Photophobia

Photophobia: Introduction

Photophobia (literally "light-fear") is the dislike of bright light. Its cause can range from causes such as hangover or migraine to severe potentially-fatal conditions such as meningitis and meningococcal disease. Hence, photophobia is a symptom that needs immediate professional medical advice and treatment.

» Review Causes of Photophobia: full list

Causes of Photophobia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Photophobia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Hangover
• Migraine
• Meningitis - photophobia is one characteristic symptom of meningitis
• Meningococcal disease
• Eye conditions
  • Eye infection
  • Eye injury
  • Eye inflammation
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Allergies
  • Iritis
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Corneal disorder
  • Corneal ulcer
  • Corneal abrasion
  • Keratopathy
• Measles
• Albinism
• Albinoism
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Chemical burns
• Ultraviolet burns
• Corneal foreign body
• Interstitial keratitis
• Acute iritis (see Iritis)
• Acute bacterial meningitis (see Meningitis)
• Migraine headache
• Sclerokeratitis
• Anterior uveitis
• more causes...»

See full list of 303 causes of Photophobia

» Review Causes of Photophobia: full list

Photophobia: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Photophobia, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

• Photophobia: Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

• Photophobia and Nerve symptoms (263 causes)
• Photophobia and Sensations (263 causes)
• Photophobia and Eye symptoms (262 causes)
• Photophobia and Pain (262 causes)
• Photophobia and Head symptoms (137 causes)
• Photophobia and Vision changes (118 causes)
• Photophobia and Visual problems (117 causes)
• Photophobia and Skin symptoms (113 causes)
• Photophobia and Vision distortion (111 causes)
• Photophobia and Impaired vision (110 causes)
• Photophobia and Skin problems (103 causes)
• Photophobia and Face symptoms (90 causes)
• Photophobia and Digestive symptoms (84 causes)
• Photophobia and Muscle symptoms (78 causes)
• Photophobia and Itching skin (77 causes)
• Photophobia and Red eye (70 causes)
• more...»

See full list of 2151 Symptom Checker combinations related to Photophobia

Photophobia: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available related to Photophobia:

• Vision & Eye Care
• Pain
• Arthritis & Pain
• Injury & Recovery
• Sleeping & Insomnia
• more product offers...»

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Eye symptoms (3991 causes)
• Sensations (5742 causes)
• Pain (5505 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (6069 causes)
• Common symptoms (7552 causes)
• more symptoms...»

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Photophobia

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Photophobia:

• Stiff neck (126 causes)
• Eye symptoms (3991 causes)
• Vision changes (1952 causes)
• more symptoms...»

Diagnostic Guides for Photophobia

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Photophobia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Photophobia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Photophobia

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Photophobia: Self Assessment Tools

• Stress -- Self Assessment Tools
• Depression -- Self Assessment Tools
• Weight Management -- Self Assessment Tools
• Mental Health -- Self Assessment Tools
• more tools...»

Photophobia: Medical Mistakes

• Concentration -- Health Mistakes
• ADHD -- Health Mistakes
• ADHD (Adults) -- Health Mistakes
• Depression -- Health Mistakes
• Bipolar -- Health Mistakes
• Sleep Disorders -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Photophobia: Undiagnosed Conditions

Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Undiagnosed:
  • Adult ADHD -- Undiagnosed - Often remains undiagnosed through to adulthood.
  • ADHD -- Undiagnosed
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Migraine -- Undiagnosed
  • Concentration Disorders -- Undiagnosed
  • Stroke -- Undiagnosed
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Undiagnosed
  • Schizophrenia -- Undiagnosed
  • Epilepsy -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Hospitals & Clinics: Photophobia

Research extensive quality ratings and patient safety measures for hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in health specialties related to Photophobia:

• Mental Health -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more quality ratings...»

