the patient is going to die, and hospitalization is required immediately!
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