Photophobia – Homeopathic Remedies to treat Light Sensitivity

Photophobia or light sensitivity is a symptom where a person experiences discomfort or pain in the eyes upon exposure to bright light. People who have photophobia tend to blink often, squint, are unable to open their eyes fully on exposure to light and tend to close their eyes. People who have light sensitivity are troubled by bright light, but in severe cases any sort of light is intolerable. People having photophobia tend to experience symptoms like eye strain, eye pain, burning in the eyes, and excessive tear production. They may also experience headaches. Homeopathic medicines for light sensitivity (photophobia) work in cases where the cause of photophobia is not related to any serious issue related to the eye or brain.                                                       

Homeopathic Medicines for Light Sensitivity

There are excellent medicines in homeopathy to manage the complaint of photophobia. Homeopathy medicines help manage photophobia effectively by correcting the root cause of it. The top listed medicines to treat photophobia are Euphrasia, Belladonna, Natrum Mur, Conium, and Glonoine. Before using these medicines for photophobia, it is important to rule out the cause of it. Cases of photophobia where some critical eye or brain disorder is suspected should be treated immediately under the conventional mode of treatment.

1. Euphrasia – Top Grade Medicine to treat Photophobia

Euphrasia is prepared from a plant Euphrasia Officinalis commonly known by the name of Eyebright. The natural order of this plant is Scrophulariaceae. Euphrasia is top listed medicine to treat cases of photophobia. Eyes are very sensitive to light, and there may be spasm of the lids in some cases. Photophobia is worse during the day and in sunlight, and the affected person has a desire to remain in a darkened room. Eye pain and pressure, aching and darting-type pain is felt in the eyes when exposed to light. The eyes become red and there may be itching. Burning, biting in eyes, with smarting, hot, excoriating lachrymation is also present. A sensation of dust or sand in eyes is felt. Euphrasia is prominently indicated for photophobia in cases of iritis, keratitis, conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

2. Belladonna – For Photophobia with Dry Eyes

Belladonna is prepared from a plant named Deadly Nightshade. The natural order of this plant is Solanaceae. Belladonna is useful to manage the complaint of photophobia with dry eyes. There is intolerance to light with a desire to remain in dark room in cases needing Belladonna. The eyes get congested and look very red. Photophobia worsens on exposure to artificial light. Along with this, a gritty sensation in the eyes may be felt. Pain in the head and eyes are present, and it may be stinging or shooting in nature. It gets worse from movement and light. There may be a heated sensation present in the eyes. Belladonna is also indicated for keratitis with a congested eye, pain in eye and photophobia.

3. Natrum Mur – For Spasmodic Closure of Lids

Natrum Mur is a significant medicine for cases of photophobia where the eyes tend to close on exposure to light. The eyes may water and there may be a burning sensation. Severe pain in the temples may be felt along with blurring of vision. Natrum Mur is also a high-grade medicine to treat cases of blepharitis where photophobia is marked. In such cases, other symptoms are also present that include acrid eye discharge and burning/smarting in eyes.

4. Conium – For Photophobia with Excessive Flow of Tears

Conium is a well-indicated medicine for managing photophobia with an excessive flow of tears. The photophobia is severe and the flow of tears is profuse. The person feels better in a dark room. The borders of the eyelid may be swollen. There may be ulcers present on the cornea. This medicine is indicated in cases where the eye pain gets better by pressure.

5. Glonoine – For Photophobia with Headache

Glonoine is highly beneficial for photophobia that appears with a headache. The headache is throbbing and congestive in nature. Headache is marked in the temporal region, and the person feels as if the head would burst from pain. Heat is also felt in the head, and there is a marked sensitivity to light. Flickering or black spots may also be seen before the eyes. The eyes get red, and there may be a dimness of vision. In some cases, vertigo also accompanies the above symptoms.

6. Arsenic Album – Where there is a Burning Sensation in the Eyes

Arsenic Album is a helpful medicine for photophobia with a burning sensation in the eyes. The eyes are sensitive to light, especially to sunlight. The person may lie in bed with the face buried in a pillow. Profuse, hot and acrid lachrymation is present, and the eyelids may stick together due to it. The eyes appear red swollen, the vision may become dim and a tearing pain around the eyes may arise from exposure to light.

7. Phosphorus – For Managing Photophobia with Pain in Eyes

Phosphorus is a helpful medicine for managing photophobia with pain in the eyes. The pain is intense and shooting in nature. There may be dimness or blurring of vision. The person may see black points or sparks before the eyes. Phosphorus also helps in cases of glaucoma with intense photophobia.

8. Sulphur – For Photophobia with Stitching Pain in the Eyes

Sulphur is suitable for cases of photophobia where stitching pain in the eyes is present along with sensitivity to light. There may be a feeling of fullness in the eyes when exposed to bright light. In some cases where Sulphur is indicated, there may be violent, pressive pains all around the orbit of the eye that arises upon exposure to sunlight. Redness of eyes is also marked. A sensation as if the eyes are full of sand is prominent. Itching and burning sensation in the eyes may also be present. Ulcers on the cornea with excessive photophobia and intense redness of eye also point towards the use of this medicine. Another indication for using Sulphur is keratitis with photophobia.

9. Merc Sol – For Burning Pains and Acrid Lachrymation

Merc Sol is indicated for cases of photophobia with burning pain in the eyes along with acrid lachrymation. There is a flow of hot tears from the eye. Along with this, tearing pains in forehead attend. Pain in the eyes may be present along with inflammation.

Causes of Photophobia

The causes of photophobia vary from mild to serious. The most common cause of photophobia is migraine headaches. The eye conditions that can lead to photophobia include corneal abrasion, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, keratitis, iritis, uveitis, blepharitis, detached retina, and cataracts. Sometimes photophobia arises following eye surgery. Photophobia may arise in certain brain conditions including encephalitis, meningitis, brain injury. Some medicines including furosemide, quinine, antihistamines, non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and sulfonamides can also lead to photophobia.