Is it possible to go blind from photophobia. Photophobia of the eyes: causes, treatment, prevention, myths and reality. Photophobia prognosis

What does photophobia mean? What are the causes and symptoms of this disease? And, most importantly, what remedies are most effective?

In medicine, the term photophobia (photophobia) indicates a state of hypersensitivity and intolerance to the eyes of light, both natural and artificial. Of course, photophobia is especially manifested when exposed to bright light sources.

Photophobia cannot be considered a real pathology. As a rule, it is only a consequence of other pathological processes occurring in the body.

Causes of photophobia

The main causes of photophobia can be grouped into four broad categories, namely: non-pathological conditions, eye diseases, nervous system and other reasons.

Non-pathological causes

Photophobia is a condition that almost everyone has experienced when moving from a dark environment to bright sunlight, this increased eye sensitivity can be caused by:

• Too intense light... Here, the personal threshold of tolerance is important, which is variable and even depends on mood (for example, anxiety can increase sensitivity to light).
• Light eyes ... In particular, green eyes are more sensitive to light. Their pigment contains a low amount of melanin, which is known to serve as protection against UV rays. Therefore, the threshold for sensitivity to light is higher in people with dark eyes.
• Albinism... This is a hereditary anomaly of character, which consists in a deficiency in pigmentation of the skin, the choroid of the eyes (the middle layer located between the sclera and the iris), as a result of which the eye acquires an increased sensitivity to light.
• Pupil dilation... It can be caused by drugs or drugs: atropine, cocaine, amphetamine, scopolamine, anticholinergic drugs, etc., as well as a state of agitation.
• Injury and misbehavior- e.g. long-term use contact lenses, exposure to bright light sources, prolonged gaze on a computer monitor or projector, etc.

Eye diseases and associated symptoms

Sometimes increased sensitivity to light may be a consequence of eye pathology, then it is accompanied by other clinical manifestations:

Nervous System Disorders and Light Sensitivity

Certain diseases of the nervous system that affect the brain and nerves have an intolerance to light among the symptoms.

In particular, this includes:

• Cystine accumulation... Cystine is an amino acid, but with a certain genetic defect it accumulates in the form of insoluble crystals in various organs. The accumulation of cystine crystals in the eyes leads to increased sensitivity to light.
• Botulism... Food poisoning caused by foods contaminated with the Clostridium bacterium toxin. Causes dilated pupils (and therefore photophobia) and muscle paralysis.
• Vitamin B2 deficiency... Riboflavin deficiency is usually associated with nutritional problems or impaired liver function. Among the problems that accompany vitamin B2 deficiency is sensitivity to light caused by dilated pupils.
• Magnesium deficiency... Magnesium is a very important trace element for the body. Its lack leads to numerous disorders, including migraines and light intolerance.
• Headache and migraines... Headaches are often accompanied by intolerance to light and intense sounds.
• The consequence of alcohol abuse... The so-called hangover leads to a set of unpleasant symptoms, among which the most common are headaches and intolerance to intense light sources.

What to do with photophobia

Due to the complex and varied etiology of the disorder, it is difficult to give an unambiguous treatment protocol, and often even impossible.

The first step, of course, is the correct diagnosis, that is, establishing the exact cause of the sensitivity to light.

If the cause is non-pathological, it is necessary to determine the source of the problem: taking medications or drugs that cause the pupil to dilate.

If the cause is pathological, then we can try to keep the symptoms under control using a number of means, which we give below:

• Additives... Most suitable on the basis of lutein and zeaxanthin. Due to their antioxidant properties, these additives have a protective function for eyesight.
• Natural remedies... Includes the use of drops and compresses derived from certain herbal products, namely chamomile, artichoke, mallow and butterbur.
• Sunglasses... The easiest way to keep your photophobia in check. Note that brown filters are most effective.

Photophobia of the eyes in medical language - painful sensitivity of the eyes to daylight (especially in bright sun), while a person notes discomfort in the eye area, watery eyes, all this makes you squint strongly.

