Photophobia of the eyes in a child causes and treatment. Photophobia in a child, differential analysis The child is afraid of bright light

In most cases, the fear of light is not associated with serious ophthalmic diseases, and the treatment consists of simple supportive and preventive measures. If photophobia is pronounced and accompanied by pain symptoms, then this symptom can signal inflammatory processes and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

If a person spends a long time in a dark or poorly lit room, then gradually bright light begins to cause discomfort. The reason is that our pupils do not have time to adapt to a sharp change in the light regime, as a result - lacrimation, inflammation of the eyelids (due to frequent squinting).

Doctors attribute the following factors to the main causes of photophobia of the eyes:

• conjunctivitis - with this infectious disease, there is an acute inflammation of the mucous membrane, pain in the eyes, purulent discharge, pain in bright light;
• if the cornea of ​​the eye is mechanically damaged, or an ulcerative lesion of the epidermis, a tumor is diagnosed, then this fact can also cause photophobia of the eyes;
• iridocyclitis - the inflammatory process of the iris also shows symptoms of a painful reaction to bright lighting;
• the development of glaucoma (increased eye pressure) also causes a fear of light;
• with migraines and a general increase or sudden changes in blood pressure, processes of a painful reaction to bright light are often observed;
• pupil dilation (artificial) in the therapeutic treatment of ophthalmic diseases;
• acute allergic reactions;
• long-term use of drugs of the tetracycline group, as well as furosemide and quinine, cause photophobia. Separately, it should be noted that taking doxycycline as an adverse reaction often provokes a painful perception of bright light;
• retinal detachment;
• "dry eye syndrome" - when working at a computer;
• incorrect or prolonged wearing of contact lenses;
• when carrying out welding work, visual impairment can be caused by the action of bright light (sunlight also provokes photophobia).

The fear of bright light is due to the special structure of the eye and retina in people with different eye colors, a bright iris is more susceptible to the action of bright light. Albinos are also more susceptible to developing this disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose photophobia, a specialist must diagnose all the symptoms in the aggregate and identify the cause that causes pain:

• eyeballs hurt when pressed, constant pain is observed;
• regular tearing;
• the patient squints, constantly closes the eyelids;
• frequent, regular headaches are diagnosed.

In especially severe cases, patients temporarily lose their orientation in space, there is a temporary short-term loss of vision.

To clarify the full picture of the development of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment, additional laboratory tests are needed:

• CT of the brain and electroencephalogram - to detect serious chronic disorders;
• examination with a slit lamp;
• lumbar puncture fence.

Only after all the studies, the ophthalmologist can prescribe the correct and effective treatment.

Treatment and prevention

Do not be afraid, often photophobia, which is not associated with serious chronic or infectious diseases, can be cured by simple methods:

• in summer, wear sunglasses with a UV filter;
• limit time in front of the monitor and TV screen;
• purchase Vizin moisturizing eye drops, vitamin preparations.

It is also impossible to underestimate the signals of the body. Sometimes the fear of light can signal serious chronic diseases or infections. Photophobia is a symptom of what diseases:

• acute conjunctivitis;
• corneal erosion;
• corneal ulcers;
• migraine;
• chronic or seasonal allergies;
• mental disorders;
• high blood pressure;
• hormonal disorders.

Separately, it should be noted that photophobia in childhood often signals that urgent measures must be taken to eliminate the problem.

Photophobia in childhood

The child's body reacts very sharply to infectious diseases, one of the signs that should alert parents is a painful reaction to light.

In which diseases photophobia in children requires immediate diagnosis and treatment:

• acute infectious conjunctivitis;
• damage to the cornea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eye of a mechanical or chemical nature;
• tumors of different etymology;
• tuberculosis-allergic keratoconjunctivitis;
• viral diseases.

Some children also have a congenital deficiency of melanin. In this case, vitamin preparations are prescribed, but only after a comprehensive laboratory examination.

Photophobia in children - causes and treatment:

• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes is most often diagnosed with viral, allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis. Treatment consists of oral antivirals and topical eyewash with disinfectants;
• "pink disease" (acrodynia) - redness and stickiness of the hands and feet, increased blood pressure, profuse sweating, decreased or complete loss of appetite, pronounced photophobia;
• endocrine ophthalmopathy - an autoimmune disease that is associated with impaired thyroid function;
• fungal and tuberculosis-allergic conjunctivitis - often diagnosed in childhood and requires professional treatment;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes caused by tuberculosis also causes a painful reaction to bright light.

At the first signs of visual impairment in children, it is important to seek qualified medical help in time. Photophobia can be a sign of a serious infection or other chronic condition. Timely medical care will reduce the risk of concomitant inflammatory processes and guarantee a complete cure for the patient.

In contact with

Photophobia in children- this is the increased sensitivity of the child's eyes to daylight and artificial lighting. There can be many reasons for such a pathology: congenital or acquired pathologies; psychological overload; the use of certain medicines.

