The Unmet Challenge of Diagnosing and Treating Photophobia

Tear Film and Dry Eye Characteristics as Predictors of Photophobia in 374 Patients with Dry Eye Disease

PURPOSE

To assess the tear film parameters associated with photophobia in dry eye disease (DED).

METHODS

Three hundred seventy-four patients with DED (mean age, 42.2 ± 12.8 years) had their tear film and OSDI scores evaluated using Oculus keratograph 5 M (TMH, NIBUT, Meibography), Lipiview interferometer (LLT), and TearLab osmolarity system. Photophobia scoring from OSDI sheets was used to calculate the odds ratio via multivariate logistic regression analysis. Data from the eye with severely affected NIBUT was used.

RESULTS

Of 374, 127 had aqueous deficient dry eye disease (ADDE), and 247 had evaporative DED. The mean age, female sex, Schirmer I, TMH, NIBUT, LLT, and tear osmolarity values in patients with photophobia versus no or mild photophobia were 42.2. vs. 40.9 years, 42% vs. 40%, 11.6 vs. 10.5 mm, 0.27 vs. 0.29 mm, 4.6 vs. 4.7s, 60.3 vs. 60.9 nm and 305 vs. 307 mOsm/L, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed no tear film parameters predictive of photophobia in evaporative DED, whereas tear osmolarity had a weak negative association with photophobia (odds ratio of 0.96, 95% C.I, 0.92-1, p = .04) in ADDE patients.

CONCLUSION

Tear film parameters do not predict the presence or absence of photophobia in DED except for a weak inverse association with tear osmolarity in ADDE. This suggests the role of central sensitization in regulating photophobia in DED patients.

Vision impairment is common in non-hospitalised patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Vision-related problems can be part of longstanding sequelae after COVID-19 and hamper the return to work and daily activities. Knowledge about symptoms, visual, and oculomotor dysfunctions is however scarce, particularly for non-hospitalised patients. Clinically applicable tools are needed as support in the assessment and determination of intervention needs.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate vision-related symptoms, assess visual and oculomotor function, and to test the clinical assessment of saccadic eye movements and sensitivity to visual motion in non-hospitalised post-COVID-19 outpatients. The patients (n = 38) in this observational cohort study were recruited from a post-COVID-19 clinic and had been referred for neurocognitive assessment.

METHODS

Patients who reported vision-related symptoms reading problems and intolerance to movement in the environment were examined. A structured symptom assessment and a comprehensive vision examination were undertaken, and saccadic eye movements and visual motion sensitivity were assessed.

RESULTS

High symptom scores (26-60%) and prevalence of visual function impairments were observed. An increased symptom score when reading was associated with less efficient saccadic eye movement behaviour (p < 0.001) and binocular dysfunction (p = 0.029). Patients with severe symptoms in visually busy places scored significantly higher on the Visual Motion Sensitivity Clinical Test Protocol (p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Vision-related symptoms and impairments were prevalent in the study group. The Developmental Eye Movement Test and the Visual Motion Sensitivity Clinical Test Protocol showed promise for clinical assessment of saccadic performance and sensitivity to movement in the environment. Further study will be required to explore the utility of these tools.

Association of mild traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other comorbidities on photosensitivity

SIGNIFICANCE

Photosensitivity is common after mild traumatic brain injury. However, this study demonstrates that photosensitivity is also impacted by common comorbidities that often occur with mild traumatic brain injury. Understanding how physical and psychological traumas impact photosensitivity can help improve provider care to trauma survivors and guide novel therapeutic interventions.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to characterize the association between mild traumatic brain injury and common comorbidities on photosensitivity in post-9/11 veterans.

METHODS

Existing data from the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders cohort study were analyzed including traumatic brain injury history and post-traumatic stress disorder clinical diagnostic interviews; sleep quality, anxiety, and depression symptoms self-report questionnaires; and photosensitivity severity self-report from the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory. Analysis of covariance and multiple ordinal regression models were used to assess associations between mild traumatic brain injury and common comorbidities with photosensitivity severity.

