If your eyes become extra sensitive to light, you may suffer from photophobia. Photophobia occurs in people who can't tolerate bright light. The eye condition can occur alone, or it can be a symptom of something else. Learn more about photophobia and how to treat the eye condition below.

What Exactly Is Photophobia?

Photophobia is one of the most common eye problems diagnosed today. The condition normally develops in people who are extra sensitive to artificial and natural light. Photophobia can develop on its own, or it can be the result of another, more severe eye condition. 

Photophobia can affect any part of the eye, including the sclera and cornea. The sclera is the white part of your eye, or the part of the eye you see when you look into a mirror. The cornea is the invisible, thin layer of tissue that covers the sclera. The tissues can become sensitive to light if you scratch, infect, or damage them over time. The sensitivity to light can be severe enough to cause pain in your eyes, face, and head. 

Photophobia can be disheartening to some people. The condition can make it difficult to spend time in the sun, work on a computer screen, or watch movies on a television screen. The condition may even be worse in dim or dark light.

If you think you have photophobia and need care for it, contact an eye doctor today.

How Do You Diagnose and Treat Photophobia?

An eye doctor will ask you many questions about your vision and health. A doctor will also perform an eye exam on each sclera and cornea in your eyes. As mentioned above, photophobia can develop in response to another eye condition. Health conditions that affect the cells in your body may also cause sensitivity to light. Before an eye doctor treats you, they must rule out anything that could potentially lead to photophobia. 

If an eye or health condition caused your photophobia, a doctor will treat you in their office or refer you to an eye specialist for care. Some eye conditions require special care and treatments to overcome. If you don't treat the cause of your photophobia, it may get worse with time.

If your photophobia occurred naturally, an eye doctor will ask you to wear light-filtering eyeglasses and sunglasses. The glasses come with unique lenses that filter harsh light before it enters your eyes.

You can learn about photophobia by contacting an eye doctor today.

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