Factors contributing to the development of photophobia

The very first reason is congenital pathology. In some babies, the melanin pigment is completely absent or is contained in insufficient quantities. The reason for the appearance of photophobia may be the thoughtless intake of certain medications by the child. Fear of light can be the result of diseases of the eye membranes: acute chronic conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis, damage or tumors of the corneas. Many children enjoy looking at the sun, which can cause them to develop sun damage to their eyes. Do not discount the snow ophthalmia. Snow has an excellent ability to reflect ultraviolet rays, which can provoke the development of a fear of bright light. Such effects are common in the northern hemisphere of the planet, where there is a lot of snow and it stays for a long time.

acrodynia

The baby can be diagnosed with "acrodynia", another name for it is "pink disease", in which children experience pinking and stickiness of the hands and feet. There is also an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate and increased sweating. The child begins to be afraid of bright light, loses his appetite, he develops insomnia. Sensitivity to infections increases, which, in the absence of timely high-quality treatment, can provoke a fatal outcome.

Conjunctivitis

With this disease, the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed. The disease can be bacterial, viral or allergenic in nature. A characteristic manifestation in children is the fear of bright light. There are a number of medical and folk methods of treating the disease, each of which has its pros and cons.

Paralysis of the ocular motor nerve

With paralysis of the motor nerve in the eye, the upper eyelid drops, and the eye begins to look, as it were, to the side, the pupil expands. The pupil becomes incapable of an adequate response to changing lighting, as a result of which photophobia develops. The causes of the disease can be different: past infection, poisoning, eye damage, etc.

Endocrine ophthalmopathy

An autoimmune disease that forms a whole list of symptoms. The child begins to complain about some foreign body in the eyes, begins to "press" in the eyes, photophobia appears. It is caused by pathologies of the thyroid gland.

Often, children's photophobia becomes the result of various eye diseases and injuries. If redness of the eye of the child and tearing are found, show the baby to the doctor, do not hope that everything will go away by itself. You should also not self-medicate. It may well turn out that the child has nothing serious, but it is always necessary to check.

If you notice the appearance of this symptom, you should immediately go to an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Diseases associated with photophobia are best treated at the first stage, but if the pathology is started, it will be very difficult to cure it.

The causes of photophobia can be many:

Photophobia in children manifests itself more often than in adults, since the child's eye is more often susceptible to an infectious disease. Toddlers are very restless and often do not understand that this or that action can harm their health, and as a result they are at greater risk of injury to the eye. In addition, children can sit for hours at a computer monitor. This creates a lot of stress on the eyes. Fatigue and lack of sleep can also lead to the symptom of photophobia.

Children rarely complain of signs of a disease of this nature. So watch your child carefully. If he often squints in the light, rubs his eyes with his hands and his eye shell turns red, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Photophobia is noted as a symptom of the disease when infected with the deadly Rabies virus (rabies virus), when botulinum neurotoxin enters the body and the development of botulism, with tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease).

Redness of the eyes, lacrimation, pain in the eyes and photophobia with influenza are common: viral virions fall not only on the nasopharyngeal mucosa, but also on the conjunctiva of the eyes.

For the same reason, lacrimation and photophobia almost always appear in ARVI or a runny nose and photophobia in case of a cold, since there are also no “territorial” restrictions for the airborne spread of rhinoviruses.

Photophobia and temperature can occur not only with respiratory infections, but also due to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or its membranes (meningitis). And photophobia and headache appear in the list of symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage in TBI or rupture of an aneurysm of a cerebral artery.

Many disorders in the work of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) can cause photophobia in VVD - neurocirculatory dystonia or somatoform autonomic dysfunction, as well as during headache attacks with migraine and tension cephalalgia syndrome. With prolonged attacks, complaints of photophobia in the morning are noted;

Close in etiology is photophobia in neurosis - a neurotic or somatoform disorder that develops for psychogenic reasons. That is, there are no organic diseases, and there is a psychosomatics of photophobia - when hyperreaction to light is combined with general weakness and increased fatigue, dizziness, unstable blood pressure and episodically occurring cardiac arrhythmia, sweating, nausea, etc.

Photophobia and pain in the eyes with lacrimation can be with thyrotoxicosis and diffuse toxic goiter. More information in the material - Endocrine ophthalmopathy

And neuropathologists note various combinations of symptoms of photophobia in case of damage to the branches and ganglia of the trigeminal nerve - neuralgia of the nasociliary nerve or its ganglion (Charlene or Oppenheim syndrome), as well as pterygopalatine ganglionitis (Slader's syndrome).

First of all, increased sensitivity to light may be accompanied by topical use of ophthalmic drugs. For example, there may be irritation and hyperemia of the conjunctiva, burning and pain, tearing and photophobia from Korneregel (used for burns, erosion and inflammation of the cornea), from antiherpetic drops of Idoxuridin and Trifluridine, as well as Vidarabine gel.

Swelling and redness of the eyelids, tearing, burning, eye pain and photophobia from Restasis - eye drops containing the immunosuppressant cyclosporine and used for dry keratoconjunctivitis with reduced tear production - develop in one case in ten.

Tacrolimus (Advagraf, Prograf), which prevents transplant rejection, also has an immunosuppressive effect. Photophobia from tacrolimus, along with more severe visual impairment, is on the list of its side effects.

Humira (Adalimumab), a parenteral drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, also belongs to immunosuppressants. Among the many side effects are allergic reactions, headache and photophobia from Humira.

Exceeding the dose of thyroxine analogs, which are prescribed to patients with hypothyroidism, hypertrophy of the thyroid gland or after its removal, can lead to the appearance of signs of thyrotoxicosis. Therefore, photophobia is possible with an overdose of Euthyrox (Levothyroxine, L-Thyroxine, Eferox).