RESULTS

Six hundred forty-one post-9/11 veterans were included in this study. An initial analysis showed that both mild traumatic brain injury and current post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis were independently associated with higher photosensitivity ratings compared with veterans without either condition, with no interaction observed between these two conditions. Results of the ordinal regression models demonstrated positive associations between degree of photosensitivity and the number of mild traumatic brain injuries during military service and current post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity, particularly hyperarousal symptoms, even when controlling for other factors. In addition, the degree of sleep disturbances and current anxiety symptoms were both positively associated with photosensitivity ratings, whereas depression symptoms, age, and sex were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and sleep disturbances were all found to significantly impact photosensitivity severity and are therefore important clinical factors that eye care providers should consider when managing veterans with a history of deployment-related trauma reporting photosensitivity symptoms.

Quantitative Assessment of Subjective Symptoms and Corneal Sensitivity in Chronic Orbital Pain Patients

PURPOSE

To objectively evaluate the subjective symptoms and characteristics of chronic orbital pain as well as to quantify sensitization of peripheral trigeminal nerves.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, patients who previously showed a response to peripheral trigeminal nerve blocks for unilateral, idiopathic chronic orbital pain and healthy subjects completed validated questionnaires assessing headaches, neuropathic signs and symptoms, photophobia, and pain qualities. Corneal sensitivity was measured in both eyes for all subjects with a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. For pain patients, the full assessment protocol was repeated 2-4 weeks after the study injection, and corneal sensitivity was also measured 30 minutes postinjection. Outcomes assessed were headache, neuropathic pain, and photophobia scores; pain qualities; and corneal sensitivity.

RESULTS

Six female chronic orbital pain patients (mean age 48.2 years) and 11 female controls (mean age 47.5) were included. The mean headache, neuropathic pain, and photophobia questionnaire scores were significantly higher for pain patients than for controls (p < 0.001). On sensory testing, 5 pain patients (83.3%) endorsed allodynia, and all 6 (100%) had hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral frontal nerve dermatome. No controls had allodynia or hyperalgesia. Corneal sensitivity was similar between eyes in pain patients and between groups. Questionnaire scores and corneal sensitivity did not change significantly after the injection.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic orbital pain patients have a measurable reduction in quality of life due to headaches and photophobia. The supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves are sensitized, resulting in cutaneous hypersensitivity in the corresponding dermatome, but corneal nerves have normal sensitivity.

Validation of the Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale (version 2) as a headache-specific photophobia assessment tool

OBJECTIVE

To present an updated version of the Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale version 2 (UPSIS2), providing robust clinical and psychometric validation, to improve headache-specific evaluation of light sensitivity and headache-related photophobia.

BACKGROUND

The original UPSIS filled a gap in available tools for assessment of headache-associated light sensitivity by providing patient-reported evaluation of the impact of light sensitivity on activities of daily living (ADLs). We have since revised the original questionnaire to provide a more robust item construct and refined validation approach.

METHODS

We conducted a psychometric validation of the UPSIS2 through a primary analysis of an online survey of volunteers with recurrent headaches recruited from the University of Utah clinics and surrounding community. Volunteers completed the original UPSIS and UPSIS2 questionnaire versions in addition to measures of headache impact, disability, and frequency. The UPSIS2 now includes a pre-defined recall period and a 1-4 Likert scale with standardized response anchors to improve clarity. Internal construct validity, external construct validity, and test-retest reliability, were evaluated.

RESULTS

Responses were obtained from 163 volunteers, with UPSIS2 scores ranging from 15 to 57 (out of a possible 15-60) with a mean (standard deviation) of 32.4 (8.80). Construct validity was satisfactory, as evidenced by sufficient unidimensionality, monotonicity, and local independence. Reliability was excellent, with Rasch test reliability = 0.90 and Cronbach's alpha = 0.92, and an intraclass correlation of 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.88) for participants who took the test twice. UPSIS2 correlates well with other headache measures (Spearman's correlations >0.50), as well as the original UPSIS (Spearman's correlation = 0.87), indicating good convergent validity. UPSIS2 scores differ significantly across International Classification of Headache Disorders (third edition) groups, indicating good known group validity.

CONCLUSION

The UPSIS2 provides a well-validated headache-specific outcome measure for the assessment of photophobia impact on ADLs.