photophobia

American  

[foh-tuh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌfoʊ təˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

1. Pathology. a painful sensitivity to or extreme intolerance of bright light, as in iritis.

2. an irrational or disproportionate fear of light.

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photophobia British  

/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. pathol abnormal sensitivity of the eyes to light, esp as the result of inflammation

2. psychiatry abnormal fear of or aversion to sunlight or well-lit places

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Other Word Forms

• photophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of photophobia

First recorded in 1790–1800; photo- + -phobia

Example Sentences

Maybe it was this medicine that was causing the photophobia, the eye dryness and now the burning.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2021

Anyone who consumes a small amount of botulin-contaminated food develops double vision, photophobia, giddiness and sometimes nausea.

From Time Magazine Archive

Severe photophobia, producing a sticking pain through eyes.

From New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers by Anshutz, Edward Pollock

In less than two minutes the puncta lacrymalia began to itch violently, the right and afterward the left conjunctiva became intensely hyperemic and photophobia and increased lacrymation supervened.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

The mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth, and air-passages are all more or less involved, and the patient suffers in varying degrees from photophobia, coryza, hoarseness, cough, and pain in swallowing.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various