Photophobia

"Sensitivity to light" redirects here. It is not to be confused withPhotosensitivity.This article is about the human medical symptom. For the biological or botanical behavioral property, seePhotophobia (biology).Photophobia

Classification and external resources

SpecialtyNeurology

ICD-10H53.1

ICD-9-CM368.13

DiseasesDB24599

MedlinePlus003041

MeSHD020795

Photophobiais asymptomof abnormal intolerance to visual perception oflight.[1]As a medical symptom, photophobia is not a morbid fear orphobia, but an experience of discomfort or pain to the eyes due to light exposure or by presence of actual physical sensitivity of the eyes,[2]though the term is sometimes additionally applied to abnormal or irrationalfearof light such asheliophobia.[3]The termphotophobiacomes from theGreek (phs), meaning "light", and (phobos), meaning "fear".[4][5]Contents[hide] 1Causes 1.1Eye-related 1.2Nervous-system-related 1.3Other causes 2Treatment 3See also 4References 5External linksCauses[edit]Patients may develop photophobia as a result of several different medical conditions, related to theeyeor thenervous system. Photophobia can be caused by an increased response to light starting at any step in thevisual system, such as: Too much light entering the eye. Too much light can enter the eye if it is damaged, such as withcorneal abrasionand retinal damage, or if its pupil(s) is unable to normally constrict (seen with damage to theoculomotor nerve). Due to albinism, the lack of pigment in the colored part of the eyes (irises) makes them somewhat translucent. This means that the irises can't completely block light from entering the eye. Overstimulation of thephotoreceptorsin theretina Excessive electric impulses to theoptic nerve Excessive response in thecentral nervous systemCommon causes of photophobia includemigraine headaches,cataracts, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI), or severeophthalmologic diseasessuch asuveitisorcorneal abrasion.[6]A more extensive list follows:Eye-related[edit]Causes of photophobia relating directly to the eye itself include: Achromatopsia[7] Aniridia[8] Anticholinergicdrugs may cause photophobia by paralyzing theiris sphincter muscle.[citation needed] Aphakia[9](absence of the lens of the eye) Blepharitis Buphthalmos[8](abnormally narrow angle between the cornea and iris) Cataracts[8] Coloboma Cone dystrophy[8] Congenital abnormalitiesof the eye[8] Viral conjunctivitis("pink eye")[10] Corneal abrasion[8] Corneal dystrophy[8] Corneal ulcer[11] Disruption of thecorneal epithelium, such as that caused by a cornealforeign bodyorkeratitis[8] Ectopia lentis[8] Endophthalmitis[8] Eyetrauma caused by disease, injury, or infection such aschalazion,episcleritis,glaucoma,[8]keratoconus, oroptic nerve hypoplasia Hydrophthalmos, or congenitalglaucoma[8] Iritis[8] Optic neuritis[8] Pigment dispersion syndrome[citation needed] Pupillary dilation(naturally or chemically induced)[9] Retinal detachment Scarringof the cornea or sclera[8] Uveitis[8]Nervous-system-related[edit]Neurological causes for photophobia include: Autism spectrumdisorders[12] Chiari malformation Dyslexia[13] Encephalitis[8]including Myalgic encephalomyelitis akaChronic fatigue syndrome[14] Meningitis[8] Subarachnoid haemorrhage[15] Tumorof theposterior cranial fossa[8]Other causes[edit] Ankylosing spondylitis[16] Causes Uveitis as an extra-articular feature. Albinism[17] Ariboflavinosis[18] Benzodiazepines(long term use of or withdrawal from benzodiazepines)[19][20] Chemotherapy[8] Chikungunya[21] Cystinosis[8] Drug withdrawal Ehlers-Danlos syndrome[22] Infectious mononucleosis (Glandular Fever)[23][24] Influenza[25] Magnesium deficiency[26] Mercury poisoning[27] Migraine[28] Rabies[29] Tyrosinemia type II, also known as "Richner-Hanhart syndrome"[8] snake biteTreatment[edit]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.[30]Patients with photophobia will avert their eyes from direct light (sunlight and room lights), or may seek the shelter of a dark room or wearsunglasses.A study by Stringham and Hammond, published in theJournal of Food Science, discusses the improvement in visual performance and decrease in light sensitivity (glare) in subjects taking 10mgLuteinand 2mgZeaxanthinper day.[31]See also[edit] Photic sneeze reflex, a medical condition by which people exposed to bright light sneeze Photosensitivity in humansReferences[edit]1. Jump up^thefreedictionary.com/photophobiaciting: Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007 The American Heritage Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007 Miller-Keane Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. 