Photophobia is an abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light, especially by the eyes, and may be caused by eye inflammation, lack of pigmentation in the iris, or various diseases. There are two causes of photophobia, either an eye or neurological condition, or meningitis or meningeal haemorrhage.
Depending on the causes of photophobia, the resulting physical symptoms may slightly differ. Thus, an inflammation of the cornea or iris leads to more or less intense ocular pain and disorders as well as isolated tearing. If photophobia is caused by disturbances of consciousness, it does not lead to tearing. Finally, if the condition is caused by meningitis, the symptoms are worsened since the ocular disorders, pain and watery eyes are also accompanied by headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting.
In homoeopathy, the most commonly used remedy to treat disorders caused by photophobia is Belladonna, thanks to its many virtues. This remedy is not only recommended for photophobia caused by meningitis, but also when it is the sole result of an eye inflammation. In the first case, Belladonna is used to treat all of the meningitis symptoms. In the second case, Belladonna is also administered to treat all eye disorders, including photophobia, but also congested eyes or dilated pupils. Regarding conjunctivitis that is at the inflammatory stage, it is advised to take 5 granules of Belladona 5 H, renewing the intake every hour. In case of stye, taking 5 granules of the same remedy every two hours prevents the formation of pus.
Conjunctivitis can also be treated with other homoeopathic remedies besides Belladonna. To relieve particularly brutal photophobia that is partially due to the wind, it is advisable to take a 5-granule dose of Aconite 15 H. Apis mellifica 9 H is recommended for treating painful photophobia with presence of oedemas, in which case 5 granules need to be taken every hour. Euphrasia 5 H is prescribed in cases of itchy and watery eyes, while Silicea 4 H is indicated for photophobia that is caused by draughts. For both symptoms, the recommended dosage consists of 5 granules. It is advisable to resort to hourly intakes until the symptoms disappear.
Appropriate care is needed to relieve eye pain due to light, in which case a medical consultation is advised as well. It is recommended for persons who feel visual discomfort in the presence of light, are often prone to eye problems or wear contact lenses, to seek medical attention as well. If the discomfort suddenly appeared or if it persists for several days despite the administration of treatment, the affected person must seek advice from his or her doctor. Diabetics are also encouraged to regularly consult an ophthalmologist, in addition to which it is especially advisable for them to consult a doctor if they experience pain or discomfort in the eyes or a loss of vision. All cases of photophobia that are accompanied by headaches and symptoms of meningitis, such as fever and nausea, require a medical consultation.
Good to know: Thanks to its gentle action, homoeopathy can be used to treat photophobia without causing harm to the affected person’s body. Photophobia is effectively handled by homoepathic remedies, which also help relieve the patient of headaches and eye pain.
