What could be a symptom of herpetic keratitis?

Photophobia, or sensitivity to light, is a significant symptom of herpetic keratitis. This condition, which is an infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus, may lead to inflammation and irritation of the eye's surface. As a result, individuals may experience discomfort and a heightened sensitivity to light due to the inflammation affecting their visual sensitivity. This reaction to light can compel individuals to squint or seek darker environments to alleviate discomfort.

In contrast, symptoms like consistent dry eyes or increased tear production do not directly correlate with herpetic keratitis. While dry eyes can cause discomfort, they are not specific to this infection. Similarly, increased tear production typically occurs as a protective mechanism in response to irritation, but it is not a hallmark of herpetic keratitis. Lastly, redness without pain might suggest other ocular conditions, but herpetic keratitis usually comes with some level of pain or discomfort due to the inflammation associated with the infection. Hence, photophobia stands out as a key symptom directly linked to this particular condition.