Most "phobias" are psychological, even if the manifestations are
physiological. But you won't find the same mechanisms at work in photophobia
because it is not usually a psychological phobia. There may be similar
symptoms (avoidance, apprehension) but they are caused by real pain, with
physiological foundations.

When there is inflammation inside the eye, the iris often becomes sore and
tender. Bright light causes muscular contraction in the iris, resulting in
intense pain like one would experience exercising a charley-horse. You'd
google this type of photophobia in conjunction with "iritis" or "uveitis".

A different type of photophobia is common in migraine, but again the basis
is physiological, not psychological. It isn't an irrational "fear of light",
but instead a rational avoidance reaction.

-MT

----- Original Message -----
From: <bad_exhale@yahoo.co.uk>
Newsgroups: sci.med.vision
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:53 AM
Subject: HELP with Photophobia... pls

Halitosis, a few tips to get you googling:

Photophobia is reasonably commonly associated with uncorrected
hyperopia, especially in young (<40) patients.

Also a small uncorrected vertical phoria in my experience can lead to
photophobia but I've never read about this in any literature, it's only
my own clinical impression.

Also corneal opacities, e.g. scarring secondary to injury (not to
mention the injury itself in the acute phase) or even corneal epithelial
haze secondary to severe dry eye can lead to photophobia.

And maybe this one isn't true 'photophobia', but cataract development
can make oncoming headlights very difficult to take when driving at night.

And iritis as already posted.

Dom