Thus, the pain is reduced because iris movement is minimized. Second, we treat the eye with steroid drops to reduce the inflammation. Significant relief is usually felt within twelve hours. Another common cause of photophobia is a cataract. When the natural clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, a cataract has formed.
Cataracts tend to scatter light, similar to a frosted window in wintertime.
The disrupted image causes discomfort which is perceived as pain. It is not fully understood why this condition results in discomfort. Possibly, the scattered light may cause a brisk, spastic constriction of the pupil which may contribute to the feeling of discomfort. Most likely the feeling is subjective and develops at a higher, emotional level. Fortunately, symptomatic cataracts can be removed with a very high success rate, eliminating the photophobia.