It should also be borne in mind that an overdose of retinol (vitamin A) can provoke photophobia.

Photophobia in combination with other side effects can cause drugs such as: local anesthetic Lidocaine; m-cholinergic receptor blockers (Atropine, Cyclomed, Ipratronium), antispasmodic Dicyclomine (Combispasm); Besalol tablets (due to the content of belladonna extract); α-adrenergic vasodilator blocker Doxazosin (Kardura); quinolone antibiotic Norfloxacin; antitumor drugs-antimetabolites (Ftorouracil, Timazin, etc.).

May increase intraocular pressure, disrupt accommodation and cause photophobia tranquilizer Buspirone (Spitomin). Side effects - redness of the eyes and photophobia - are noted after the use of radiopaque substances containing iodine.

It is important to understand that photophobia not only reduces the patient's quality of life, but can also cause other pathologies, such as heliophobia. What is it? Heliophobia is a psychological pathology that manifests itself as a strong, panicky fear of the rays of the sun. That is, even after getting rid of photophobia, the patient always runs the risk of fearing that bright lighting will again provoke discomfort and pain.

Such patients try to avoid lighted places, be afraid to go out during the day, constantly stay in the house - in darkened rooms. People with this disease often become socially unsettled, as they cannot work, study, and lead a normal life. In addition, there may be a lack of vitamin D, because our body can synthesize it only with the participation of sunlight, this will lead to a number of disorders and diseases: deformation of bones, teeth, skin diseases, sweating, stoop, poor skin condition, muscle cramps, weight loss, growth retardation in children.

That is why, patients with heliophobia, first of all, should get rid of the factor that provoked the disease - photophobia, and then undergo a course of treatment with a psychotherapist. The psychoanalyst will prescribe the necessary medications, most often sedatives, antidepressants, beta-blockers, tranquilizers.

He will also conduct psycho-correction using hypnosis, auto-training, neuro-linguistic programming and cognitive-behavioral therapy. It is also mandatory to take medications containing vitamin D for the duration of treatment for the prevention and elimination of disorders that may have arisen as a result of its shortage.

Survey

First of all, every person who suspects that he has photophobia should visit an ophthalmologist. The doctor, on the basis of complaints, examination and the collected history, will prescribe all the necessary tests and diagnostic measures, and, if necessary, refer him for a consultation to another specialist. Since if the cause lies in the pathology of another organ, the first thing to do is to eliminate this etiological factor.

Based on the results of the study data, treatment tactics will be selected.

Treatment

Since photophobia is only a symptom, if the disease that gave rise to it is cured, the signs of photophobia will disappear. In no case do not try to treat the disease yourself! Only a qualified specialist can diagnose and prescribe treatment. For infectious diseases, drops are usually prescribed that will help eliminate the problem in a few days.

In case of poisoning with medicines, the attending physician replaces them with other, weaker ones. Ophthalmologists diagnose the appearance of cataracts at the earliest stages, when a person is not yet aware of its presence. It can only be treated with surgery. The unusable lens is replaced with a transparent artificial one.

When going out, wear sunglasses, try not to stay in the sun for too long, do not sit at the computer for a long time, buy special contact lenses with a dark iris. They will pass only the amount of light waves necessary for the human eye.

First of all, therapy should be aimed at eliminating the disease or the factor contributing to the development of light phobia. So if the reason lies in taking medicines, then it is necessary to replace them with analogues that do not have a similar side effect. If the root of evil is in an infectious disease, then antibiotic therapy will help to eliminate both it and the consequences.

The same applies to all other pathologies that cause photophobia. If the reasons are related to the conditions of your work, you should think about changing your job, or at least work, observing all precautions, protecting your organ of vision as much as possible. It is also highly desirable to change your lifestyle, minimizing the time spent watching TV or playing computer games in low light conditions.

Therapy of the symptom is prescribed after determining the causes of the formation of the pathology. Doctors advise patients to follow simple rules:

• on sunny days, do not leave the house without sunglasses;
• use eye drops;
• during migraine attacks, it is advisable for the patient to go to a dark place.

Timely treatment of photophobia and the causes of its occurrence contributes to the rapid relief of this symptom.

However, quite often the symptom is not formed against the background of any disease, but is congenital. In this case, doctors recommend adhering to the above rules.

Therapy depends on the cause of the pathology. So, if meningitis or encephalitis is detected, antibacterial (antiviral, antifungal) glucocorticoid therapy will be mandatory. For eye diseases, not only eye drops can be prescribed, but also systemic drugs (in tablets or injections). During treatment, the patient may wear smoked glasses.

Treatment depends entirely on the cause of photophobia. If the phobia is not associated with another disease, then it is recommended to make some adjustments to your daily life: wear sunglasses with a UV filter (or chameleon glasses), reduce the amount of time you spend at the PC and TV, and bury your eyes with moisturizing drops.

Minor inflammatory processes are treated with eye drops that contain antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing ingredients and enzymes.

Photophobia is a symptom of many ophthalmic diseases, so treatment will be based on identifying and eliminating the cause that led to the appearance of this negative symptom.

So, on sunny days it is forbidden to go out without sunglasses, which must have a filter against ultraviolet rays (100% protection), for this reason they should be bought only in specialized stores.

Temporary photophobia, which is the result of a slight inflammation of the eyes, is treated with eye drops, which should contain moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic components, vitamins. Such drops in some cases allow you to get rid of photophobia within a few days.

