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

Explanation

People with photophobia experience intense pain when they're exposed to bright light. Photophobia is a common symptom of a migraine headache. Although its main definition is "extreme light sensitivity," photophobia can also be an irrational fear of light. Its Greek roots are phōs, "light," and phobos, "fear." Many medical conditions can cause people to have eye or head pain when they're exposed to light, including TMJ, traumatic brain injury, cataracts, and eye injuries. If the midday sunshine sends you blinking painfully back into your dark house, you're either a vampire or you're suffering from photophobia.

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)

Pupil normal, conjunctiva moderately congested, lachrymation profuse, photophobia partial.

From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Anstie, Francis E.