Laser eye surgery Connecticut - Photophobia- Find a Lasik Surgeon Near You!

Photophobia is not a disease. This condition is an intolerance of light or light sensitivity. Fluorescent light, sunlight, and incandescent light are all light sources that can cause discomfort and the need to close or squint your eyes. This may also be accompanied by headaches or severe migraines. In most cases, light-sensitive people are only bothered by bright light; however, in extreme cases any light can be uncomfortable.

What Causes Photophobia?

Light sensitivity can be caused by many conditions such as infection, or an inflammation that irritates the eyes. There are many underlying diseases that can cause this sensitivity:

• Virus-caused Illnesses
• Corneal abrasion
• Uveitis
• Meningitis
• Detached retina
• Contact lens irritation
• Refractive surgery
• Sunburn
• Keratosis Follicularis Spinulosa Declavans (Genetic disorders)
• Lack of eye pigment (Albinism)
• Conjunctivitis

People with lighter eye color may also experience this light sensitivity. Darker-colored eyes tend to have more pigment to protect them from harsh lighting. Total color deficiency, seeing in only shades of grey, can also cause this condition. The side effects of certain medications such as belladonna, quinine, belladonna, tetracycline, and doxycycline can also cause this light sensitivity.

Photophobia Treatment

The best treatment for photophobia is to identify the underlying cause. In many cases, once the underlying cause is treated, photophobia will simply disappear. If medication is the trigger, talk to your physician about replacing or discontinuing the drug.

Sunglasses that control glare can be helpful if you are naturally sensitive to sunlight, or strong indoor lighting. Avoiding bright light, wearing sunglasses with ultraviolet protection, and using a wide-brimmed hat can also help with light sensitivity. In extreme cases, some patients use a prosthetic contact lens. This lens is specially colored to look like your natural eyes and reduces the amount of light that enters the eye, thus making them more comfortable.

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