Photophobia - What's New?

Photophobia, an abnormal intolerance to light, is associated with a number of ophthalmic and neurologic conditions. However, in the presence of a normal neuro-ophthalmic examination, the most common conditions associated with photophobia are migraine, blepharospasm, and traumatic brain injury. Recent evidence indicates that the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells play a key role in the pathophysiology of photophobia. Although pharmacologic manipulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells may be possible in the future, current therapies are directed at optical modulation of these cells.