photophobia

[foh-tuh-foh-bee-uh]

noun Pathology.

an abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light, as in iritis.
an abnormal fear of light.

Origin of photophobia

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for photophobia

Historical Examples of photophobia

The photophobia may be very severe when the local changes are slight.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1
Various
And as to the name itself, there is hydrophobia, and photophobia, and Anglophobia—so why not microbophobia?
The Unpopular Review Vol. I
Various
There are weakness of vision and photophobia, but there are no ophthalmoscopic changes.
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.
Alexander Miles
The pupil is usually dilated, the cornea becomes opaque and may ulcerate, and there is photophobia and sometimes diplopia.
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.
Alexander Miles
In some cases there was photophobia, and he has also found paralysis of accommodation and conjunctivitis.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)
Havelock Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for photophobia

photophobia

noun

pathol abnormal sensitivity of the eyes to light, esp as the result of inflammation
psychiatry abnormal fear of or aversion to sunlight or well-lit places

Derived Formsphotophobic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for photophobia

1799, from photo- + -phobia. Related: Photophobic.

photophobia in Medicine

photophobia

[fō′tə-fō′bē-ə]

An abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light, especially by the eyes, as may be caused by eye inflammation, lack of pigmentation in the iris, or various diseases.
An abnormal or irrational fear of light.