MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Vision

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Vision - light sensitive

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

External and internal eye anatomy

Alternative names Return to top

Photophobia; Light sensitivity; Light hurts the eyes; Sensitivity to sunlight

Definition Return to top

Photophobia is eye discomfort in bright light.

Considerations Return to top

Photophobia is a fairly common symptom. For many people, photophobia is not due to any underlying disease.

Common Causes Return to top

Excessive wearing of contact lenses, or badly fitting contact lenses
Eye disease, injury, or infection (such as chalazion, episcleritis, glaucoma)
Burns to the eye(s)
Common migraine headache
Meningitis
Acute iritis
Corneal abrasion
Corneal ulcer
Uveitis
Drugs such as amphetamines, atropine, cocaine, cyclopentolate, idoxuridine, phenylephrine, scopolamine, trifluridine, tropicamide, and vidarabine
Eye testing in which the eyes have been dilated

Home Care Return to top

The discomfort of light sensitivity can be reduced by avoiding sunlight, closing the eyes, wearing dark glasses, or darkening the room. However, the cause for the light sensitivity should be determined since proper treatment may cure the problem.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

Light sensitivity is severe -- i.e., if you need to wear sunglasses indoors.
Accompanied by headaches, red eye(s) or blurred vision.
Sensitivity to light that does not go away in a day or two.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting the sensitivity to light in detail may include:

Time pattern
- When did this begin?
- Is the sensitivity to light constant or occasional?
Quality
- How severe is the sensitivity?
- Are dark glasses needed?
- Are darkened rooms needed?
Aggravating factors
- Have the pupils recently been dilated with medications?
- Do you use contact lenses?
- Do you have headaches?
- Do you use soaps, lotions, or cosmetics around your eyes?
- Have you had an exposure to dust, wind, sun, pollens, or chemicals?
Relieving factors
- Is it better after you rest?
- Is it better when you wear dark glasses?
- Is it better when you are in darkened rooms?
- Do any medications make it better?
Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
  - Pain in the eye
  - Headache
  - Nausea
  - Neck stiffness
  - Blurred vision
  - Sore or wound in eye
  - Redness
  - Itching
  - Swelling
  - Dizziness
  - Numbness or tingling elsewhere in the body
  - Changes in hearing
Additional important information
- What medications are being taken?
- Have you had any injuries?
- Do you have a history of migraine headaches?
- Do you use "street drugs"?

The physical examination may include a neurological examination performed with special attention to the eyes.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Again, in most cases, the cause is relatively minor and can easily be treated. However, you should be evaluated by an eye doctor or your primary doctor if the symptoms are severe or persistent.

Update Date: 8/18/2003

Updated by: Edward B. Feinberg, M.D., M.P.H., Professor and Chair, Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.