Photophobia is often referred to as sunphobia or photophobia. In practice, there are cases when photophobia is mistakenly diagnosed, but in fact a patient has heliophobia - a pathological fear of being under the sun's rays.

it mental illness, which is in no way associated with a violation of the work of the visual organs.

The causes of photophobia and the diseases that cause it

The reasons for photophobia are different, consider the most common:

• conjunctivitis disease, in which lacrimation and pain in the eyes are noted due to acute (chronic) inflammation of the connective membrane of the eyes),
• iritis - an inflammatory process on the iris,
• keratitis - an acute inflammatory process on the cornea of ​​the eyes,
• corneal damage, ulcers, eye swelling,
• structural features of the organs of vision (albinism is a pathology in which rays of sunlight enter not only through the pupil, but also through the iris, devoid of pigment),
• the presence of common diseases (migraine, colds, etc.),
• adverse environmental influences, in which there is an excess of ultraviolet radiation,
• congenital photophobia, in which the eyes react to artificial or daylight due to an insufficient amount of melanin pigment (or there may be a complete absence of this pigment),
• taking some medications,
• the development of photophobia against the background of a long and uninterrupted stay at the computer (doctors have the term "computer visual syndrome"), is caused by the development of increased sensitivity of the visual organs to wind, light with constant drying out, an overabundance of visual stress,
• eye damage with bright light (for example, snowy ophthalmia, in which the cornea is affected due to the huge amount of sun rays reflected from the snow, this also includes eye damage during welding without protection, a direct look at the sun),
• sharp (acute) attack of glaucoma, migraine,
• with a long stay in a dark room, and then the appearance of bright light provokes photophobia - the pupil cannot instantly adapt to lighting, this is considered a normal reaction and does not apply to pathology,
• hit foreign body on the cornea of ​​the eyes, corneal erosion may develop,
• artificial expansion of the pupil, which is used to study the fundus (in this case, the pupil does not narrow under the influence of light, but the retina is exposed to light rays),
• diseases of measles, botulism, rabies, as well as poisoning with mercury vapor are almost always accompanied by photophobia, but in this case it comes about pronounced signs of brain damage,
• photophobia like side effect taking medications such as quinine, furosemide, doxycycline, belladonna, tetracycline,
• retinal detachment, sunburn of the eyes, refractive surgery can also provoke the development of photophobia,
• manifestation of photophobia when wearing contact lenses (the cornea may be irritated or the lenses are incorrectly selected).

Diagnosis of photophobia

Diagnosis of photophobia is carried out on the basis of patient complaints and the presence of additional symptoms, as well as additional examination and tests.

The survey includes:

• eye examination,
• corneal scraping (ophthalmoscopic examination),
• examination of the eyeball using a slit lamp,
• lumbar puncture,
• ultrasound examination of the eyes,
• computed tomogram of the brain,
• electroencephalography.

Pathology treatment

• tests of eye pain (moderate or severe) in low light,
• hypersensitivity to light, forcing you to wear protective glasses from the sun,
• headaches, redness of the eyes that accompany photophobia,
• blurred vision for 1-2 days.

If you have photophobia, you should inform your doctor about other accompanying symptoms:

• headache,
• pain in the eye
• vomiting and nausea
• blurred vision
• stiff neck muscles
• blurred vision
• swelling,
• dizziness,
• hearing changes
• tingling or numbness in other parts of the body.

The method of treating photophobia is determined by the treatment of the underlying disease, which caused the eyes to be oversensitive to light.

1. If you eliminate the primary pathology, then later you need to make adjustments to your life: for example, on sunny days you do not need to leave the house without sunglasses with 100 percent protection. A temporary form of photophobia, which is a consequence of the inflammatory process in the eyes, can be treated with eye drops containing moisturizing, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory components, vitamin and mineral complexes. Treatment with drops relieves photophobia after a few days.
2. If the root cause of photophobia is reception drugs, it is better to consult an ophthalmologist for replacing drugs with others.
3. The work area near the computer should be darkened, and the brightness of the monitor should be decreased.

