If you find yourself disturbed by bright lights or intolerable of sunlight, fluorescent lights or incandescent light, you may have photophobia, or light sensitivity. If this sounds like you, you may often feel the need to squint or close your eyes when faced with lighting that others around you are comfortable with. Sufferers of photophobia also may experience headaches that accompany the light sensitivity.

Rather than think of photophobia as a disease in itself, it is more accurate to consider it a symptom of one or more other eye conditions. Often infection or inflammation can result in light sensitivity and this type of response to light nearly always accompanies a migraine headache. Other causes of photophobia include retinal detachment, contact lens irritation, corneal abrasion, uveitis, sunburn, and some central nervous system conditions like meningitis.

If you are experiencing photophobia, it is important for you to seek medical attention to rule out a serious underlying cause. The course of treatment you will receive will be dependent upon the underlying cause of your light sensitivity. To deal with the photophobia itself, it is best to reduce or eliminate exposure to bright lights and when you cannot avoid exposure, limit its effects with sunglasses or a wide brimmed hat.

If you are experiencing light sensitivity, contact our practice today for an examination to determine the underlying cause of your photophobia.