What Causes A Sensitivity To Light?

Meningitis

Meningitis is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the protective membranes that surround the brain or meninges. Along with migraines, sensitivity to light is one of the first symptoms to manifest in many meningitis patients. Light sensitivity can develop because of the migraines produced by the inflammation of the meninges and swelling of surrounding tissues. Light sensitivity may also develop if the tissues in the brain swell and cause an individual's optic nerve to become swollen and damaged. The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers responsible for the transmission of visual information from the retina to the visual processing centers of the brain. Issues with general visual performance is another mechanism that implicates meningitis as a cause of photophobia. Post-meningitis sensitivity to light can last for as long as months or years following the infection due to a chronic headache disorder or permanent optical nerve damage.

Get more details on what causes sensitivity to light now.