stinging eyes?

[aka estie]

I was just wondering - why does bright light cause stinging in the eyes? What is the physiological mechanism the causes this strange sensation?

[mazie]

this may be way over the top estie, but I have JMD

"Macular degeneration" is a catch-all term for a number of different disorders that have a common end result: the light-sensing cells of the central region of the retina - the macula - malfunction and eventually die, with gradual decline and loss of central vision, while peripheral vision is retained. Most cases of macular degeneration are isolated, individual, occurrences, mostly in people over age 60. These types are called Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Much more rarely, younger people, including infants and young children, develop macular degeneration, and they do so in clusters within families, because their disorders are inherited, caused by mutated genes. These types of macular degeneration are collectively called Juvenile Macular Degeneration (JMD).

according to my specialist it nearly always skips a generation or two, so I would go and get it checked out, its probably nothing, I dont mean to scare you. I discovered mine when I was about 30

[aka estie]

Hi Mazie,

Thanks for your concern. Sorry I didn't thank you sooner, but I never got an email notification that I had an answer.

When I posted the question, I was under the impression that it was normal for eyes to sting in bright light - is this not the case??

I guess I was just curious about how light stimulates pain receptors, so maybe I should post this in the science section of the site.

I might give my doc a call now though, just to be sure!

Thanks again,

Estie

[speakerman]

would have thought it was the muscle in the retina reacting so quickly

[aka estie]

I didn't know there was a muscle in the retina! Will have to pull out my old anatomy books, I guess! Thanks.