Photophobia Information
Photophobia (from Greek φῶς - phōs, "light"[1] and φόβος - phobos, "fear"[2]) is a symptom of abnormal intolerance to visual perception of light.[3] As a medical symptom photophobia is not a morbid fear or phobia, but an experience of discomfort or pain to the eyes due to light exposure or by presence of actual physical photosensitivity of the eyes,[4] though the term is sometimes additionally applied to abnormal or irrational fear of light such as heliophobia.[5]
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Causes
Patients may develop photophobia as a result of several different medical conditions, related to the eye or the nervous system.
Photophobia can be caused by an increased response to light starting at any step in the visual system, such as:
- Too much light entering the eye. Too much light can enter the eye if it is damaged, such as with corneal abrasion and retinal damage, or if a pupil(s) is unable to normally constrict (seen with damage to the oculomotor nerve).
- Overstimulation of the photoreceptors in the retina
- Excessive electric impulses to the optic nerve
- Excessive response in the central nervous system
Common causes of photophobia include migraine headaches, cataracts, or severe ophthalmologic diseases such as uveitis or corneal abrasion.[6] A more extensive list follows:
Eye-related
Causes of photophobia relating directly to the eye itself include:
- Achromatopsia[7]
- Aniridia[8]
- Anticholinergic drugs may cause photophobia by paralyzing the iris sphincter muscle.
- Aphakia[9] (absence of the lens of the eye)
- Buphthalmos[8] (abnormally narrow angle between the cornea and iris)
- Cataracts[8]
- Cone dystrophy[8]
- Congenital abnormalities of the eye[8]
- Viral conjunctivitis ("pink eye")[10]
- Corneal abrasion[8]
- Corneal dystrophy[8]
- Corneal ulcer[11]
- Disruption of the corneal epithelium, such as that caused by a corneal foreign body or keratitis [8]
- Ectopia lentis[8]
- Endophthalmitis[8]
- Eye trauma caused by disease, injury, or infection such as chalazion, episcleritis, glaucoma,[8] keratoconus, or optic nerve hypoplasia
- Hydrophthalmos, or congenital glaucoma[8]
- Iritis[8]
- Optic neuritis[8]
- Pigment dispersion syndrome
- Pupillary dilation (naturally or chemically induced)[9]
- Retinal detachment
- Scarring of the cornea or sclera [8]
- Uveitis[8]
Nervous-system-related
Neurological causes for photophobia include:
- Autism spectrum disorders [12]
- Chiari malformation
- Dyslexia[13]
- Encephalitis[8] including Myalgic encephalomyelitis aka Chronic fatigue syndrome[14]
- Meningitis[8]
- Subarachnoid haemorrhage[15]
- Tumor of the posterior cranial fossa[8]
Other causes
- Ankylosing spondylitis[16] - Causes Uveitis as an extra-articular feature.
- Albinism[17] [18]
- Ariboflavinosis[19]
- Benzodiazepines (long term use of or withdrawal from benzodiazepines)[20][21]
- Chemotherapy[8]
- Chikungunya[22]
- Cystinosis[8]
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome[23]
- Hangover[24]
- Influenza[25]
- Infectious Mononucleosis[26]
- Magnesium deficiency[27]
- Mercury poisoning[28]
- Migraine[29]
- Rabies[30]
- Tyrosinemia type II, also known as "Richner-Hanhart syndrome"[8]
Treatment
The best treatment for light sensitivity is to address the underlying cause. Once the triggering factor is treated, photophobia disappears in many but not all cases.[31]
Patients with photophobia will avert their eyes from direct light (sunlight and room lights), or may seek the shelter of a dark room or wear sunglasses.
A study by Stringham and Hammond, published in the Jan-Feb issue of Journal of Food Science, discusses the improvement in visual performance and decrease in light senitivity (glare) in subjects taking 10 mg Lutein and 2 mg Zeaxanthin per day.[32]
See also
- Light sensitivity
- Photic sneeze reflex, a medical condition by which people exposed to bright light sneeze
- Photosensitivity in humans
References
- ^ φῶς, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ φόβος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ thefreedictionary.com/photophobia citing:
- Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007
- The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007
- Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003
- Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009
- ^ thefreedictionary.com/photophobia citing:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008
- Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009
- McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002
- ^ thefreedictionary.com/photophobia citing:
- The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007
- Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009
- ^ Hazin R, Abuzetun JY, Daoud YJ, Abu-Khalaf MM (July 2009). "Ocular complications of cancer therapy: a primer for the ophthalmologist treating cancer patients". Curr Opin Ophthalmol 20 (4): 308–17. doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e32832c9007. PMID 19491683.
