photophobia
Meaning of photophobia: Photophobia is unusual discomfort or sensitivity to light, a symptom of many different eye and neurological conditions rather than a fear of light.
Definition of photophobia
Photophobia is a condition in which ordinary levels of light cause discomfort, eye pain, or a strong urge to squint or avoid light, well beyond the sensitivity most people experience in bright conditions. Despite its name, photophobia is not a fear of light in the psychological sense but rather a physical sensitivity, most often related to how the eyes or nervous system respond to light.
Photophobia can result from a variety of causes, including eye conditions such as inflammation of the cornea or iris, migraine, meningitis, and certain medications that increase light sensitivity as a side effect. The severity of photophobia and the conditions that trigger it vary widely between individuals and across different underlying causes.
Because photophobia can be a feature of both minor, self limited conditions and more serious underlying illness, evaluating accompanying symptoms, such as headache, fever, or vision changes, generally helps determine what is causing the light sensitivity in a given situation.
Used in a sentence
The patient reported photophobia along with a throbbing headache during the migraine episode.
Good to know
Despite the literal meaning of its Greek roots, photophobia describes physical discomfort from light rather than a psychological fear, and it can accompany conditions ranging from a common migraine to meningitis.
Word origin
Where “photophobia” comes from
Formed from Greek phos, photos, meaning light, and phobos, meaning fear, though the resulting term describes physical light sensitivity rather than a psychological fear.