Diseases associated with photophobia

• lacrimation - manifested in rabies, neuralgia, keratoconjunctivitis;
• headache - symptoms are typical for the development of migraine, headache, meningitis, stroke, encephalitis;
• high body temperature - appears with meningitis, encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever;
• vomiting and nausea - indicates meningitis, migraine, meningoencephalitis.

Photophobia itself causes the following symptoms in the patient:

• burning sensation and pain;
• urge to squint or close your eyes.

– Acrodynia

Acrodynia disease, also known as pink disease, is characterized by pink color and stickiness of the hands and feet. With this disease, there is an increase in blood pressure, impaired appetite, insomnia, fear of bright light.

– Conjunctivitis

This is all a well-known disease in which the inflammatory process affects the mucous membrane of the eye (conjunctiva). The nature of this eye disease can be of a different nature: viral, bacterial, allergic. Hypersensitivity to light, one of the characteristic signs, is not the only finite.

- Paralysis of the oculomotor nerve

With paralysis of the oculomotor nerve, the upper eyelid lowers, and the eye looks as if down and to the side, while the pupil of the eye is dilated. The causes of this pathology are different, it can be various head and eye injuries, infectious diseases and others.

– Graves' ophthalmopathy

Photophobia in children can occur as a result of Graves' ophthalmopathy - an autoimmune disease of the retrobulbar tissues and muscles of the eye, which is characterized by a number of symptoms: exophthalmos, sensation of a foreign body in the eye, photophobia, sensations of pressure in the eye. The cause of the development of endocrine ophthalmopathy is the impaired functioning of the thyroid gland.

The most common case in children is conjunctivitis. Also, diseases are usually accompanied by lacrimation and reflex closure of the eyelids.

With photophobia, you should make an appointment with a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. With photophobia in a child, you can first go to the pediatrician, he will refer you to the right doctor. The ophthalmologist will perform an ophthalmoscopy, check the fundus, and may need to scrape the cornea. The neurologist will prescribe an MRI, EEG, and a CT scan may be needed. If tuberculosis is suspected, an X-ray of the lungs is prescribed.

Photophobia has several mechanisms of development. The first mechanism is associated with pathologies in the autonomic nervous system, because of this, the pupil does not respond to too bright light. More often, the causes of such a disorder are hidden in a viral attack. The neuralgic mechanism is associated with the pathology of the brain or trigeminal nerve, the causes of which are meningitis, encephalitis, migraines and other diseases.

Photophobia has natural causes when taking certain drugs, using mydriatic drops.

It also develops with injuries and inflammation of the eyes. Photophobia can occur with an excess of sunlight, this is often observed in northern latitudes. Snow reflects visible light and ultraviolet rays well. A long stay of an unprepared person in the northern latitudes can lead to photophobia.

In young children, congenital anomalies can be detected that provoke photophobia. This is the absence or low content of melanin pigment or albinism. Less common are pathologies such as the absence or transparency of the iris or its inability to respond to light.

Also, the child is attracted to pills that cause photophobia: Atropine, Phenylephrine, Idoxuridine. Children have a bad habit of looking at the sun, which causes retinal damage and photophobia. Most often, photophobia occurs in children with acrodynia, endocrine ophthalmopathy, conjunctivitis, paralysis of the motor nerve of the eyes.

Acrodynia. This is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system in a child. Along with photophobia, there should be an increase in heart rate, increased sweating of the feet and hands, and increased pressure.

Conjunctivitis. The reason may lie in viruses, bacteria, an allergic reaction, trauma to the mucous membrane of the eyes. Characteristic symptoms will be lacrimation, photophobia and clearly visible inflammation of the eyes.

Paralysis of the motor nerve of the eyes. With this pathology, there is no innervation of the muscles that narrow the pupil. It stops responding to light intensity. Photophobia in this case is only a natural reaction.

Endocrine ophthalmopathy. This is an autoimmune reaction of the body to the tissues of the eyes. At the same time, the child has strange complaints: pressure in the eyes, sensation of a foreign body. The cause of the autoimmune reaction is a malfunction of the thyroid gland.

Even at normal brightness, light can cause pain and pain in the eyes, headaches and dizziness in a person. With photophobia, other phobias also arise, for example, the fear of being photographed or the fear of getting burned in the sun.

However, there is a type of photophobia, which is a completely healthy reaction to light and occurs in all people. For example, a person stays in a dark room for a long time, if someone enters and turns on the light, he will involuntarily close his eyes, and unpleasant sensations will appear in his eyes.

In this case, it's all about a sudden change of scenery, and this is a certain tension for the brain, which is first forced to process one visual perception, and then radically different.

According to statistics, people with light eyes are more susceptible to photophobia. However, if this symptom is a manifestation of a brain disease, then the effect of eye color on photophobia in this situation is reduced to zero.

Suffer from photophobia, by the way, not only adults, but also children. In them, photophobia manifests itself as a symptom of diseases such as measles and rubella. This can be immediately recognized by the following sign: if one eye is sensitive to light, then the matter is in the pathology of vision, the structure of the eye, and a foreign body. If both eyes cannot tolerate light, the cause is either infection or brain damage. Photophobia in a child outwardly manifests itself in the same way as in adults, but at the same time the temperature may still rise, chills may appear.

