Photophobia is the increased sensitivity to light or clarity, which causes an aversion or feeling of discomfort in the eyes in these situations and causes symptoms such as difficulty to open or keep the eyes open in a bright environment.
Thus, the person with photophobia suffers from an intolerance to the light stimulus, which can be caused by eye diseases, such as birth defects or eye inflammation, or by systemic diseases, such as albinism or meningitis, for example. In addition, photophobia can be facilitated in some situations, such as overuse of contact lenses or during recovery from eye surgery.
Photophobia can be cured, and its treatment is directed by the doctor to its cause. However, this cause can often not be eliminated, and it is recommended to follow some tips to reduce the effects of this sensitivity on a daily basis, such as wearing sunglasses or with photochromic lenses.
Main causes
The eyes always try to protect themselves from light, which when excessive can be annoying. However, in photophobia there is a more exaggerated reaction, and the risk may be increased in the following situations:
- Congenital diseases of the retina, such as absence of pigments in the back of the eye, absence of irises or albinism; Light-colored eyes, such as blue or green, as they have the least ability to absorb pigments; Eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma or uveitis; Injuries in the eyes, caused by infections, allergies or injuries; Astigmatism, a situation in which the cornea presents changes in its shape; Neurological changes, such as migraine or seizure. Systemic diseases, not directly related to the eyes, such as rheumatological diseases, meningitis, rabies, botulism or mercury poisoning, for example; Excessive use of contact lenses; After eye surgery, such as cataracts or refractive surgery.
In addition, the use of some drugs, such as phenylephrine, furosemide or scopolamine, or illicit drugs, such as amphetamines or cocaine, for example, can also increase sensitivity to light and cause photophobia.
Common symptoms
Photophobia is characterized by aversion or increased sensitivity to light, and when exaggerated it indicates a change in vision, and may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as redness, burning or itching in the eyes.
In addition, depending on the type of alteration that causes photophobia, it is possible to have eye pain, decreased visual capacity or even manifestations in other parts of the body, such as fever, weakness or joint pain, for example.
Thus, in the presence of sudden, intense or repetitive photophobia, it is important to seek the ophthalmologist to assess the conditions of vision and eyes, in order to find the cause and indicate the appropriate treatment.
How the treatment is done
To treat photophobia, it is necessary to identify and treat its cause, after medical evaluation, it may be necessary to operate on a cataract, correct vision for astigmatism or use drugs to prevent migraine, for example.
In addition, some tips that should be followed to relieve symptoms of photophobia are:
- Use photochromic lenses, which adapt to the brightness of the environment; Wear sunglasses in bright environments, with UV protection to prevent damage to the eyes; Prefer glasses with polarized lenses, which offer extra protection against light reflections caused by reflective surfaces, like water, for example; in sunny environments, wear hats with wide brim and prefer to stay under the umbrella;
In addition, it is recommended to make annual evaluations as an ophthalmologist, to monitor eye health and detect changes as soon as possible.
