Photophobia

Regardless of the cause of your patient’s photophobia, it’s very important to understand how it can significantly impact their daily life. For those who suffer from it, it’s a constant battle to carefully control their light exposure; often avoiding triggering environments and seeking out dimly lit spaces to provide some sort of relief from the associated symptoms.

Depending on the severity and the cause, photophobia can range from being a low-grade annoyance to a life-disrupting nightmare. It can leave your eyes feeling painfully strained, irritated or like they are burning when exposed to bright lights, sunlight or certain types of artificial lighting (like fluorescent bulbs). It can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, vertigo and can even create a temporary vision impairment (like seeing spots, halos, or having double vision). Not surprisingly, it can make it very difficult and uncomfortable to watch tv, stare at a computer screen or even read a book.

Imagine having to live your life in constant anxiety that sunlight, overhead lighting, a camera flash or any other bright light is potentially going to cause you agony. Certainly not ideal, to put it mildly.