hen the eye attempts to reduce the irritation present by producing a higher volume of tears. Most commonly, someone who is suffering from dry eye syndrome and also has a sensitivity to light could be experiencing a particularly severe condition, or even a complication of dry eye, such as scarring within the cornea. As such, it is important to see a medical professional if you ever experience a combination of dry eye and light sensitivity symptoms, as the results can become permanent if not treated immediately.
At this time, no one is completely sure which area of the brain causes and controls issues of light sensitivity. However, recently conducted studies indicate that problems with the retina could be significant in causing issues associated with photophobia. Dry eye is a condition that often complicates chronic photophobia, which is one of the reasons why a visit to the ophthalmologis is frequently recommended.
Why Does Photophobia Happen?
There are a number of valid and important reasons why a person might suffer from sudden or continuous light sensitivity. For example, an inflammation or infection that irritates the eye can lead to light sensitivity, and in some cases, photophobia is a symptom of an underlying disease such as a viral illness, or a migraine.
When the cornea is stressed or compromised for any reason, it will naturally begin to inflame, leading to sensations of tenderness and pain. During this response, fluids can build up in the cornea which cause light to scatter abnormally, leading to issues of extreme photophobia. Usually, light sensitivity which is caused by inflammation or infections will subside as soon as the underlying issue has been successfully treated.
Another risk factor for photophobia is that some people are born with larger-than-usual pupils. The pupils are at the center of each eye, and are responsible for managing the amount of light that enters at any given time. If you have larger pupils, then you will naturally let more light into the eye, which can lead to photophobia and sensitivity.
Problems That Can Be Accompanied by Photophobia
Sometimes, light sensitivity is an issue that accompanies other common conditions and problems, such as:
• Dry eye syndrome
• Corneal abrasion
• Contact lens irritation
• Detached retinas
• Refractive surgery
There are also several medications that list photophobia as a common side effect, such as:
Treatments for Photophobia
Ideally, the best way to treat photophobia is to discover the underlying cause. In most cases, the underlying cause is related to eye dryness, and if the dryness can be fixed, then the light sensitivity will decrease and photophobia will disappear. In the same vein, if photophobia occurs as a result of exposure to certain medications, changing medications or stopping those medications could be helpful.
Other solutions include managing the amount of light that is allowed to enter the eye, by dimming indoor lights, closing curtains, and wearing polarized lenses outside. A prosthetic contact lens can also be used, and avoiding bright light situations entirely can help to reduce discomfort. If you are naturally sensitive to light, perhaps the only thing that you can do to address the problem is protect your eyes from light exposure wherever possible, such as using sunglasses with UV protection.
Importantly, in certain cases, it will not be possible to prevent photophobia from happening. For example, if you simply have larger pupils, then there is nothing you can do to fix the issue. However, even in these situations, there are steps that can be taken to reduce your light sensitivity. For example, some experts recommend taking vitamins and eating foods with high antioxidant levels to help reduce the chances of vitamin A deficiency, which is an issue that regularly leads to photophobia. At the same time, it may be worth adding omega-3 to your diet to help reduce the chances of suffering from dry eye syndrome.
Similarly, it’s a good idea to visit eye experts whenever you begin to notice any symptoms, as they may be able to help you treat a