A theoretical model is proposed for the explanation of discomfort and pain in the eye induced by light, based on known facts about the functioning of the nervous system and on experimental work reported in the literature. It is suggested that the iris, lens, facial muscles and extraocular muscles act as a linked servo-system in responding to lighting conditions. When the latter are excessive relative to retinal processing ability, strain is imposed on the system and this initiates activity in the trigeminal nucleus. Use is made of the gate control theory of pain in suggesting a modulation process at the trigeminal nucleus on the incoming discomfort or pain message which ultimately receives interpretation and control at a higher level of the brain. The model embraces discomfort glare and photophobia within the same framework and provides potential explanations for the wide ranging conditions in which photophobia and sensitivity to light are observed.
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