If you experience photophobia, you should consult an ophthalmologist. Perhaps in the future, a person will need consultations and examinations with other doctors, depending on what kind of disease he will be diagnosed with. With photophobia, it is not the symptom itself that is treated, but the disease that caused the detection of fear of light.

To help relieve symptoms, your doctor may recommend temporary dark sunglasses and some anti-inflammatory eye drops. Also, the patient will have to give up some types of cosmetics and sunbathing for a while.

It should be remembered that photophobia is only a symptom of a possible serious illness, so the main thing is to detect a possible pathology. With proper treatment, photophobia will go away on its own.

Prevention

There are many causes for photophobia, but some of them can be prevented.

Photophobia is not a separate disease, but just a symptom of several pathologies. It causes very unpleasant sensations: pain, pain in the eyes and immunity to light. If you notice it in time and consult a doctor, then you will be able to avoid serious complications.

The first thing you should pay attention to everyone who wants to protect their eyes from this disease is daily walks in the fresh air. Taking short breaks and doing special exercises will help keep your eyes healthy during the hours you spend in front of a monitor or watching TV. Also, with such a pastime, it is advisable to turn on additional lighting - in order to prevent sudden changes in light and shadow for vision.

If the cause of photophobia lies in albinism, then no therapeutic and preventive procedures, unfortunately, will have an effect. In this case, you just need to resort to the constant wearing of sunglasses or special lenses that will reduce the effect of bright light on your eyes.

Preventive measures will help reduce the level of discomfort, and in some cases, prevent the development of inflammatory diseases. As a preventive measure, it is recommended:

• Performing exercises for the eyes;
• At dry eye syndrome, the use of drugs "artificial tears";
• Compliance with hygiene rules.

How photophobia manifests itself

In another way, this pathology is called photophobia. When it appears, a person feels pain, pain in the eyes, there is a feeling that sand was poured into the eyes. At the same time, the eye cannot look at light for a long time, whether it be solar or artificial. There is a certain threshold of light emission. Stepping over it, a person experiences pain in the eye area (but what eye diseases people have can be seen here). This effect happens, for example, if you look at the sun for a long time. But if the eyes hurt in normal lighting, then this is the first wake-up call.

There are additional symptoms of photophobia:

• headache. But why there is pain in the eyeball when pressed, you can find out from the article .;
• convulsive closure of the eyelids;
• lacrimation.

It is believed that people with light gray or light blue eyes are more prone to the effect of photophobia than people with dark eyes. There were times when they could not bear any light at all.

Photophobia is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of one of the many pathologies. However, with its characteristics, photophobia resembles heliophobia - the fear of the sun. But in this case, the patient feels fear of skin burns due to its rays. Ordinary photophobia is not accompanied by such a phobia.

Photophobia is a discomfort caused by any of the light sources, such as the light of a lamp or the sun. The patient cannot look at the light, frowns, feels pain and pain in the eyes, they begin to water, and the person involuntarily squints. Photophobia can also occur in conjunction with headache.

It is believed that people with light eyes have more pronounced photosensitivity, so they have this phobia more often. Sometimes patients diagnosed with this phobia cannot tolerate bright light, and in some it comes to intolerance to any light at all.

However, do not confuse photophobia and a reaction to a light that is too bright for a person’s eyes, which normally manifests itself as a deterioration in vision and a feeling of blindness. Photophobia, on the other hand, manifests itself in the light of ordinary brightness - for example, a 60-watt light bulb creates such brightness on the surface of a sheet of paper.

This fear in its manifestations resembles some other diseases with similar symptoms, such as heliophobia (fear of sunlight) or Gunther's disease (porphyria). But in the case of, for example, Gunther's disease, photophobia is only one of the symptoms, and is due to the fear of sunburn, which inevitably appears when the skin of a patient with Gunther's disease comes into contact with the sun.

So, photophobia is not an independent disease, but a symptom, the causes of which are pathological processes that can occur both in the eyes and in other organs and systems of the human body. Such a symptom should be taken seriously and, if it is detected, immediately contact an ophthalmologist. This is important because many of the diseases of which this phobia is a symptom are only well treated if detected early.

Causes of photophobia

Non-pathological causes

Photophobia is a condition that almost everyone has experienced when moving from a dark environment to bright sunlight, this increased sensitivity of the eyes can be caused by:

• Too intense light. What matters here is the personal threshold of tolerance, which is variable and even depends on mood (for example, anxiety can increase sensitivity to light).
• Light eyes. In particular, green eyes are more sensitive to light. Their pigment contains a low amount of melanin, which is known to protect against UV rays. Therefore, the threshold of sensitivity to light is higher in people with dark eyes.
• Albinism. This is a hereditary anomaly of character, which consists in a deficiency of pigmentation of the skin, the choroid of the eyes (the middle layer located between the sclera and the iris), as a result of which the eye acquires an increased sensitivity to light.
• pupil dilation. It can be caused by drugs or drugs: atropine, cocaine, amphetamine, scopolamine, anticholinergic drugs, etc., as well as a state of excitement.
• Injuries and misbehavior- for example, prolonged use of contact lenses, exposure to bright light sources, long-term gaze on a computer monitor or projector, etc.

Eye diseases and related symptoms

Diseases of the nervous system and sensitivity to light

Some diseases of the nervous system that affect the brain and nerves have light intolerance among their symptoms.

