The Link Between Headaches and Photophobia
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Defined Tag: Other Headache Types.

No, photophobia is not a fear of having your picture taken! Photophobia is the medical name for a serious sensitivity to light, leading to discomfort and headache when the sufferer is exposed to light. Much of the time, this is only bright sunlight or strong fluorescent lights, but in severe cases a photophobic person may avoid even a dim ordinary light bulb.

Photophobia usually occurs as a result of another underlying medical condition, with photophobia as just one of the symptoms. Headaches are often symptoms of all these conditions because light causes pain to those suffering from photophobia.

Albinism is a condition that includes photophobia. Also called hypomelanism, albinism is a disorder that leaves sufferers with a lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair. The lack of pigment in the eyes means that light can actually damage the eyes, in addition to causing headaches.

Common conditions that tend to be linked with photophobia are migraines and cataracts. People with light-colored eyes and those who cannot see colors are also more prone to photophobia. Other problems that can lead to photophobia are conjunctivitis, detached retina, uveitis and corneal abrasion. Conjunctivitis is the most common of these, and is also known as pinkeye, because the eye with conjunctivitis often appears pink. It is usually caused by infection or allergies, and is easily treated with eye drops containing antibiotics.

Many people who wear contact lenses or play sports experience corneal abrasion. This is the medical term for a scratch or injury to the cornea or top layer of the eye. While it can be very painful as well as inconvenient, the photophobia associated with corneal abrasion is only temporary and will go away when the eye heals.

Uveitis is not a common condition, and is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye known as the uvea. It can be caused by infections or disorders of the immune system, such as CFIDS or Myalgic Encephaloyelitis.

One of the most serious causes of photophobia is detached retina, which also causes blurred vision, as the retina, which helps capture vision, actually detaches from the back of the eye. This is very severe and can lead to a complete loss of sight if not treated immediately. Surgery is available to treat it.

While there are many causes of photophobia, there are just as many treatments for those conditions. If the condition cannot be cured, you can still do some things to protect your eyes from harsh light, such as wearing sunglasses and large hats, avoiding going outside during the brightest parts of the day, and even getting special contact lenses designed to reduce the amount of light that reaches your eyes. Don’t suffer the headaches of photophobia any longer than you have to.

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