It must be remembered that the presence of hypersensitivity to light can be a harbinger of a serious illness, therefore it is necessary to detect it in a timely manner and begin treatment.

In the case when photophobia is caused by a feature of the structure of the visual organs, we can only recommend wearing wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

Treatment of photophobia with folk remedies

Photophobia can be treated with a number of herbal remedies:

1. Eyebright erect... This flora helps treat many eye diseases, including photophobia. To prepare a miracle remedy, you need a teaspoon of dried herbs and 200 grams of boiling water.After the infusion is ready, they wash their eyes with it, preferably before going to bed. You can also make a compress soaked in eyebright infusion with erect gauze napkins, it is also recommended to drip such infusion into the eyes, 3 drops each. Eyebright decoction is also taken orally in 1 tablespoon. The course of treatment is 10 days.
2. Donnik... We collect the flowering tops (they do this in the month of July), and then for every 40 grams of flowers, take 200 grams of water and boil the mixture for 15 minutes over low heat. After straining, gauze tampons are soaked with broth and applied to the eyes.
3. Flax seed... For every four tablespoons of seeds, take a glass of water, then insist 15 minutes and wash the eyes every morning.
4. Sea buckthorn oil... it excellent remedy for the treatment of many complex eye diseases, including photophobia. The oil is dripped into the eyes, drop by drop every two hours.

Prevention of photophobia

The main means of preventing photophobia is sunglasses (glasses with tinted glasses can be used), which will protect the eyes from the negative effects of solar ultraviolet radiation.

Safety glasses can be selected depending on the person's employment:

• driver's glasses,
• glasses for working on a computer,
• glasses for people involved in sports,
• photochromic chameleon glasses, etc.

Photophobia prognosis

In any case, it will be necessary to turn to the treatment of the vision deviation in question, because constant sharp pains in the eye area will lead to constant discomfort and the patient will not be able to withstand this condition.

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Often, leaving a dark room on the street, on a sunny day, tears begin to flow from the eyes. I'd like to close them with my hands. This is the weakest manifestation of photophobia. With more severe pathologies - pain, pain, lacrimation occur at the slightest ray of light. Photophobia is one of the most common ophthalmic diseases.

Symptoms of pathology

Photophobia of the eyes is one of the signs of a serious illness. With it, there may be:

• headache;
• profuse lacrimation;
• redness of the eyeball;
• a feeling of blockage in the eye with dust or sand;
• pain and stinging with low light;
• decrease in the level of vision;
• blurring of objects and unclear vision of the surrounding world.

Purulent discharge, swelling of the eyelid, severe redness of the eye and a significant deterioration in visual acuity are symptoms of more severe pathologies, in which an urgent need to consult an ophthalmologist. In the absence of all symptoms, but the discomfort persists, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a neurologist. Very often, photophobia can be contracted with disorders of the nervous system.

Causes of photophobia

The causes and treatment of pathology can be different, but often photophobia arises as a symptom of a more serious illness.

• Cutting pains, lacrimation occur with conjunctivitis of the eyes.
• Inflammatory process on the iris of the organ of vision with iritis. It causes lacrimation, pain in the eyes, photophobia.
• Microtrauma. The appearance of ulcers on the cornea, tumors and ulcerative formations.
• Albinism cases where light hits the pupil and iris of the eye.
• Exposure to harmful radiation in some production work.
• With a lack of melanin pigment associated with congenital pathologies.
• At allergic reactions for medications.
• Harmful radiation from a child's monitor or TV screen.
• With prolonged exposure to bright light (light music in clubs, laser shows).
• The emergence of photophobia during attacks of glaucoma.
• Photophobia - with retinal detachment, after an unsuccessful operation or a burn.

For some pathologies, it will be necessary to carry out full cycle surveys using methods instrumental diagnostics- Ultrasound, MRI. For less complex diseases, an examination by an ophthalmologist is sufficient.