Among them:

In particular, these include:

• Cystine accumulation. Cystine is an amino acid, but with a certain genetic defect, it accumulates in the form of insoluble crystals in various organs. The accumulation of cystine crystals in the eyes leads to an exacerbation of sensitivity to light.
• Botulism. Food poisoning caused by foods contaminated with Clostridium toxin. Causes pupillary dilation (and therefore photophobia) and muscle paralysis.
• Vitamin B2 deficiency. Riboflavin deficiency is usually associated with nutritional problems or abnormal liver function. Among the problems that accompany vitamin B2 deficiency is sensitivity to light caused by pupil dilation.
• magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is a very important trace element for the body. Its deficiency gives rise to numerous disorders, including migraine and light intolerance.
• Headache and migraines. Headaches are often accompanied by intolerance to light and intense sounds.
• Consequences of alcohol abuse. The so-called hangover leads to a set of unpleasant symptoms, among which the most common are headaches and intolerance to intense light sources.

The first step is, of course, the correct diagnosis, that is, the establishment of the exact cause that causes sensitivity to light.

If the cause is non-pathological, it is necessary to determine the source of the problem: medication or drugs that cause pupil dilation.

If the cause is pathological, then we can try to keep the symptoms under control with a number of remedies, which we give below:

• Additives. Most suitable based on lutein and zeaxanthin. Due to their antioxidant properties, these supplements have a protective function for vision.
• natural remedies. Include the use of drops and compresses derived from certain herbal products, namely chamomile, artichoke, mallow and butterbur.
• Sunglasses. The easiest way to keep photophobia under control. Note that brown filters are the most effective.

In the presence of photophobia of the eyes, the patient must definitely consult a doctor and be examined. To determine the exact diagnosis, the patient needs to undergo such studies:

• ophthalmoscopy;
• examination of the vessels of the fundus;
• corneal analysis.

If the etiology of the symptom is unclear, additional instrumental methods of examination may be prescribed.

To cure photophobia in children, you must first seek the help of a pediatrician. The doctor will refer you to a narrow specialist and prescribe the above-mentioned examination methods. The child needs to undergo a blood test for the level of thyroid hormones, as well as an ultrasound of the gland and dopplerography of the main vessels.

There are many reasons for this condition. A minority of them are eye diseases:

• eye injury;
• keratitis;
• keratoconjunctivitis (especially tuberculosis-allergic);
• glaucoma;
• eye burns;
• uveitis;
• iritis;
• iridocyclitis;
• retinal disinsertion;
• corneal ulcer;
• foreign body of the cornea;
• complete or partial absence of the iris;
• long work at the computer.

Other causes of photophobia are neurological:

The causes of photophobia are very different. Since this is a symptom of a disease, the factors that provoke the development of a symptom are the ailments themselves. In addition to diseases, there are other reasons for this phenomenon:

• structure of the eye
• negative impact of the environment;
• diseases of viral or bacterial origin.

Photophobia of the eyes is also formed, against the background of the use of medicines - quinine, tetracycline, doxycycline, belladonna, furosemide.

It was revealed that the symptoms of photophobia are manifested in such pathologies of the eyes:

• ulcers and violation of the structure of the cornea;
• tumors;
• keratitis - damage to the cornea;
• iritis is a violation of the iris.

Quite often, such a sign also manifests itself in migraines, pathologies of the central nervous system, or in an acute attack of glaucoma. Prolonged wearing of lenses can also worsen vision and contribute to the appearance of photophobia.

Photophobia in a child appears under the influence of such pathologies:

• melanin deficiency;
• acrodynia;
• pathology of the oculomotor nerve;

Clinical picture and diagnosis

• ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp examination;
• examination of the fundus;
• scraping of the cornea;
• chest x-ray;
• research of liquor;
• MRI or CT of the brain.

Photophobia in children

This symptom develops with such pathologies:

1. deficiency of melanin in the iris;
2. snowy ophthalmia;
3. acrodynia - a disease characterized by increased sweating on the palms and feet, insomnia, loss of appetite, tachycardia;
4. paralysis of the oculomotor nerve. The general condition is not disturbed, the eyelid drops, its pupil is dilated, photophobia develops;
5. conjunctivitis - inflammation of the cornea;
6. eye disease with increased thyroid function.

With the development of this symptom, you need to contact your pediatrician. He will be able to determine which specialist to show the child to. The following studies may be ordered:

• ophthalmoscopy;
• dopplerography of the main vessels of the head;
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
• the level of TSH in the blood (thyroid hormone).

• Physical examination of the eyes;
• eye ultrasound;
• Lumbar puncture.

The disease provokes inflammation of the mucous membrane. There are viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis. A characteristic symptom is the fear of bright light.

"Acrodynia" or "pink disease"

Characteristic symptoms: pink and clammy hands and feet, high blood pressure, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, fear of light. With late treatment, a fatal outcome is possible.

Motor nerve palsy

Signs: the upper eyelid droops, the pupil dilates and does not adapt to changes in light, so the child develops photophobia. The causes of the disease are varied.

Endocrine ophthalmopathy

Autoimmune process associated with thyroid disease. The child may complain of a foreign body and a feeling of pressure in the eye, photophobia.

Tuberculous-allergic keratoconjunctivitis

Despite the fact that in some cases photophobia does not cause concern, at the first signs of pathology, it is necessary to seek the advice of a doctor. Photophobia can be a signal of serious disorders in the body.

