I've been experiencing pain caused by light. I've been to my doctor, had MRI and the like (which have all been negative), and will be seeing a neurologist soon.
The ONLY symptom is pain much like a headache that gets worse with exposure to direct sunlight or bright artificial light.
I recall once reading of a syndrome with exactly these symptoms; the article also speculated that the vampire myth was based partially on this syndrome. I just don't remember the name. Can you look it up and provide the basic facts?
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Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (reg@ofcn.org)
Light sensitivity is a common eye symptom. In medical language, it is called "photophobia". The causes of photophobia are many and varied, but they can be grouped into two basic categories:
1. Photophobia caused by limited pigmentation in the eye
2. Photophobia caused by inflammation in the eye.
Pigment cells within our bodies give us our eye color, hair color and skin color. Since pigment cells help to filter out the light that enters the eye, it is understandable that the less pigment one has, the more light sensitivity he or she will have. When one is born without pigment cells, they have a disease called albinism. One can also have a relative lack of pigment cells.
People with blue eyes have less pigment in the iris than people with brown eyes. Thus, people with light colored eyes would be expected to have more light sensitivity than those with dark colored eyes.
There are various disease conditions that are characterized by a lack of pigment cells. ACHROMATOPSIA is a term describing a group of hereditary problems with the rods and cones within the retina. People afflicted with these conditions have severe photophobia, decreased vision and eye movement disorders. ALBINISM refers to the condition where the entire body lacks pigment cells. In addition to light sensitivity, decreased vision and eye movement disorders, these individuals also can have changes in their skin and hair, depending on the type of albinism. CHEDIAK-HIGASHI SYNDROME is another condition with the same symptoms listed above, plus abnormalities in the blood cells liver, and spleen.
Any condition that causes inflammation within the eye will cause severe light sensitivity. Inflammation inside the eye is called UVEITIS. Uveitis has hundreds of causes; some of which are localized in the eye, while others are systemic conditions. Some systemic conditions that cause uveitis include: psoriasis, arthritis, collagen vascular diseases (eg. lupus), inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, TB, as well as various viral, bacterial and fungal diseases.
My knowledge and resources concerning vampire folklore are limited. I do not know of the specific syndrome to which you refer; however, it might be one of those listed above.
Anyone who has significant light sensitivity should be examined by an ophthalmologist to ensure that there is not an ocular cause to the symptoms.
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Copyright, 1995. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
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