Photophobia

Painful oversensitivity to light. For example, there is photophobia in measles (rubeola). Keeping the lights dim or the room darkened may be useful. Sunglasses may also help. Whereas most phobias are abnormal, excessive, and irrational, Photophobia is usually an appropriate rational response. It is also rationally derived from the Greek "phos" (light) + "phobos" (fear).

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SYN: photalgia. [photo- + G. phobos, fear]

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pho·to·pho·bia .fōt-ə-'fō-bē-ə n

1) intolerance to light esp painful sensitiveness to strong light

2) an abnormal fear of light

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n.

an abnormal intolerance of light, in which exposure to light produces intense discomfort of the eyes with tight contraction of the eyelids and other reactions aimed at avoiding the light. In most cases the light simply aggravates already existing discomfort from eye disease. Photophobia may be associated with dilation of the pupils as a result of eye drops or with migraine, measles, German measles, or meningitis.

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pho·to·pho·bia (fo″to-foґbe-ə) [photo- + -phobia] abnormal visual intolerance of light. photophobic adj