I often notice that my eyes get tired from working at the computer, I take strix to relieve tension and fatigue. I go out into the sun only in photochromic glasses, which adjust the shading depending on the brightness of daylight and solar activity. In general, I try to protect my eyes in all ways known to me.

I read the article. For some reason, the name immediately came to mind, xeroderma pigmentosa. It’s good that the eyes are a little easier in care, treatment, and prevention. I always have a Vizin with me, tk. in the sun, even not bright, tears always flow. I also try to wear glasses in winter, if of course the style of clothing allows.

Here, I have photophobia. But not so straight forward. But sometimes I go into the room from the street and see nothing. everything is in the fog. And the vision is normal. Or in the morning I look out the window and the light hurts my eyes. Now, having read it, I understand what it could be.

To avoid too much light, I use chameleon lenses all the time. They react to ultraviolet than protect my eyes. \\ How many times have I noticed that there seems to be no sun outside, but the lenses have darkened, which means the intensity of the sun is still high.

I get migraines, so I suffer from photophobia. Plus, the work is such that you have to spend half the day at the computer. Therefore, at any time of the year on a sunny day, I put on sunglasses, as my head starts to hurt from an excessive flow of sunlight. But, to be honest, in our outback no one offered me chameleon glasses. And since they have a UV filter, they will protect your eyes from the sun's rays better than regular sunglasses.

I often notice that in bright light (even from a simple table lamp) my eyes begin to water. Was it interesting why? It kind of interferes with my work. After reading, I realize that this is a migraine. Useful article, thanks!

Photophobia is called such a reaction to light, when its contact with the eyes causes pain in them, triggering an unconditioned reflex of closing the eyes, closing the eyes with a hand. This condition develops normally with a sharp transition from darkness to light, in very bright light, in albinos. Pathological photophobia can develop due to a huge number of disease conditions.

Causes

There are many reasons for this condition. A minority of them are eye diseases:

• eye injury;
• keratitis;
• keratoconjunctivitis (especially tuberculosis-allergic);
• glaucoma;
• eye burns;
• uveitis;
• iritis;
• iridocyclitis;
• retinal disinsertion;
• corneal ulcer;
• foreign body of the cornea;
• complete or partial absence of the iris;
• long work at the computer.

Other causes of photophobia are neurological:

It cannot be said that photophobia has one mechanism of development; it will differ depending on the etiology.

So, with such a serious illness as rabies, the pathogen causes damage to the autonomic nervous system. In this regard, the pupils of a person dilate, which cannot narrow themselves when light hits them, and the light, even dim, will cause pain in the patient. The same dilation of the pupil will be observed with botulism, when mydriatic drops are instilled into the eye (Tropicamide, Atropine, Midriacil), while taking certain drugs (Phenylephrine, Atropine, Idoxuridine).

With pathologies and injuries of the structures of the eye (blepharitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis), photophobia is caused by movements of the internal muscles of the eye, which should narrow the pupil.

There are pathologies of the eye (these are some types of severe lesions of the cornea), when inflammatory irritation of one eye causes the development of photophobia in the other eye. This is caused by nerve impulses that, going from the diseased eye to a certain area of ​​the brain, fall not only into their “own” area, but also into the department from which the impulse from the healthy eye comes. In this case, only the removal of a blinded diseased visual organ can save the situation.

What do the accompanying photophobia symptoms indicate:

lacrimation

This symptom in combination with photophobia can be observed with:

• rabies;
• trigeminal neuralgia;
• herpes zoster ophthalmicus;
• keratoconjunctivitis.

Headache

This combination of symptoms is typical for:

• migraine;
• hemiplegic migraine;
• cervicogenic headaches;
• meningitis;
• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever;
• hemorrhagic stroke (for example, due to rupture of a cerebral aneurysm);
• encephalitis.

Elevated temperature

Photophobia, accompanied by hyperthermia, is characteristic of inflammatory diseases:

• meningitis;
• encephalitis;
• brain abscess;
• occasionally - hemorrhagic stroke;
• purulent pathologies of the structures of the eye;
• hemorrhagic fever;
• sometimes - trigeminal neuralgia.

Vomiting, nausea

This combination of symptoms with photophobia is typical for diseases:

1. meningitis;
2. meningoencephalitis;
3. brain abscess;
4. migraine, especially status migraine.

Diagnostics

Examination with this symptom is carried out by two specialists: a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. To make a diagnosis, the following studies are carried out:

• ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp examination;
• examination of the fundus;
• scraping of the cornea;
• chest x-ray;
• research of liquor;
• MRI or CT of the brain.

Photophobia in children

This symptom develops with such pathologies:

1. deficiency of melanin in the iris;
2. snowy ophthalmia;
3. acrodynia - a disease characterized by increased sweating on the palms and feet, insomnia, loss of appetite, tachycardia;
4. paralysis of the oculomotor nerve. The general condition is not disturbed, the eyelid drops, its pupil is dilated, photophobia develops;
5. conjunctivitis - inflammation of the cornea;
6. eye disease with increased thyroid function.

With the development of this symptom, you need to contact your pediatrician. He will be able to determine which specialist to show the child to. The following studies may be ordered:

• ophthalmoscopy;
• dopplerography of the main vessels of the head;
• Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
• the level of TSH in the blood (thyroid hormone).