Treatment of the disease

The prescription of the method of treatment and the use of drugs depends on the severity of the disease. For therapeutic drug treatment assign use:

• Eye drops with Interferon.
• Antibiotics and antiseptic drugs for inflammatory processes, purulent formations - in the form of drops.
• Injections and antibiotic pills.
• Infusions and solutions for washing.
• Some healing ointments applied to eye patches.
• Medicines for pain relief and stopping inflammatory processes.

Advice! Patients with photophobia should wear sunglasses until they are completely healed.

For some pathologies and at the very beginning of the disease, you can use recipes traditional medicine, with the use of medicinal plants:

• Pour a teaspoon of eyebright with a glass of boiling water. We insist for several hours, filter. We wash the affected eye with this infusion before going to bed. It's good to make lotions. Saturate a napkin and put a cotton pad on the eye. With this infusion, you can bury your eyes in three drops. After 10 days of admission, you must take a break.
• Pour 50 g of melilot inflorescences with a glass of water, boil for 20 minutes over low heat, let cool, drain. Use as lotions.
• Rinse the eyes with a solution of 4 tablespoons of flax seeds and a glass of water every morning to relieve redness and itching of the eyes in children and adults.
• To treat photophobia, you can use sea ​​buckthorn oil... 2 drops in each eye. This procedure relieves the symptoms of pathology.

Neurological photophobia is treated by a neurologist. For her apply:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• remedial gymnastics;
• drug treatment;
• with especially complex forms of pathology, operable treatment is prescribed.

Photophobia with meningitis, encephalitis must be treated in a hospital.

In order to prevent eye pain, photophobia, burning, tearing, redness, you need to follow the simple recommendations of specialists. Observe the rules of personal hygiene. To prevent damage from ultraviolet radiation, you must use protective equipment (goggles, welding masks). In case of dry eye syndrome, it is necessary to use drops. Constantly carry out light exercises for the eyes. Be sure to wear quality sunglasses in the sun.

Do not delay a visit to a specialist at the first symptoms of photophobia.

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Photophobia of the eyes is a manifestation of the painful reaction of the visual organs to daylight. In medicine this concept called photophobia (fear of sunlight). The disease is characterized by unpleasant sensations and squinting eyes when natural or artificial light enters them. When you are in the dark, the feeling of discomfort disappears. All this has its own reasons for origin, and is also accompanied by certain symptoms in an adult.

Photophobia of the eyes in an adult - causes and symptoms of the disease

The occurrence of photophobia of the eyes in humans can be triggered by various sources of origin. The main factors affecting the development of the disease are:

• ophthalmic diseases inflammatory nature (conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis). Treatment for herpetic keratitis is outlined in;
• congenital anomalies structures of the organs of vision, in which the pupils are deprived of the coloring pigment melanin. Retinal pigmentosa has been described;
• complications after the transferred infections and viruses;
• prolonged presence near a computer monitor leading to overdrying of the mucous membranes;
• poor environmental conditions;
• the use of certain medications;
• manifestations of headache and, depression;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• mechanical damage to the cornea of ​​the eye. How is the treatment of erosion of the cornea of ​​the eye is detailed in;
• oncology of the visual organs.

The course of the disease is accompanied by various symptoms. Among them, the following manifestations can be distinguished:

• lacrimation;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the eye area, headache;
• blurred vision;
• burning sensation and itching, swelling;
• redness of the eyes;
• dizziness up to loss of consciousness;
• ringing in the ears, hearing impairment;
• increased anxiety.

The video shows a description of the disease:

Identification of the real cause of the manifestation of photophobia of the eyes should be carried out in a medical institution with a mandatory examination of the organs of vision, so that the doctor can prescribe the correct treatment for the disease.

It is necessary to reduce the length of time spent at the computer screen, watching TV. Friction should not be made in the eye area, so as not to provoke the further development of the inflammatory pathological process.

To relieve unpleasant sensations, special ophthalmic drops "", "Oksial", "Katinorm" are used, which have a moisturizing effect, protect the mucous membrane of the eye, causing the effect of artificial tears.

The average price is 300 rubles.

When purulent discharge appears in the eye area, they resort to using ophthalmic antibiotics, or antiseptic agents:

• Levomycetin;
• Indocollir.

