Photophobia

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Photophobia
Table of Contents
Alternative names Defination Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors	Prevention Symptoms Signs & Tests Treatment	Expectations Complications Calling Your health care provider
Alternative Names photophobia; light sensitivity; light hurts the eyes; sensitivity to sunlight
Definition Discomfort of the eyes to bright light. Considerations Photophobia is a fairly common symptom. For many people, photophobia is not due to any underlying disease.
Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors Common causes 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 Note: There may be other causes of photophobia. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for photophobia, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.
Prevention The discomfort of light sensitivity can be reduced by avoiding sunlight, closing the eyes, wearing dark glasses, or darkening the room.
Symptoms
Signs & Tests 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: corneal scraping slit-lamp examination lumbar puncture
Treatment
Expectations (Prognosis)
Complications
Calling your doctor/health care provider Photophobia is unexplained, persistent, or accompanied by red eye(s) or blurred vision.

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