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photoretinitis

photoretinitis

9.9
Damage to the back of the eye when it is exposed to strong sunlight or very bright light
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtəʊrɪˈtaɪnɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fotoretinitis
  • Looking directly at the solar eclipse without protection can cause photoretinitis.

Examples

  • Doctors warn that ultraviolet rays may lead to photoretinitis if eyes are not properly shielded.

  • The doctor explained that photoretinitis can lead to permanent vision loss.

  • Cases of photoretinitis often occur after people stare at the sun for prolonged periods.

  • He was diagnosed with photoretinitis after spending too much time in the sun.

  • The doctor explained that photoretinitis can occur after exposure to intense sunlight without protective eyewear.

  • Looking directly at the sun can result in photoretinitis, leading to serious eye damage.

  • He suffered from photoretinitis due to inadequate protection against the bright glare of the snow.

Synonyms

retinitis
vsphotoretinitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Swelling of the back part of the eye that often causes vision problems

is damage caused by bright light rather than inflammation
retinopathy
vsphotoretinitis
  • Specialized
2 8.1

A disease of the back part of the eye that can cause loss of sight

is a specific eye damage caused by very bright light rather than general disease

How Severe

retinopathy
  • Specialized
2 8.1
photoretinitis
  • Specialized
9.9
retinitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

photoretinitis = retinitis (opaque) = photo + retin + itis

The word is formally built on the medical term 'retinitis' with the prefix photo-, but the specialized diagnosis is not likely to be inferred by a B1 learner from the parts.

Etymology

Photoretinitis breaks into parts you know: photo- means 'light', as in photograph, retina is the 'light-sensitive part at the back of the eye', and -itis means 'inflammation', as in tonsillitis. So photoretinitis is an 'inflammation of the retina' caused by too much bright light, which explains why staring at the sun can damage the eye.