Causes of Photosensitivity

List of causes of Photosensitivity

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Photosensitivity) that could possibly cause Photosensitivity includes:

• Photoallergy
• Hives
• Solar urticaria - hives caused by sunlight
• Dermatitis
• Solar dermatitis
• Eczema
• SLE
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Porphyria

Causes of Photosensitivity: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Photosensitivity.

Photophobia: Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

• Corneal abrasion
• Conjunctivitis
  –Viral: Watery discharge; adenovirus most common, also herpes simplex
  –Allergic: Usually bilateral
  –Chemical: History of exposure
  –Bacterial (rare): Purulent discharge
• Migraine headache: Normal eye and neurologic exam, headache, phonophobia
• Idiopathic anterior uveitis/iritis (often associated with a triad of pain, photophobia, and blurred vision)
  –Ankylosing spondylitis
  –Reiter's syndrome
  –Inflammatory bowel disease
  –Psoriatic arthritis
  –Sarcoidosis
  –Infections (e.g., Lyme disease, herpes simplex/zoster, tuberculosis, syphilis)
  –Postoperative reactions
  • Meningitis/encephalitis
  • SAH
  • Influenza
  • Lightly pigmented eye
  • Mydriatic use
  • Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye syndrome
  • Less common etiologies (“zebras”) include albinism, total color blindness, vitamin A deficiency, measles, posterior uveitis, congenital glaucoma, sinusitis, mononucleosis, influenza, Colorado tick fever, babesiosis, botulism, and acute viral hepatitis (A, B, or E)

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Photophobia: Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

Burns

With a chemical burn, photophobia and eye pain may be accompanied by erythema and blistering on the face and lids, miosis, diffuse conjunctival injection, and corneal changes. The patient experiences blurred vision and may be unable to keep his eyes open. With an ultraviolet radiation burn, photophobia occurs with moderate to severe eye pain. These symptoms develop about 12 hours after exposure to the rays of a welding arc or sun lamp.

Conjunctivitis

When conjunctivitis affects the cornea, it causes photophobia. Other common findings include conjunctival injection, increased tearing, a foreign-body sensation, a feeling of fullness around the eyes, and eye pain, burning, and itching. Allergic conjunctivitis is distinguished by a stringy eye discharge and milky red injection. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to cause a copious, mucopurulent, flaky eye discharge that may make the eyelids stick together as well as brilliant red conjunctiva. Fungal conjunctivitis produces a thick, purulent discharge, extreme redness, and crusting, sticky eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis causes copious tearing with little discharge as well as enlargement of the preauricular lymph nodes.

Corneal abrasion

A common finding with corneal abrasion, photophobia is usually accompanied by excessive tearing, conjunctival injection, visible corneal damage, and a foreign-body sensation in the eye. Blurred vision and eye pain may also occur.

Corneal ulcer

A corneal ulcer is a vision-threatening disorder that causes severe photophobia and eye pain aggravated by blinking. Impaired visual acuity may accompany blurring, eye discharge, and sticky eyelids. Conjunctival injection may occur even though the cornea appears white and opaque. A bacterial ulcer may also cause an irregularly shaped corneal ulcer and unilateral pupillary constriction. A fungal ulcer may be surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Iritis (acute)

Severe photophobia may result from acute iritis, along with marked conjunctival injection, moderate to severe eye pain, and blurred vision. The pupil may be constricted and may respond poorly to light.

Keratitis (interstitial)

Keratitis is a corneal inflammation that causes photophobia, eye pain, blurred vision, dramatic conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Meningitis (acute bacterial)

A common symptom of meningitis, photophobia may occur with other signs of meningeal irritation, such as nuchal rigidity, hyperreflexia, and opisthotonos. Brudzinski’s and Kernig’s signs can be elicited. A fever, an early finding, may be accompanied by chills. Related signs and symptoms may include a headache, vomiting, ocular palsies, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities, and hearing loss. With severe meningitis, seizures may occur along with stupor progressing to coma.

Migraine headache

Photophobia and noise sensitivity are prominent features of a common migraine. Typically severe, this aching or throbbing headache may also cause fatigue, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.

Uveitis

Anterior and posterior uveitis can cause photophobia. Typically, anterior uveitis also produces moderate to severe eye pain, severe conjunctival injection, and a small, nonreactive pupil. Posterior uveitis develops slowly, causing visual floaters, eye pain, pupil distortion, conjunctival injection, and blurred vision.