- ^ "Achromotopsoa". Scottish Sensory Centre. http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/resources/vi&multi/eyeconds/Achro.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Day, Susan (January 15, 1997). "P9: Photophobia". In Taylor, David. Paediatric Opthamalogy (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 1034–1036. ISBN 9780865428317.
- ^ a b "Photophobia". Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/anomalies/Photophobia.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Conjunctivitis". Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch101/ch101c.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Corneal ulcer". Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch102/ch102c.html. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ Fan X, Miles JH, Takahashi N, Yao G (2009). "Abnormal Transient Pupillary Light Reflex in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
- ^ "Light sensitivity - photophobia". Royal National Institute of Blind People. http://www.rnib.org.uk/EYEHEALTH/EYECONDITIONS/EYECONDITIONSDN/Pages/photophobia.aspx. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". University of Virginia Health System. http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_infectious/cfs.cfm. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Photophobia - Glossary Entry - Genetics Home Reference". United States National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary=photophobia. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Ankylosing spondylitis". United States National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=ankylosingspondylitis. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Albinism - MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". United States National Library of Medicine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001479.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ "Albino People". Philippine General Hospital. http://www.albinopeople.org/. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ Harris, Robert S.; Kenneth V. Thimann (February 11, 1943). Vitamins & Hormones, Volume 1. Academic Press. p. 88. ISBN 9780127098012.
- ^ Wakakura M, Tsubouchi T, Inouye J (March 2004). "Etizolam and benzodiazepine induced blepharospasm". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 75 (3): 506–7. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.019869. PMC 1738986. PMID 14966178. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1738986.
- ^ Pelissolo A; Bisserbe JC (Mar-Apr 1994). "[Dependence on benzodiazepines. Clinical and biological aspects]". Encephale 20 (2): 147–57. PMID 7914165.
- ^ Mahesh, G; Giridhar, A; Shedbele, A; Kumar, R; Saikumar, SJ (2009). "A case of bilateral presumed chikungunya neuroretinitis". Indian journal of ophthalmology (Indian Journal of Opthamalogy) 57 (2): 148–50. PMC 2684432. PMID 19237792. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2684432.
- ^ Dr. Diana Driscoll, Ehlers-Danlos Eye Dr PDF
- ^ Sjaastad, Ottar; Bakketeig, Leiv S. (December 22, 2004). "Hangover headache: accompanying symptoms. Vågå study of headache epidemiology". The Journal of Headache and Pain (Springer Milan) 5 (4): 224–229. doi:10.1007/s10194-004-0130-5. ISSN 1129-2369.
- ^ Hunt, Dr. Margaret. "Influenza Virus (Orthomyxovirus)". University of South Carolina School of Medicine. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/flu.htm. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- ^ Gauthier-Smith, P.C. (December 22, 2004). "Neurological complications of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)". Brain (Oxford University Press) 88 (2): 323–334. doi:10.1093/brain/88.2.323. PMID 5828906.
- ^ Durlach, Jean; Hirotoshi Morii, Yoshiki Nishizawa (March 6, 2007). "10: Clinical forms of Magnesium Depletion by Photosensitization and Treatment with Scototherapy". New Perspectives in Magnesium Research. Springer London. pp. 117–126. doi:10.1007/978-1-84628-483-0_10. ISBN 781846283888.
- ^ "Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Elemental Mercury Poisoning in a Household -- Ohio, 1989". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 39 (25): 424–425. June 29, 1990. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001652.htm.
- ^ Drummond, Peter D. (1986). "A Quantitative Assessment of Photophobia in Migraine and Tension Headache". Headache: the Journal of Head and Face Pain 26 (9): 465. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2609465.x.
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (October 28, 1994). "Human Rabies -- Miami, 1994". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 43 (42): 773–5. PMID 7935313. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/publications/mmwr_4342.html.
- ^ http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/lightsensitive.htm
- ^ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01447.x/abstract;jsessionid=350B6E677AC73B3F3FB38975B92835B9.d01t01?systemMessage=Due+to+scheduled+maintenance+access+to+the+Wiley+Online+Library+may+be+disrupted+as+follows:+Monday,+6+September+-+New+York+0400+EDT+to+0500+EDT;+London+0900+BST+to+1000+BST;+Singapore+1600+to+1700
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