How many have heard of such an unpleasant disease as photophobia of the eyes? The reasons for it can be very diverse. In the article we will try to understand what this disease is, what are its causes, and how to deal with it.
Photophobia: what ailment
What is photophobia of the eye? The causes, treatment, prevention, myths and reality of this disease are all described below.
Photophobia or, as the people call it, "photophobia" is a painful perception by the eyes of light. The penetration of light rays into the eyes causes a cutting and rather unpleasant sensation in people suffering from this ailment.
We know that our eyes need a certain level of illumination. If it does not correspond to the normal indicator, and as a result of this there are unpleasant visual sensations, then this is a completely predictable reaction of the eyes, and in no case is photophobia. You can suspect the presence of a disease if the level of illumination is normal, and at the same time there are complaints about the increased sensitivity of the eyes to light and its intolerance.
What is photophobia of the eye? The causes of this disease you will learn further.
The causes of photophobia
In order to study and identify the causes of the development of photophobia, it is necessary to understand that photophobia is a symptom of another disease. In other words, you need to find the source disease that caused the development of photophobia.
What can cause photophobia of the eyes? The causes of this ailment are very diverse. There are cases in which doctors diagnose the appearance of photophobia due to the presence of ophthalmic diseases, for example, conjunctivitis or keratitis. Also, the disease may be due to an innate structural feature of the eye, when there is no pigment melanin, which is responsible for the color of the shell of the eye. Past colds or adverse environmental conditions can also trigger the development of this ailment. There are situations when taking certain medications affects the eyes' perception of light and the development of photophobia. Recently, cases of photophobia due to prolonged work on the computer have become more frequent. This negatively affects the condition of the eyes, accompanied by visual stress and drying out of the mucous membrane. In extremely rare cases, photophobia can be experienced due to depression, fatigue, or neurological diseases such as migraines.
What are the symptoms of photophobia?
Sunlight or bright artificial lighting can cause great discomfort for a patient with photophobia, and even real torment. In this case, he will squint or try to completely close his eyes. The patient may begin lacrimation and redness of the eyes. Such symptoms of photophobia are most often observed with conjunctivitis and ophthalmic herpes. Photophobia can also be accompanied by headache, fever, and even vomiting. The development of these symptoms may be preceded by meningitis, migraine, or stroke.
Owners of dark shades of eyes have less pronounced photosensitivity, since they have more pigment that protects from bright light.
Different patients may experience partial or complete intolerance to a high level of illumination.
Photophobia of the eye: causes in children
Photophobia in children can develop due to the low content or absence of melanin, which is a congenital disease.
Often photophobia can occur during colds and viral diseases. With allergic or viral conjunctivitis, the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed, and this provokes a negative reaction to bright light.
A rather serious childhood illness “acrodinia”, accompanied by increased pressure, loss of appetite, pink and sticky hands and feet, also provokes the development of fear of light.
With motor paralysis in children, photophobia also develops, since the pupil does not have time to adapt to a change in light.
In case of endocrine disruption, the child may also complain of blurred vision, poor light perception, and discomfort in the eye area.
With the appearance of photophobia in a child, one should not panic, most often this is a sign of minor disorders in the body. But you must immediately consult a doctor in order to prevent the development of more serious diseases in time.
Diagnosis and treatment
What is photophobia of the eye? We have already found out the causes of this disease. Now let's talk about its diagnosis and treatment. People who complain of photophobia should go to the hospital for further examination and treatment. As a rule, with this disease, two specialists carry out the diagnosis: an ophthalmologist and a neurologist. They will prescribe the necessary studies, which include fundus examination , ophthalmoscopy, corneal scans, cerebrospinal fluid examinations, MRI or CT scans of the brain, EEG, thyroid ultrasound, chest x-ray. After all the necessary examinations, you will be prescribed medical treatment. It is very important to exclude self-medication and entrust your health to professionals.
How to eliminate a disease such as photophobia of the eye? The reasons and treatment are presented to your attention in the article. The essence of photophobia treatment is to eliminate the underlying disease that led to the development of photophobia. As soon as it is possible to get rid of this reason, an unpleasant reaction to the light will pass by itself. If photophobia is caused by taking certain medications, then the doctor will pick you an analog that will not provoke such a reaction to light. If photophobia is congenital or related to environmental factors, you may be advised to wear contact lenses that minimize negative reactions to light. With photophobia provoked by viral or infectious diseases, the doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotic therapy. We can refer to it as drugs in the form of eye drops, and pills, injections. Wearing glasses with tinted windows can significantly alleviate the symptoms of photophobia during treatment.
Now we know how to eliminate photophobia of the eyes. The causes, the treatment of which must be carried out in the first place, must be diagnosed in time. Do not delay the trip to the doctor, as this is fraught with consequences.
Myths and Reality
There are different opinions about photophobia, which are not always true. For example, it is believed that photophobia will inevitably lead to blindness. But this is just a myth. Photophobia causes a negative reaction to light and even a decrease in visual acuity, but this does not cause blindness.
It is also believed that with albinism photophobia does not have to develop. In fact, these people mostly suffer from eyes, and the development of photophobia is inevitable. But sunglasses come to the rescue, which will facilitate the reaction to light.
Photophobia Prevention
To prevent this disease, it is advised to spend more time in the fresh air. This will help strengthen the body and allow the organ of vision to rest. When working at a computer, you should take breaks and do not strain your eyes for a long time. You can also include in the daily duties additional eye care: lotions, drops. In bright daylight, you can wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.
Summing up, it can be noted that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and caring for the body are the main preventive measures for photophobia.
Now you know what photophobia of the eyes is. The causes, treatment, prevention of the disease were described in the article. Be responsible for your health. Avoid complications. Be healthy!