Other causes

Drugs

Mydriatics — such as phenylephrine, atropine, scopolamine, cyclopentolate, and tropicamide — can cause photophobia due to ocular dilation. Amphetamines, cocaine, and ophthalmic antifungals — such as trifluridine, vidarabine, and idoxuridine — can also cause photophobia.

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Photosensitivity reactions: Causes
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Certain chemicals can cause a photosensitivity reaction, including dyes, coal tar, and furocoumarin compounds found in plants. The list of drugs that can cause photosensitivity reactions is extensive and includes many drugs within each of the following general categories: antibiotics (especially tetracycline), antidepressants, antihistamines, anticancer agents, antiparasitic agents, antipsychotic agents, diuretics, hypoglycemics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, sunscreens, and miscellaneous agents, such as cardiac glycosides, hormonal contraceptives, and acne medications.

Berlock dermatitis, a specific photosensitivity reaction, results from the use of oil of bergamot — a common component of perfumes, colognes, and pomades.

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Photophobia: Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Burns

With a chemical burn, photophobia and eye pain may be accompanied by erythema and blistering on the face and lids, miosis, diffuse conjunctival injection, and corneal changes. The patient experiences blurred vision and may be unable to keep his eyes open. With an ultraviolet radiation burn, photophobia occurs with moderate to severe eye pain. These symptoms develop about 12 hours after exposure to the rays of a welding arc or sun lamp.

Conjunctivitis

When conjunctivitis affects the cornea, it causes photophobia. Other common findings include conjunctival injection, increased tearing, a foreign-body sensation, a feeling of fullness around the eyes, and eye pain, burning, and itching. Allergic conjunctivitis is distinguished by a stringy eye discharge and milky red injection. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to cause a copious, mucopurulent, flaky eye discharge that may make the eyelids stick together, as well as brilliant red conjunctiva. Fungal conjunctivitis produces a thick, purulent discharge, extreme redness, and crusting, sticky eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis causes copious tearing with little discharge as well as enlargement of the preauricular lymph nodes.

Corneal abrasion

A common finding with corneal abrasion, photophobia isusually accompanied by excessive tearing, conjunctival injection, visible corneal damage, and a foreign-body sensation in the eye. Blurred vision and eye pain may also occur.

Corneal foreign body

Photophobia may occur with miosis, intense eye pain, a foreign-body sensation, slightly impaired vision, conjunctival injection, and profuse tearing. A dark speck may be visible on the cornea.

Corneal ulcer

This vision-threatening disorder causes severe photophobia and eye pain that is aggravated by blinking. Impaired visual acuity may accompany blurring, eye discharge, and sticky eyelids. Conjunctival injection may occur even though the cornea appears white and opaque. A bacterial ulcer may also cause an irregularly shaped corneal ulcer and unilateral pupillary constriction. A fungal ulcer may be surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dry eye syndrome

Although this disorder may produce photophobia, it more characteristically causes eye pain, conjunctival injection, a foreign-body sensation, itching, excessive mucus secretion and, possibly, decreased tearing and difficulty moving the eyelids.

Iritis (acute)

Severe photophobia may result from this disorder, along with marked conjunctival injection, moderate to severe eye pain, and blurred vision. The pupil may be constricted and may respond poorly to light.

Keratitis (interstitial)

This corneal inflammation causes photophobia, eye pain, blurred vision, dramatic conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Meningitis (acute bacterial)

A common symptom of this disorder, photophobia may occur with other signs of meningeal irritation, such as nuchal rigidity, hyperreflexia, and opisthotonos. Brudzinski’s and Kernig’s signs can be elicited. Fever, an early finding, may be accompanied by chills. Related signs and symptoms may include headache, vomiting, ocular palsies, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities, and hearing loss. With severe meningitis, seizures may occur along with stupor progressing to coma.

Migraine headache

Photophobia and noise sensitivity are prominent features of a common migraine. Typically severe, this aching or throbbing headache may also cause fatigue, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.

Scleritis

This disorder may cause photophobia, severe eye pain, conjunctival injection, a bluish purple sclera, and profuse tearing.

Sclerokeratitis

Inflammation of the sclera and cornea causes photophobia, eye pain, burning, and irritation.

Trachoma

At first, trachoma resembles bacterial conjunctivitis, producing photophobia, visible conjunctival follicles, red and edematous eyelids, pain, increased tearing, and discharge. Without treatment, conjunctival follicles enlarge into inflamed papillae that later become yellow or gray; small blood vessels invade the cornea under the upper lid. Eventually, entropion may occur with corneal scarring, visual distortion and, possibly, dry eyes.