Research Hospital & Clinic Quality Ratings » »

Photophobia: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

• Mental Health Specialists:
  • Psychiatry (Mental Health)
  • Addiction Psychiatry
  • Geriatric Psychiatry (Seniors Mental Health)
  • Pediatric / Adolescent Psychiatry (Child/Teen Mental Health)
  • Pediatric Developmental Behavioral Health (Child Behavior Specialist)
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Forensic Psychiatry
• Pain Specialists:
  • Pain Medicine
  • Rheumatology (Arthritis / Joint Pain)
• Eye Health Specialists (Ophthalmology):
  • Ophthalmology (Eye Specialist)
• Arthritis & Joint Health Specialists (Rheumatology):
  • Rheumatology (Joint Health)
  • Pediatric Rheumatology (Child Joint Health)
• more specialists...»

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

• Rate Your Doctor by Taking a Survey Online
• Research Your Doctor
• View Online Patient Surveys from Other Patients of Your Doctor
• Research local doctors and specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Misdiagnosis and Photophobia

Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness because he suffered from sudden inability to speak. This was initially misdiagnosed as a "nervous breakdown"...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical conditions, such as a stroke or Alzheimer's disease, it can also occur...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of...read more »

ADHD under-diagnosed in adults: Although the over-diagnoses of ADHD in children is a well-known controversy, the reverse side related to adults. Some adults can remain undiagnosed, and indeed the condition has usually been overlooked throughout childhood. There are as many...read more »

Bipolar disorder misdiagosed as various conditions by primary physicians: Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) often fails to be diagnosed correctly by primary care physicians. Many patients with bipolar seek help...read more »

Eating disorders under-diagnosed in men: The typical patient with an eating disorder is female. The result is that men with eating disorders often fail to be diagnosed or have a delayed diagnosis. See misdiagnosis of...read more »

Depression undiagnosed in teenagers: Serious bouts of depression can be undiagnosed in teenagers. The "normal" moodiness of teenagers can cause severe medical depression to be overlooked. See ...read more »

Undiagnosed anxiety disorders related to depression: Patients with depression (see symptoms of depression) may also have undiagnosed anxiety...read more »

Thunderclap headache in SAH: Advances in the management of SAH have resulted in a relative reduction in mortality rate which depends upon early diagnosis and ability to differentiate subarchnoid haemorrhage from cluster headache, migraine,...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Photophobia

Photophobia: Related Rare Diseases

Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Rare Types:
  • Adult ADHD -- Rare Types
  • ADHD -- Rare Types
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Rare Types
  • Migraine -- Rare Types
  • Concentration Disorders -- Rare Types
  • Stroke -- Rare Types
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Rare Types
  • Schizophrenia -- Rare Types
  • Epilepsy -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Diagnostic tests for Photophobia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Photophobia. Some of these are listed below :

• Eye examination
  • Inspect the eye noting the nature of redness, if present. This will help delineate conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis, uveitis, glaucoma and corneal ulceration
  • Inspect under the upper eyelid for foreign bodies, fine follicles (which indicate a viral infection) or for a cobblestone appearance (which indicates allergic conjunctivitis)
  • Fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining of the surface of the eye may show small defects in the cornea suggesting corneal ulceration. Branch like ulceration is diagnostic of herpes simplex infection of the eye
  • Visual acuity - in both eyes with and without glasses (if worn) to determine any refractive error. Reduced visual acuity may suggest herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis or acute glaucoma (haloes around lights).
• more tests...»

See full list of 23 diagnostic tests for Photophobia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Photophobia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had photophobia (dislike, sensitivity or avoidance of bright light)? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is there a history of eye trauma? - may suggest corneal ulcer from foreign body.
• Risk factors for meningococcal meningitis and septicemia? - e.g. absence of spleen, alcoholic, complement immune deficiency, highest incidence in children aged 6 months to 1 year, highest incidence in midwinter and early spring.
• Past medical history? - e.g. blepharitis may be associated with seborrheic dermatitis, eczema or Rosacea; ocular herpes is caused by a reactivation of varicella zoster virus (acquired from primary infection of chickenpox) sometimes by an underlying malignancy (e.g. leukemia or lymphoma) or immunosupression ( e.g. AIDS infection).
• Medications? - Some medications may cause photophobia including quinine, atropine and hydralazine. Barbiturate and benzodiazepine abuse may cause light sensitivity.
• more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Photophobia (31 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Photophobia) may include:

• Red eye? - a red eye suggests definite eye disease such as bacterial, viral or allergic conjunctivitis, herpes simplex infection, herpes zoster, corneal ulceration, keratitis, acute iritis, acute glaucoma or corneal foreign body. If nil eye redness may suggest migraine, meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, trigeminal neuralgia, encephalitis or hay fever.
• Eye pain? - a painful eye may suggest herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis or acute glaucoma. Bacterial, viral or allergic conjunctivitis causes a gritty eye irritation.
• Visual loss? - may suggest glaucoma, herpes simplex infection, iritis, corneal ulceration or retinitis.
• Eye discharge, and if so what is the nature of the eye discharge? - e.g. purulent (pus-like) discharge usually indicates a bacterial infection; a clear watery or mucous discharge may suggest viral or allergic conjunctivitis; herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis and acute glaucoma cause a reflex watering of the eye.
• Blurry vision? - may suggest herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis or acute glaucoma (haloes around lights).
• more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Photophobia (31 listings)

Home Diagnostic Testing and Photophobia

Home medical tests possibly related to Photophobia:

• Child Behavior: Home Testing
  • ADHD -- Home Test Kits
  • Concentration -- Home Testing
• Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
  • Adult ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Tests
• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests
  • ADHD -- Home Testing
  • Concentration -- Home Test Kits
• Vision & Eye Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Eye Tests
  • Home Vision Tests
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits
• more tests...»

Stories from Users for Photophobia

Real-life user stories relating to Photophobia:

• Terrible Light Sensitivity
• light sensitivity
• Very extreme photophobia
• severe sensitivity to light
• Strong light sensitivity + floaters!
• Light Sensitivity Headaches
• Sensitive Eyes??
• light sensitivity
• photophobia
• Utral Violet Light Therapy
• Can anybody shed any light on this please???
• UVA light therapy for treatment
• intermittent sudden onset painless light sensitivity. no clue!!
• What should I look into?

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Photophobia or relevant symptoms:

• Neurological (Nerves) (606)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Eye twitch
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • So many symptoms but no diagnosis...GGRRR
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (160)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories
• Eyes (391)
  • Sudden blackout in vision??
  • Halo around the streetlights, glaucoma or something else?
  • Flashers, floaters, and more
  • Flashes of almost lightning type light with sound
  • Seeing spots
  • More user stories

Videos for Photophobia

Patient Surveys for Photophobia

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Photophobia
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Causes of Photophobia listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Photophobia as a symptom include:

• Achromatopsia
• Albinism
• Chediak-Higashi disease
• Congenital glaucoma
• Corneal abrasion
• Corneal foreign body
• Dendritic ulcer
• Dipivefrin
• Keratitis
• Meningism
• Meningoencephalitis
• Migraine
• Nephropathic early-onset cystinosis
• Recurrent corneal erosion
• more causes...»

See full list of 303 causes of Photophobia
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Photophobia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Photophobia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Digitoxin
• Crystodigin
• Digitaline
• Dapiprazole Hydrochloride
• Rev-Eyes
• Cinoxacin
• more causes...»

See full list of 24 medications causing Photophobia

Definitions of Photophobia:

Photophobia: SYN: photalgia. [photo- + G. phobos, fear]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Fear and avoidance of light. It can be the result of anxiety about the eyes, photosensitivity, or photalgia.--2004
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Organs affected by Photophobia:

The list of organs typically affected by Photophobia may include, but is not limited to:

• Brain
• Eyes

Detailed list of causes of Photophobia

The list below shows some of the causes of Photophobia mentioned in various sources:

• Absolute Glaucoma - Photophobia
• Acanthamoeba infection - photophobia
• Acanthamoeba infection of the eye - photophobia
• Acanthamoeba keratitis - light sensitivity
• Achromatopsia
• Achromatopsia 2 - sensitivity to light
• Achromatopsia 3 - light sensitivity
• Achromatopsia incomplete, X-linked - light sensitivity
• more causes...»

See full list of 303 causes of Photophobia

How Common are these Causes of Photophobia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Photophobia. Of the 303 causes of Photophobia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 5 causes are "very common" diseases
• 6 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 2 causes are "rare" diseases
• 16 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 284 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 303 causes of Photophobia

Conditions listing symptoms: Photophobia:

The following list of conditions have 'Photophobia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Photophobia Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Photophobia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: