photophobia
/,foutə'foubiə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A condition of abnormal sensitivity to light, especially of the eyes: Photophobia refers to discomfort or pain in the eyes caused by exposure to light, often a symptom of various conditions.
- An irrational or morbid fear of light: In psychology, photophobia can denote an intense, persistent fear of light, which is a type of specific phobia.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Medical Sensitivity):
- Her migraine was accompanied by severe photophobia, forcing her to stay in a dark room.
- The patient's photophobia is a common symptom of uveitis.
- Noun (Psychological Fear):
- His photophobia was so extreme he would only leave the house at night.
- The rare phobia, photophobia, involves an intense dread of light sources.
Advanced Usage
- Clinical Context: In medicine, "photophobia" is primarily used as a symptom, not a disease itself. It is often reported by patients.
- The doctor noted photophobia in the patient's chart as a key symptom.
- Differentiating Meaning: The meaning is usually clear from context (medical vs. psychological), though the medical usage is far more common.
- Context clarifies whether "photophobia" refers to eye pain or a phobia.
Variants and Related Words
- Photophobic (Adjective): Exhibiting or relating to photophobia.
- She is photophobic and always wears sunglasses indoors.
- Photosensitivity (Noun): A broader term for sensitivity to light, which can be a cause of photophobia.
- Photosensitivity can lead to symptoms of photophobia.
Synonyms
- Light sensitivity: The most common general synonym for the medical condition.
- Heliophobia: A more specific term for a fear of sunlight (a type of photophobia in the psychological sense).
Related Phrases
- No common phrasal verbs are associated with "photophobia".
Related Idioms
- No common idioms are directly based on "photophobia".
Noun
- pain in the eye resulting from exposure to bright light (often associated with albinism)
- a morbid fear of light