If the cause of photophobia in a person is damage to the organs of vision mechanically in the form of a bruise, burn or injury, in this case an urgent appeal to a specialist is required to provide emergency care... Before visiting a doctor, you can independently treat your eyes with antiseptic drops, followed by the application of a clean, sterile gauze bandage.

How to apply ointment for the eyelids against inflammation and redness, you can find out.

Enough effective method in the treatment of photophobia of the eyes is the use of various natural herbal remedies. The most common ones are:

• Flax seeds- 1 tbsp. dry raw materials must be poured with boiling water in the amount of 250 g, leave for about 30 minutes. Rinse the eyes with the prepared broth twice a day.
• Sea buckthorn oil- instill 1 drop every 2-3 hours during the day.
• Plantain leaf- take 5-7 fresh leaves and pour 1 glass of hot boiled water. After 1 hour, strain the broth. Rinse your eyes with this product once a day, preferably before going to bed.
• Hawthorn fruit- chop the berries and mix with liquid honey. A valuable medicinal product, filled with many vitamins, should be consumed 3 times a day in the amount of 1 teaspoon.
• Eyebright erect- 1 teaspoon of herbs per 1 glass of boiling water, used in the form of eye washings, compresses. Eliminates irritation and unpleasant feelings in the presence of bright light.

Manifestation of the disease and treatment in children

The most common cause of photophobia in childhood is a congenital pathology of the structure of the eye. Some children are deprived of the coloring pigment melanin. The development of the disease is often influenced by viral and infectious diseases, which become common in childhood. With allergic conjunctivitis or an infectious form, children begin to feel fear of bright light.

A rare disease in children - “ pink disease”, Which, in addition to the fear of light, is characterized by the following symptoms:

• pinkness and stickiness of hands, as well as feet;
• intense sweating;
• exceeding the norms blood pressure;
• anorexia.

The video shows the treatment of the disease:

When such symptoms appear, it is important to timely go to the hospital because of the risk of complications up to the death of the child.

Paralysis also occurs in children. motor nerve, in which the upper part of the eyelid is lowered, the pupil of the eye dilates, resulting in photophobia.

In childhood, endocrine ophthalmopathy can be observed. It is an autoimmune progression triggered by an abnormality in the thyroid gland. In the process of the development of pathology, the child may be disturbed by complaints about the sensation of a foreign body in the visual organ, as well as a feeling of squeezing, fear of light.

The manifestation of photophobia in a child can signal serious problems in his body.

• Limiting child contact with a computer monitor due to its negative impact on the health of the visual organs, deterioration in concentration and memory.
• Adequate amount of time for normal healthy sleep and rest to avoid eye strain.
• Healthy wholesome diet combined with adequate daily stay at fresh air in order to improve immunity and avoid getting various infections and harmful viruses into the child's body.
• Personal hygiene, especially in places of public use of household appliances, which will protect against the risk of contracting conjunctivitis, as well as respiratory diseases.
• Performing special useful exercises for the eyes with prolonged reading, writing, drawing and all kinds of handicrafts.
• The use of vitamins for the eyes.

The effectiveness of the treatment of eye photophobia disease in people of any age depends on the timely identification of the cause of the occurrence, competent diagnosis by specialists, as well as correctly selected treatment and compliance with measures to prevent the development of the disease.

For what diseases photophobia appears, you can find out in.

In most cases, fear of light is not associated with serious ophthalmic diseases, and treatment consists of simple supportive and preventive measures. If photophobia is pronounced and accompanied by painful symptoms, then this symptom can signal inflammation and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

If a person long time spends in a dark or poorly lit room, then gradually the bright light begins to cause discomfort. The reason is that our pupils do not have time to adapt to a sharp change in light regime, as a result - lacrimation, inflammation of the eyelids (due to frequent squinting).