Uveitis

Both anterior and posterior uveitis can cause photophobia. Typically, anterior uveitis also produces moderate to severe eye pain, severe conjunctival injection, and a small, nonreactive pupil. Posterior uveitis develops slowly, causing visual floaters, eye pain, pupil distortion, conjunctivalinjection, and blurred vision.

Other causes

Drugs

Mydriatics—such as atropine, phenylephrine, scopolamine, cyclopentolate, and tropicamide—can cause photophobia due to ocular dilation. Cocaine, amphetamines, and ophthalmic antifungals—such as trifluridine and idoxuridine—can also cause photophobia.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Photophobia: Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

Burns

With a chemical burn, photophobia and eye pain may be accompanied by erythema and blistering on the face and lids, miosis, diffuse conjunctival injection, and corneal changes. The patient experiences blurred vision and may be unable to keep his eyes open. With an ultraviolet radiation burn, photophobia occurs with moderate to severe eye pain. These symptoms develop about 12 hours after exposure to the rays of a welding arc or sun lamp.

Conjunctivitis

When conjunctivitis affects the cornea, it causes photophobia. Other common findings include conjunctival injection, increased tearing, a foreign-body sensation, a feeling of fullness around the eyes, and eye pain, burning, and itching. Allergic conjunctivitis is distinguished by a stringy eye discharge and milky red injection. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to cause brilliant red conjunctiva as well as a copious, mucopurulent, flaky eye discharge that may make the eyelids stick together. Fungal conjunctivitis produces a thick, purulent discharge; extreme redness; and crusting, sticky eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis causes copious tearing with little discharge as well as enlargement of the preauricular lymph nodes.

Corneal abrasion

A common finding with corneal abrasion, photophobia isusually accompanied by excessive tearing, conjunctival injection, visible corneal damage, and a foreign-body sensation in the eye. Blurred vision and eye pain may also occur.

Corneal foreign body

Photophobia may occur with miosis, intense eye pain, a foreign-body sensation, slightly impaired vision, conjunctival injection, and profuse tearing. A dark speck may be visible on the cornea.

Corneal ulcer

A corneal ulcer, a vision-threatening disorder, causes severe photophobia and eye pain that’s aggravated by blinking. Impaired visual acuity may accompany blurring, eye discharge, and sticky eyelids. Conjunctival injection may occur even though the cornea appears white and opaque. A bacterial ulcer may also cause an irregularly shaped corneal ulcer and unilateral pupillary constriction. A fungal ulcer may be surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dry eye syndrome

Although dry eye syndrome may produce photophobia, it more characteristically causes eye pain, conjunctival injection, a foreign-body sensation, itching, excessive mucus secretion and, possibly, decreased tearing and difficulty moving the eyelids.

Iritis (acute)

Severe photophobia may result from acute iritis, along with marked conjunctival injection, moderate to severe eye pain, and blurred vision. The pupil may be constricted and may respond poorly to light.

Keratitis (interstitial)

Interstitial keratitis is a corneal inflammation that causes photophobia, eye pain, blurred vision, dramatic conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Meningitis (acute bacterial)

A common symptom of acute bacterial meningitis, photophobia may occur with such other signs of meningeal irritation as nuchal rigidity, hyperreflexia, and opisthotonos. Brudzinski’s and Kernig’s signs can be elicited. Fever, an early finding, may be accompanied by chills. Related signs and symptoms may include headache, vomiting, ocular palsies, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities, and hearing loss. With severe meningitis, seizures may occur along with stupor progressing to coma.

Migraine headache

Photophobia and noise sensitivity are prominent features of a common migraine headache. Typically severe, this aching or throbbing headache may also cause fatigue, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.

Uveitis

Both anterior and posterior uveitis can cause photophobia. Typically, anterior uveitis also produces moderate to severe eye pain, severe conjunctival injection, and a small, nonreactive pupil. Posterior uveitis develops slowly, causing visual floaters, eye pain, pupil distortion, conjunctivalinjection, and blurred vision.

Other causes

Drugs

Mydriatics — such as phenylephrine, atropine, scopolamine, cyclopentolate, and tropicamide — can cause photophobia due to ocular dilation. Amphetamines, cocaine, and ophthalmic antifungals — such as trifluridine, vidarabine, and idoxuridine — can also cause photophobia.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Photophobia: Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

Burns.With a chemical burn, photophobia and eye pain may be accompanied by erythema and blistering on the face and lids, miosis, diffuse conjunctival injection, and corneal changes. The patient experiences blurred vision and may be unable to keep his eyes open. With an ultraviolet radiation burn,photophobia occurs with moderate to severe eye pain. These symptoms develop about 12 hours after exposure to the rays of a welding arc or sun lamp.