Treatment

Therapy depends on the cause of the pathology. So, if meningitis or encephalitis is detected, antibacterial (antiviral, antifungal) glucocorticoid therapy will be mandatory. For eye diseases, not only eye drops can be prescribed, but also systemic drugs (in tablets or injections). During treatment, the patient may wear smoked glasses.

The video shows an excerpt from the photophobia program:

A runny nose, abdominal pain, an itchy rash - all this has bothered every child at least once. But what if something more serious happens: the child's temperature rises sharply, or stiffness of the neck muscles occurs. Call an ambulance, call a doctor from the clinic or just wait?

If the child is sick, looks weak, the parents go to the local doctor. But what if the temperature jumped in the evening? Not all parents decide to call an ambulance: suddenly the alarm will be false. However, when it comes to the health of the child, it is better to play it safe.

Here are some symptoms that are a reason to urgently see a doctor. These symptoms apply to children older than a year. When infants need urgent medical attention, see the article "Six terrible symptoms in infants" and the slide show "Symptoms of illness in young children." But there is one general rule: in all cases of doubt, you need to consult a specialist.

High fever in children older than one year

When a child has a fever, the first thing that comes to mind for many parents is to rush to the doctor. However, pediatricians recommend looking not at the thermometer, but at how the child looks and behaves, as well as what symptoms he has.

An increase in temperature is the body's self-defense against infection. If a child has a fever, it means that his immune system is working. Normal body temperature is known to average 36.6°C. The rectal temperature (in the rectum) is approximately one degree higher than the temperature measured in the axilla. That is, the temperature measured rectally is considered elevated if it exceeds 38 ° C.

Medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (if the baby is older than 6 months) can bring down the fever. But only if it's really necessary. Be sure to follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor or indicated in the instructions for use of the medication. It must be remembered that antipyretics do not fight infection in any way, but only reduce the temperature.

Surveys show that in every fourth case, parents give their children an antipyretic at temperatures below 38 ° C, but many pediatricians do not recommend resorting to these drugs until the temperature rises to 38.5 ° C. If the child looks healthy, eats and drinks, you can refrain from calling an ambulance. By itself, a high temperature does not require urgent treatment.

In most cases, a fever in children is not an emergency, and in such situations it is quite possible to wait until the morning and the opening of the clinic. Immediate medical attention is needed for a child older than two years of age if the temperature rises to 40 ° C, and also if the high temperature is accompanied by lethargy and deterioration in well-being, or lasts more than four days in a row. For babies under two years old, a doctor should be called if the fever lasts more than 2 days.

Strong headache

Over-the-counter pain relievers relieve mild to moderate headaches, but they will not save you from severe pain.

If the headache lasts for several hours and is so severe that it prevents the child from eating, playing, and doing daily activities, you need to call a pediatrician. In this case, an immediate medical examination is necessary.

Most often, headaches are caused by tension in the muscles of the head. But if it is accompanied by neurological symptoms (confusion, blurred vision, walking disorders), as well as vomiting, it is necessary to call an ambulance. These symptoms can be signs of serious illness.

Rash all over body

A rash on a child's arms or legs should not worry parents too much. However, if it covers the entire body, you need to contact a specialist.

If, when you press on a red rash, it turns pale and then reddens again, then there is usually nothing to worry about. This is how a viral and allergic rash behaves, including urticaria.

A rash that does not blanch when pressed may be a sign of an emergency, meningitis, or sepsis, especially if accompanied by fever. A similar rash can also appear on the face after severe bouts of coughing or vomiting, but this is not dangerous.

And yet, when a child develops a rash in the form of red or purple spots that do not turn pale when pressed, it is better to play it safe and urgently call a doctor to rule out serious diseases.

Another emergency condition is urticaria, accompanied by swelling of the lips. When urticaria appears, the child must be given diphenhydramine. If at the same time the child's lips or face swell, you need to call a doctor. And if there is difficulty breathing, you should call 03: these are a sign of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Acute indigestion

If your child has food poisoning or gastroenteritis (commonly referred to as "stomach flu" even though it has nothing to do with the flu), you should monitor how often he vomits and has diarrhea (diarrhea).

Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. For mild dehydration, your doctor may recommend taking an electrolyte solution at home. However, treatment largely depends on the age of the child. If the patient's condition worsens (he has little urine, he looks lethargic), you should consult a doctor.

Vomiting three times a day cannot lead to dehydration, but eight bouts of diarrhea in eight hours can, as can a combination of vomiting and diarrhea. Children with dehydration should be closely monitored, as they may need urgent hospitalization.

If a child loses fluid due to frequent stools and cannot keep it in the stomach due to vomiting, they may need intravenous fluids or antiemetic medication. The younger the child, the greater the risk of dehydration.

Neck stiffness

Neck stiffness can be a sign of meningitis, a serious medical emergency. Therefore, parents panic when their child cannot look either to the right or to the left. However, most often this is caused by soreness of the neck muscles, which can even occur due to an uncomfortable posture during sleep.

In meningitis, neck stiffness is accompanied by high fever, photophobia, and headache. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the totality of symptoms.

Stiffness of the neck muscles, accompanied by high fever, occurs not only with meningitis, but also with tonsillitis - a much less dangerous disease. But to establish what the child is sick with, you need to call a pediatrician. Of course, if neck pain is a consequence of an injury, this is a good reason for urgent hospitalization.