Photophobia literally means “fear of light.” If you have photophobia, you’re not actually afraid of light, but you are very sensitive to it. The sun or bright indoor light can be uncomfortable, even painful.
Photophobia isn’t a condition — it’s a symptom of another problem. Migraine headaches, dry eyes, and swelling inside your eye are commonly linked to light sensitivity.
It can cause pain whenever you’re in bright sunlight or indoor light. You might want to blink or close your eyes. Some people also get headaches.
You can also get photophobia after you have LASIK or other surgery to fix vision problems.
Certain wavelengths of light — like the blue light your computer and smartphone give off — cause the most sensitivity.
Some medicines can also cause photophobia, including:
- Antibiotics, such as doxycycline and tetracycline.
- Furosemide (Lasix): This keeps your body from holding on to too much fluid. It’s used to treat congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, and other conditions.
- Quinine (Qualaquin): This is a drug used to treat malaria.
Treatment
The best way to ease photophobia is to treat the condition or stop taking the medicine that’s causing it.
If you’re still affected by it, tinted glasses may help. Some people have found relief from rose-colored lenses called FL-41.
But tinted lenses aren’t for everyone. They can make some people even more sensitive to light, so talk with your doctor about what’s best for you.
(WebMD)