What’s the difference between photophobia and photosensitivity?
Photophobia describes your eyes’ sensitivity to light. Photosensitivity is a term that describes your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight due to an immune system issue or drug reaction.
Are photophobia and phonophobia related?
Photophobia is a sensitivity to light. Phonophobia is defined as a fear of sound and may refer to an abnormal sensitivity to sound. Phonophobia and photophobia may appear together if you have other medical disorders, including migraine headaches or a traumatic brain injury.
Is photophobia permanent?
Photophobia clears up if healthcare providers can treat the disorder causing it, like uveitis, for example. But it won’t clear up if it’s due to a congenital disorder, low pigment or lack of pigment. If it’s from dry eyes, your provider can help you manage your symptoms, but it’s often permanent.
Can photophobia cause blindness?
Photophobia can be a symptom of diseases that can cause blindness, but photophobia itself doesn’t cause blindness.
Can photophobia cause dizziness?
If you have photophobia (light sensitivity), you may find that it’s a trigger for you if you have certain conditions. You may get dizzy if you’re triggered by bright lights or flashing lights. But photophobia itself doesn’t cause dizziness.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you have photophobia, you’re more sensitive to light than other people may be. Light may actually cause your eyes to hurt. Photophobia is generally a symptom of another condition. These conditions range from mild and commonplace to more serious and rare. If you find that light bothers you more than it used to, call your eye care professional and make an appointment. Treating photophobia begins with finding out what’s causing it.
FAQs
Photophobia clears up if healthcare providers can treat the disorder causing it, like uveitis, for example. But it won't clear up if it's due to a congenital disorder, low pigment or lack of pigment. If it's from dry eyes, your provider can help you manage your symptoms, but it's often permanent.
Is photophobia a serious condition? ›
Photophobia is common. For many people, the problem is not due to any disease. Severe photophobia may occur with eye problems. It can cause bad eye pain, even in low light.
What disease is photophobia associated with? ›
Photophobia is reported in most all forms of migraine and many neuro-ophthalmic disorders. The symptom is a hallmark of primary eye conditions such as uveitis as well as certain retinal dystrophies.
What is the most common cause of light sensitivity? ›
Migraines are the most common cause of light sensitivity. Up to 80% of people who get them have photophobia along with their headaches. Many of those people are light sensitive even when they don't have a headache. Other types of headaches can cause photophobia, too.
Which vitamin deficiency is responsible for photophobia? ›
There are many causes of photophobia, bad lifestyles are the main reason. Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency is one of the main reasons for photophobia. Photophobia is caused by the deficiency of both B2 (Riboflavin) and B12.
What vitamin helps with photophobia? ›
Research has found that the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin help reduce light sensitivity symptoms.
What deficiency causes light sensitivity? ›
A temporary problem can also cause this symptom, such as a scratched cornea, a migraine, a viral or bacterial infection, or a vitamin or nutrient deficiency. Deficiencies that could cause sensitivity to light include vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12, lutein, vitamin A (beta-carotene), and some carotenoids.
Is photophobia linked to anxiety? ›
When you're stressed or anxious, you might notice that bright lights hurt your eyes more than usual or make it harder to see. This is known as photophobia. While it's often just caused by stress, light sensitivity can sometimes signal a more serious condition.
Is photophobia a symptom of MS? ›
Highlights. MS patients have a lower light tolerability compared to controls. Photophobia is more frequent in MS than controls. Clinical disability or previous optic neuritis do not affect the photosensitivity profile.
What autoimmune disease causes light sensitivity? ›
Systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder characterized by a high rate of sensitivity to UV light whereby patients develop skin lesions, termed cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), following UV exposure.
There are also neurological issues that cause communication problems between the eyes and the brain. If you develop sensitivity to light, it can be caused by a variety of factors and you need to visit your eye doctor.
Is photophobia a disability? ›
Photophobia falls under the “subjective symptoms” facet in the rating for TBIs. That means if your photophobic symptoms impact your work, daily activities, or relationships, under diagnostic code 8045, photophobia may entitle someone to a 10% rating for a TBI without considering other potential symptoms or limitations.
Can eye drops cure photophobia? ›
Artificial tears are eyedrops that help moisturize your eyes. Moisture in your eye may help relieve your photophobia. Artificial tears are available without a prescription. Ask your healthcare provider how often to use artificial tears.
How long does photophobia last? ›
Other common symptoms of mTBI and concussion light sensitivity may include asthenopia, squinting and headaches. Photophobia is the most severe 1 to 3 weeks following trauma. However, light sensitivity may last up to 6 months or years after head trauma.