Conjunctivitis.When conjunctivitis affects the cornea, it causes photophobia. Other common findings include conjunctival injection, increased tearing, a foreign-body sensation, a feeling of fullness around the eyes, and eye pain, burning, and itching. Allergic conjunctivitisis distinguished by a stringy eye discharge and milky red injection. Bacterial conjunctivitis tends to cause a copious, mucopurulent, flaky eye discharge that may make the eyelids stick together as well as brilliant red conjunctiva. Fungal conjunctivitis produces a thick, purulent discharge, extreme redness, and crusting, sticky eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis causes copious tearing with little discharge as well as enlargement of the preauricular lymph nodes.

Corneal abrasion.A common finding with corneal abrasion, photophobia is usually accompanied by excessive tearing, conjunctival injection, visible corneal damage, and a foreign-body sensation in the eye. Blurred vision and eye pain may also occur.

Corneal ulcer.A corneal ulcer causes severe photophobia and eye pain aggravated by blinking. Impaired visual acuity may accompany blurring, eye discharge, and sticky eyelids. Conjunctival injection may occur even though the cornea appears white and opaque. A bacterial ulcermay also cause an irregularly shaped corneal ulcer and unilateral pupillary constriction. A fungal ulcermay be surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Iritis (acute).Severe photophobia may result from acute iritis, along with marked conjunctival injection, moderate to severe eye pain, and blurred vision. The pupil may be constricted and may respond poorly to light.

Keratitis (interstitial).Keratitis is a corneal inflammation that causes photophobia, eye pain, blurred vision, dramatic conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Meningitis (acute bacterial).A common symptom of meningitis, photophobia may occur with other signs of meningeal irritation, such as nuchal rigidity, hyperreflexia, and opisthotonos. Brudzinski's and Kernig's signs can be elicited. Fever, an early finding, may be accompanied by chills. Related signs and symptoms may include headache, vomiting, ocular palsies, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities, and hearing loss. With severe meningitis, seizures may occur along with stupor progressing to coma.

Migraine headache.Photophobia and noise sensitivity are prominent features of a common migraine. Typically severe, this aching or throbbing headache may also cause fatigue, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.

Uveitis.Anterior and posterior uveitis can cause photophobia. Typically, anterior uveitis also produces moderate to severe eye pain, severe conjunctival injection, and a small, nonreactive pupil. Posterior uveitis develops slowly, causing visual floaters, eye pain, pupil distortion, conjunctival injection, and blurred vision.

Other causes

Drugs.Mydriatics—such as phenylephrine, atropine, scopolamine, cyclopentolate, and tropicamide—can cause photophobia due to ocular dilation. Amphetamines, cocaine, and ophthalmic antifungals—such as trifluridine, vidarabine, and idoxuridine—can also cause photophobia.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Photosensitivity as a symptom:

Conditions listing Photosensitivity as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Photosensitivity. Our database lists the following as having Photosensitivity as a symptom of that condition:

• Amyopathic dermatomyositis
• CAR syndrome
• Dobriner syndrome
• Dravet syndrome
• PIBIDS syndrome
• Pili torti - developmental delay - neurological abnormalities
• Poikiloderma of Rothmund-Thomson
• Porphyria
• Trichothiodystrophy - sun sensitivity

Medications or substances causing Photosensitivity:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Photosensitivity as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Amiodarone
• Certain antibiotics
• Certain antifungals
• Certain diuretics
• Certain tranquillisers

See full list of 97 medications causing Photosensitivity

Drug interactions causing Photosensitivity:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Photosensitivity as a symptom.

The list below is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Minimally Sedating Antihistamine and St. John's Wort interaction
• Astemizole and St. John's Wort interaction
• Hismanal and St. John's Wort interaction
• Cetirizine and St. John's Wort interaction
• Apo-Cetirizine and St. John's Wort interaction

See full list of 41 drug interactions causing Photosensitivity

Medical news summaries relating to Photosensitivity:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Photosensitivity:

• Migraines more than just a headache

Related information on causes of Photosensitivity:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Photosensitivity may be found in:

• Medications that may cause Photosensitivity
• Hidden causes of Photosensitivity