Doctors attribute the following factors to the main reasons for photophobia of the eyes:

• conjunctivitis - with this infectious disease, acute inflammation mucous membrane, pain in the eyes, purulent discharge, soreness in bright light;
• if the cornea of ​​the eye is mechanically damaged, or an ulcerative lesion of the epidermis, a tumor is diagnosed, then this fact can also cause photophobia of the eyes;
• iridocyclitis - the inflammatory process of the iris also shows symptoms of a painful reaction to bright lighting;
• the development of glaucoma (increased eye pressure) also causes a fear of light;
• with migraines and a general increase or sharp drops in blood pressure, processes of a painful reaction to bright light are often observed;
• dilated pupils (artificial) in the therapeutic treatment of ophthalmic diseases;
• acute allergic reactions;
• long-term use of drugs of the tetracyclines group, as well as furosemide and quinine, cause photophobia. Separately, it should be noted that taking doxycycline as an adverse reaction often provokes painful perception of bright light;
• retinal detachment;
• Dry eye syndrome - when working at a computer;
• improper or prolonged wearing of contact lenses;
• when carrying out welding work, visual impairment may be caused by the action of bright light (sunlight also provokes photophobia).

The fear of bright light is due to the special structure of the eye and retina in people with different eye colors; the light iris is more susceptible to the action of bright light. Albinos are also more susceptible to developing this disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose photophobia, a specialist must diagnose all the symptoms in aggregate and identify the cause that causes painful sensations:

• eyeballs hurt when pressed, constant painful sensations are observed;
• regular tearing;
• the patient squints, constantly closes the eyelids;
• frequent, regular headaches are diagnosed.

In especially severe cases, patients temporarily lose their orientation in space, there is a temporary short-term loss of vision.

To find out the complete picture of the development of the disease and the purpose correct treatment additional laboratory tests are needed:

• CT scan of the brain and electroencephalogram - to identify serious chronic disorders;
• slit lamp examination;
• lumbar puncture collection.

Only after all the studies can the ophthalmologist prescribe the correct and effective treatment.

Treatment and prevention

Do not be afraid, often photophobia, which is not associated with serious chronic or infectious diseases, can be cured by simple methods:

• in the summer, you must wear sunglasses with a UV filter;
• limit the time in front of the monitor and TV screen;
• purchase moisturizing eye drops "Vizin", vitamin preparations.

Nor can you underestimate the body's signals. Sometimes a fear of light can signal serious chronic diseases sludge infections. Photophobia is a symptom of what diseases:

• acute conjunctivitis;
• corneal erosion;
• ulcers of the cornea of ​​the eye;
• migraine;
• chronic or seasonal allergies;
• mental disorders;
• high blood pressure;
• hormonal disorders.

Separately, it should be noted that photophobia in childhood often signals that urgent measures must be taken to eliminate the problem.

Photophobia in childhood

The child's body reacts very sharply to infectious diseases, one of the signs that should alert parents is a painful reaction to light.

For what diseases, photophobia in children requires immediate diagnosis and treatment:

• acute infectious conjunctivitis;
• damage to the cornea of ​​the eye of a mechanical or chemical nature;
• tumors of different etymology;
• tuberculous-allergic keratoconjunctivitis;
• viral diseases.

Some children also have a congenital lack of melanin. In this case, vitamin preparations are prescribed, but only after a comprehensive laboratory examination.

Photophobia in children - causes and treatment:

• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes is most often diagnosed with viral, allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis. Treatment consists in prescribing antiviral drugs oral and local washing of the eyes with disinfectants;
• "Pink disease" (acrodynia) - redness and stickiness of the hands and feet, increased blood pressure, profuse sweating, decreased or complete loss of appetite, pronounced photophobia;
• endocrine ophthalmopathy - an autoimmune disease that is associated with dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• fungal and tuberculous-allergic conjunctivitis - often diagnosed in childhood and requires professional treatment;
• inflammation lymph nodes caused by tuberculosis also causes a painful reaction to bright light.

At the first signs of visual impairment in children, it is important to seek qualified medical help in time. Photophobia may be a sign of a serious infection or other chronic illness... Timely provided health care will reduce the risk of concomitant inflammatory processes and guarantee a complete cure for the patient.

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