Coping with Photophobia

Photophobia literally means, fear of light. In reality, it means that the light causes serious pain in

the eyes, forcing a person to wish he or she lived in the dark. Since this cannot be the case for

most humans on the planet- we do need at least sunlight, to absorb Vitamin D. Our only hope

when we are faced with photophobic, i.e, light-sensitive eyes, is darker glasses.

If you have never been light-sensitive, and you suddenly find yourself in this position, it is best

see a good opthalmologist as soon as possible, since this could be the sign of a vision-

threatening condition. For those of us who have already been diagnosed, dark glasses of the

“Old guy” type- they are large goggles which will fit over prescription glasses, and darken not

only the front of the vision field, but the top, bottom and sides, as well. Yes, they are large, and

not very fashionable, but they are such a relief to sufferers of light- sensitivity. I know many

writers, myself included, who use them at the computer, so they may write in relative peace and

comfort.

Photophobia may be caused by mere eyestrain, migraines, and is often a complaint of coal

miners, who work in the darkest of environments, with only a battery-powered light on their hat

to see by; it takes a fair amount of time for these men to adjust to the light that permeates the

surface. The only remedy is tinted glasses, with a glare-reducing coating. There are glare-

reducing screen attachments available from most office supply stores, such as Staples, and Office

Max, as well.

 
Photophobia may be a signal of many things, but most often is a painful and annoying condtion

of the eyes, which is benign. I am a sufferer of Photophobia, as are millions of other people, and

I do not let this problem get in the way of my work. This is a technology-based world, my work

is done sitting in front of a brightly- lit computer screen. I have Photophobia- it doesn’t have me.

Photophobia is a very common condition that can be caused by many things. If you develop

Photophobia, especially if it is severe, see a doctor as soon as possible- this could be the sign of

a very serious condition.

If you have been diagnosed with eyestrain, here are some tips to help

you cope:

• Take breaks from your PC screen every 15-30 minutes or so, and just close your eyes for a couple of minutes.
• Look up from close tasks, such as sewing, and try to focus on something across the room for a moment or two.
• Never read in dim light. Reading in dim light will not cause permanent damage, but it will cause eyestrain.
• Wear darker glasses in front of the PC screen or Television set.
• Lay a warm cloth over tired eyes for a few minutes. This is very soothing.
• Keep the prescription of your eyeglasses or contacts up to date, with a regular eye exam every one or two years, as your doctor recommends.
• Remember to blink- often, when we are in front of a computer or television screen, we forget to blink. This is a major cause of eyestrain.

Photophobia can be managed, though it may be painful and difficult. Don’t let it interfere with

your life, if you can. I don’t let it interfere with mine.