Photophobia or, as the common people call it, photophobia. The disease is the perception of bright light by the eyes, while “automatic” closing of the eyes with the hands occurs. This is just a common symptom that can only provoke other diseases.
Greater sensitivity of the eyes may appear as a result of prolonged exposure to a room where there is very poor lighting. All this is summarized by the fact that the pupil itself simply does not have time to adapt to the environment. The result is tears appear, an unpleasant sensation sets in, and sometimes the disease itself.
Photophobia is a very common disease today. A severe form of photophobia is often associated with various reasons - it is simply unbearable pain in the eyes, even in very low light.
The eyeball itself is considered one of the normal parts of the peripheral part. It just captures the image itself and makes the world colorful. The code that the nervous system receives is transmitted to the optic nerve. After which it transmits information to the posterior pole of the apple, initially to the subcortical part of the brain, then to the cortex itself. The visual analyzer of the central part carries out all the analysis of the resulting image.
The eyeball has three membranes:
- External, so-called fibrous. It is located in front, its tissue, or the so-called sclera, is very dense and not translucent. The inflammatory process in the sclera itself is called scleritis. - The middle one consists of the iris, choroid, and also the ciliary body. — The inner shell is represented by the retina.
Causes
Photophobia can be a symptom of various pathologies. There is short-term photophobia, which is normal. If after being in a dark room for a long time, then bright light can make everyone squint. Of course, when illness is constantly your companion, this is not good. For example, the most common conjunctivitis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, glaucoma is high pressure in the eye, allergies, various neoplasms, or iridocyclitis is inflammation of the iris.
The disease can develop for various reasons - damage to the organs of vision, improper use of medications, detachment of the retina, improper wearing of contact lenses or poorly fitted contact lenses, eye burns, iritis, prolonged work at the computer, even migraines and disorders of the central nervous system. A very pronounced discomfort is when bright light enters the eyes; a person feels inflammation of the cornea or conjunctival tissue.
There are also other reasons that occur against the background of nervous shock. Meningitis is a disease that is based on activation of blood vessels, causing very severe pain in the head, nausea, vomiting, as well as photophobia and sound sensitivity. Meningitis is a disease in which inflammation of the membranes of the brain occurs. Encephalitis is a disease caused by a special microbe in which the very substance of the brain becomes inflamed. The symptoms of the disease are very bad, headaches are tormented, consciousness is impaired.
Photophobia occurs with the slightest irritation of the membranes of the brain. Stroke is a disease in which there is a disruption of blood flow to the brain, followed by a blockage of the vessel supplying it. Rabies is one of the viral diseases transmitted from sick animals by contact with saliva on human skin or on the salivary membrane. Brain abscess is a very serious disease in which pus accumulates in the brain. Photophobia can occur when the brain is swollen. Tension headache is a pathology of severe fatigue. Photophobia can also develop due to long-term use of medications or during surgical interventions.
You may be interested in Keratoconus: causes, stages, diagnosis, treatment
Symptoms
Photosensitivity can affect one or both eyes. In this case, the following symptoms are observed:
- deterioration of visual acuity;
- feeling of sand in the eyes;
- blurred outlines of objects;
- redness and swelling of the mucous membranes;
- abnormal pupil dilation;
- paroxysmal headache;
- profuse lacrimation.
When a bright source of light appears, patients suffering from photophobia reflexively close their eyes or cover them with their hands.
As mentioned earlier, in most cases, photophobia is a sign of the development of visual pathologies. The following signs indicate the presence of diseases of an ophthalmological nature:
- prolonged redness of the whites of the eyes;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- suppuration in the eye area.
In order to accurately determine the nature and cause of the disease, it is necessary to undergo an ophthalmological examination. The disease cannot be eliminated at home. How exophthalmos manifests itself can be found in the article.
Development of photophobia
In a very serious disease like rabies, the virus itself, which is considered the causative agent, affects the autonomic nervous system. After which people’s pupils dilate, but do not contract on their own in bright or even dim light. It causes pain. Dilated pupils are observed with a disease such as botulism - an acute toxic, infectious and life-threatening disease that develops when bacteria enter the human body.
Symptoms of photophobia
The symptoms of photophobia themselves are very well expressed. The most important symptom is severe sensitivity to light. An unpleasant sensation can come from both natural and artificial light.
The pathology can be characterized as follows:
- frequent blinking, - pain in the eyes, - frequent lacrimation.
The production of tears is the main symptom. Many people don’t even think about or suspect that this symptom can be caused by a number of pathologies. Both adults and children can experience this disease.
Tearing occurs from very bright light, from a blow of wind, or from a welding machine. In addition to all of the above, it can also be caused by irritation of the nasal mucosa, from strong seasonings and spices, or by strong emotions. With pathological symptoms, the appearance of tears often occurs against the background of various diseases. Such as colds, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, allergies, retinal detachment, corneal ulcers, electro-ophthalmology and others. Sometimes a huge amount of tears can be caused by an autoimmune pathology.
In most cases, children suffer from it. Their lacrimation can be caused by colds, infections - smallpox, chickenpox, mumps, teething, eczema and so on. Photophobia does not occur in infants, since the tear glands are still poorly developed. If the baby often has tears for no reason, then this may be caused by dacryostenosis. What it is? This is a congenital pathology of the nasolacrimal duct; if left untreated, dacryocystitis will develop.
With a large production of tears in the older generation, this is due to their age-related changes.
Diagnostics
When diagnosing these symptoms, it is necessary to examine experienced specialists - directly a neurologist and an ophthalmologist.
Methods used in diagnosis:
- fundus examination, - corneal scraping, - patient's chest x-ray, - electroencephalogram,
In addition, magnetic resonance therapy or computed tomography is performed. After which the doctor prescribes treatment.
