Photophobia

Photophobia
Painful oversensitivity to light. For example, there is photophobia in measles (rubeola). Keeping the lights dim or the room darkened may be useful. Sunglasses may also help. Whereas most phobias are abnormal, excessive, and irrational, Photophobia is usually an appropriate rational response. It is also rationally derived from the Greek "phos" (light) + "phobos" (fear).
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SYN: photalgia. [photo- + G. phobos, fear]

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pho·to·pho·bia .fōt-ə-'fō-bē-ə n
1) intolerance to light esp painful sensitiveness to strong light
2) an abnormal fear of light

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n.
an abnormal intolerance of light, in which exposure to light produces intense discomfort of the eyes with tight contraction of the eyelids and other reactions aimed at avoiding the light. In most cases the light simply aggravates already existing discomfort from eye disease. Photophobia may be associated with dilation of the pupils as a result of eye drops or with migraine, measles, German measles, or meningitis.

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pho·to·pho·bia (fo″to-foґbe-ə) [photo- + -phobia] abnormal visual intolerance of light. photophobic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Photophobia — Pho to*pho bi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. fw^s, fwto s, light + ? fear.] (Med.) A dread or intolerance of light. Sir T. Watson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • photophobia — 1799, from PHOTO (Cf. photo ) + PHOBIA (Cf. phobia). Related: Photophobic …   Etymology dictionary

  • photophobia — [fōt΄ō fō′bē ə] n. [ModL: see PHOTO & PHOBIA] 1. an abnormal fear of light 2. an abnormal sensitivity to light, esp. of the eyes, as in measles and certain eye conditions photophobic [fōt΄ōfō′bik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Photophobia — Infobox Disease Name = Photophobia Caption = DiseasesDB = 24599 ICD10 = ICD10|H|53|1|h|53 ICD9 = ICD9|368.13 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 003041 eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D020795 Photophobia is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to …   Wikipedia

  • photophobia — n. an abnormal intolerance of light, in which exposure to light produces intense discomfort of the eyes with tight contraction of the eyelids and other reactions aimed at avoiding the light. In most cases the light simply aggravates already… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • photophobia — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: circa 1799 intolerance to light; especially painful sensitiveness to strong light …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • photophobia — /foh teuh foh bee euh/, n. Pathol. 1. an abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light, as in iritis. 2. an abnormal fear of light. [1790 1800; PHOTO + PHOBIA] * * * …   Universalium

  • photophobia — noun Symptom of excessive sensitivity to light and the aversion to bright light …   Wiktionary

  • photophobia — fear of light Phobias …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • photophobia — fəʊtəʊ fəʊbɪə n. abnormal fear of light …   English contemporary dictionary

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