Photophobia: cause, symptoms, glasses, treatment

Definition: what is photophobia?

L’light intolerance characterizes photophobia. She can just be annoying or painful. Photophobia can be caused by keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal infectionmore rarely a snow blindness. It particularly affects people with fair skin, with more fragile eyes. If accompanied by nausea and fevers, photophobia may be a symptom of meningitis. In any case, you have to treat the cause and wear glasses with tinted lenses if you don’t want to spend your time in the dark. “Photophobia is not a disease in itself but a fairly common symptom in ophthalmology. Photophobia must be distinguished from the sensitivity to light that we all have during strong exposure to light, especially in the event of strong sunlight or significant reverberation without sun protection.“, comments Dr. Pierre Queromès, ophthalmic surgeon specializing in retinal diseases.

What are the symptoms of photophobia?

Photophobia is manifested by different symptoms:

• A hypersensitivity to light
• A blurred vision
• Squinting or closing the eyes to an exposure that is no stronger than normal
• Of the watery eyes
• Of the eye redness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Instant vision loss
• Dizziness.

What are the causes of photophobia?

“Some people naturally have a greater sensitivity to light than others. This is the case light-eyed peoplewhose iris pigmentation blocks the light a little less than dark eyes”, says the eye surgeon. Beyond this physiological characteristic, the causes of photophobia fall into three broad categories:

► Ophthalmological causes: photophobia can occur in the context of:

• inflammation of the cornea (keratitis) due to the presence of foreign bodies in the eye,
• an ulcer,
• corneal trauma
• conjunctivitis
• an intraocular inflammatory pathology (uveitis or iridocyclitis)
• acute glaucoma
• some genetic diseases of the retina.

► Neurological causes:

• intracranial hypertension,
• meningitis
• migraine which causes extreme sensitivity to sound and light.

► Psychiatric causes:

• people with depression or bipolar disorder
• drug treatment (benzodiazepines)

Is there a test to diagnose photophobia?

“There isn’t really a specific test to diagnose photophobia. It is especially the interrogation which makes it possible to detect this hypersensitivity to light. For example, if the patient is bothered more than before by car headlights or artificial light, whether at the office or in front of screens“, indicates the specialist.

What is the treatment for photophobia?

To treat photophobia, it is necessary to know its origin. People who know they are sensitive to light should take certain precautions:

• wear sunglasses outside,
• avoid wearing contact lenses,
• lower the shutters inside the house in case of strong sunshine,
• avoid reflective surfaces (snow, water, sand, etc.).

In the presence of an ophthalmological cause such as keratitis, uveitis or conjunctivitis, ointments and drops to moisturize and lubricate the eye may be offered to relieve discomfort. In case of migraines, the prescription of analgesics reduces intolerance to light.

Should special glasses be worn in case of photophobia?

Outside, sunglasses are recommended to protect against light. Inside, classic glasses with anti-reflective lenses are sufficient. “There are also photochromic glasses which tint as soon as you go out. In case of major crises, it is possible to close the eye usinga steristrip to protect it from light“, specifies Dr. Pierre Quéromès.

Thanks to Dr. Pierre Quéromès, ophthalmic surgeon specializing in retinal diseases. He practices at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital Center and at the OPH78.