2003 Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. 20092. Jump up^thefreedictionary.com/photophobiaciting: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009 McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. 20023. Jump up^thefreedictionary.com/photophobiaciting: The American Heritage Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007 Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. 20094. Jump up^, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus5. Jump up^, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott,A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus6. Jump up^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 Ophthalmol20(4): 30817.doi:10.1097/ICU.0b013e32832c9007.PMID19491683.7. Jump up^"Achromotopsoa". Scottish Sensory Centre. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.8. ^Jump up to:abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvDay, Susan (January 15, 1997). "P9: Photophobia". In Taylor, David.Paediatric Ophthalmology(2nd ed.).Wiley-Blackwell. pp.10346.ISBN978-0-86542-831-7.9. ^Jump up to:ab"Photophobia".Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.[dead link]10. Jump up^"Conjunctivitis".Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.11. Jump up^"Corneal ulcer".Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.12. Jump up^Fan X, Miles JH, Takahashi N, Yao G (November 2009). "Abnormal transient pupillary light reflex in individuals with autism spectrum disorders".J Autism Dev Disord39(11): 1499508.doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0767-7.PMID19499319.13. Jump up^"Light sensitivity photophobia".Royal National Institute of Blind People. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.14. Jump up^"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome".University of Virginia Health System. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.15. Jump up^"Photophobia Glossary Entry".Genetics Home Reference.United States National Library of Medicine. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.16. Jump up^"Ankylosing spondylitis".United States National Library of Medicine. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.17. Jump up^"Albinism".MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.United States National Library of Medicine. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.18. Jump up^Harris, Robert S.; Kenneth V. Thimann (February 11, 1943).Vitamins & Hormones, Volume 1.Academic Press. p.88.ISBN978-0-12-709801-2.19. Jump up^Wakakura M, Tsubouchi T, Inouye J (March 2004)."Etizolam and benzodiazepine induced blepharospasm".J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr.75(3): 5067.doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.019869.PMC1738986.PMID14966178.20. Jump up^Pelissolo A; Bisserbe JC (MarApr 1994). "[Dependence on benzodiazepines. Clinical and biological aspects]".Encephale20(2): 14757.PMID7914165.21. Jump up^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 Ophthalmology)57(2): 14850.doi:10.4103/0301-4738.45508.PMC2684432.PMID19237792.22. Jump up^Dr. Diana Driscoll,Ehlers-Danlos Eye Dr PDF23. Jump up^A.D.A.M,[1]24. Jump up^Gauthier-Smith, P.C. (December 22, 2004). "Neurological complications of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)".Brain(Oxford University Press)88(2): 323334.doi:10.1093/brain/88.2.323.PMID5828906.25. Jump up^Hunt, Dr. Margaret."Influenza Virus (Orthomyxovirus)".University of South CarolinaSchool of Medicine. RetrievedDecember 11,2009.26. Jump up^Durlach, Jean; Hirotoshi Morii; Yoshiki Nishizawa (March 6, 2007). "10: Clinical forms of Magnesium Depletion by Photosensitization and Treatment withScototherapy".New Perspectives in Magnesium Research.Springer London. pp.117126.doi:10.1007/978-1-84628-483-0_10.ISBN978-1-84628-388-8.27. Jump up^"Elemental mercury poisoning in a householdOhio, 1989".MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep.39(25): 4245. June 1990.PMID2113168.28. Jump up^Drummond PD (October 1986). "A quantitative assessment of photophobia in migraine and tension headache".Headache26(9): 4659.doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2609465.x.PMID3781834.29. Jump up^Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (28 October 1994)."Human Rabies Miami, 1994".Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)43(42): 7735.PMID7935313.30. Jump up^Bailey, Gretchyn."Photophobia (Light Sensitivity)". AllAboutVision.com. Retrieved2012-11-13.31. Jump up^Stringham JM, Bovier ER, Wong JC, Hammond BR (2010). "The influence of dietary lutein and zeaxanthin on visual performance".J. Food Sci.75(1): R249.doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01447.x.PMID20492192.