Treatment of photophobia
The disease is treated by a special doctor - an ophthalmologist. He is engaged in eliminating the disease, which was provoked by various factors. If photophobia is acquired through infection and is not related to the functioning of the visual apparatus, then the treatment itself is aimed primarily at blocking it, so doctors deal with the problem of eliminating discomfort and adapting the patient to normal life. The most important thing is a correct diagnosis by an experienced specialist.
You may be interested in Acute attack of glaucoma
When the disease progresses on its own, it is necessary to make adjustments to your normal life. Wear glasses with 100% protection from the bright sun, spend more time outdoors. Do not sit at the computer for a long time, and reduce the screen brightness. Use drops that promote hydration, a good antiseptic, which helps relieve inflammation, but if they have no effect, it is better to consult a doctor.
You should not treat photophobia yourself, as you can cause harm to yourself. Use medications only with the consent of an ophthalmologist.
Treatment using medicinal plants
Photophobia can be treated not only with medications, but also with the help of traditional medicine, that is, medicinal plants.
— One of the plants is eyebright. It is used to treat many eye diseases, including photophobia.
In order to prepare the infusion, you need to take:
- 200 grams of boiling water, - a teaspoon of herbs. Method of preparation: - Pour boiling water over the glass of herbs. - Then let it brew well. - Strain.
Rinse your eyes with the prepared decoction immediately before going to bed. You can not only rinse, but also make compresses, wet gauze, lie down, put it on your eyes, lie down for an hour. Can be used as drops, three drops in each eye. The whole course is ten days.
— The second medicinal plant is sweet clover. You will need: - 200 grams of water, - 40 grams of inflorescence (You can buy it at the pharmacy or collect it yourself in July. Collect the flowering tops, then dry).
Cooking method:
— Pour the inflorescences into a small saucepan. - Fill with water (for every 40 grams of inflorescence - 200 grams of water). - Boil. - Then simmer for fifteen minutes over low heat. - Strain through cheesecloth.
You can use the infusion to make gauze eye lotions.
— The third is flax seeds. Soak four tablespoons in a glass of water for fifteen minutes. Rinse every morning.
Another one is sea buckthorn oil. This medicine is considered a very good treatment for many eye diseases, photophobia is no exception. Sea buckthorn oil is instilled into the eyes, two drops in each eye.
How to get rid of the fear of the sun and sun rays
At the initial stage of the disease, you can cope with fear on your own. Try to disassemble your fear into its components and analyze your behavior. Then begin a gradual approach to fear. If your emotions and feelings are uncontrollable, then consult a psychologist.
It is important! It is recommended to consult a psychologist for a full diagnosis. It is very important to correctly diagnose the client’s condition, differentiate the pathology from other disorders, and correctly determine its root cause.
Self-deliverance
To self-correct the condition, you can try auto-training, or self-hypnosis. Speak out attitudes about the benefits of the sun, for example, the following statement: “the sun's rays do not harm me, they nourish my body and organism.”
Gradually get closer to the source of the phobia, continue to convince yourself of the irrationality of the fear. Read scientific literature about the benefits of the sun, surround yourself with people who love to bask in its rays. If you are afraid of getting sunstroke or getting burned, then watch your clothes and use sunscreen. Always take water with you. At the beginning of treatment, go for walks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is a time of moderate sun activity.
This is interesting! Did you know that the sun is not only beneficial for humans, but also suitable for disinfecting things? It kills dust mites, worm eggs and other parasites. If you take a pillow, blanket or soft toys under the scorching sun, then after a few hours they will be completely cleared of microorganisms. In some countries, the sun purifies water.
What psychologists advise
For diagnostic purposes, the psychologist conducts testing on the Rank scale, collects anamnesis through conversation, studies the client’s life history and the characteristics of the manifestation of the phobia. Situations in which anxiety intensifies are studied separately.
As part of professional treatment, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, neurolinguistic programming, and hypnosis are used. Depending on the severity of the disease, medical treatment may be prescribed: taking antidepressants and tranquilizers, taking vitamins.
At the first and second stages of phobia, treatment with hypnosis is indicated. What can be achieved during a hypnosis session:
- remove traumatic experiences from the subconscious;
- change your attitude towards the subject of fear;
- explain to the client the irrationality of fear;
- teach the client to understand their emotions and manage them;
- establish a positive attitude towards the sun;
- instill in the client the desire to live a full life.
The advantage of this method is that the client does not have time to get scared or become anxious, and he cannot put up psychological blocks. After the patient is put into a trance, he will not feel or remember anything.
Prevention of photophobia
In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to follow a number of recommendations.
— The first thing you need to do is maintain hygiene. — When working with a welding machine, you must wear special glasses and a mask. — If you have dry eye syndrome, you need to use drops. - Carry out eye exercises. - Use sunglasses. Sunglasses are selected depending on the specifics of people’s employment, for drivers, for people working at a computer, for people involved in sports, as well as so-called chameleon glasses and so on.
Do not start treatment, as this can lead to the development of not only photophobia, but also other diseases.
Types of fear of light
Photophobia is the fear of any light. It is customary to distinguish two types: heliophobia - fear of the sun and fengophobia - fear of sunlight, bright artificial lighting. Most photophobes are afraid of sunlight and consider it a source of danger. Fear is combined with fear of fire, burns, and oncology.
Fear of daylight hours
All people experience slight discomfort in bright sunlight or artificial light, but this does not mean that all of them are affected by phengophobia. The human eye is tuned to a certain range of light, and therefore a sharp exit from the darkness causes pain to the eyes. There is tearing in the eyes, people squint and put on sunglasses. However, this is not enough for the photophobe. He is sure that the sun will cause him physical harm.
