Emma, I have looked all over, and I can't find anything that describes what you were seeing. Photophobia does include all kinds of other distortions and pain from the light, but just can't find anything on a dim light drowning out the surrounding light. I would get in touch with that Ophthalmologist and see if this may mean needing to be seen. Your eyes can deteriorate rapidly from the papilledema, the swelling of the optic nerve, due to the increased pressure inside your head. If caught early enough, eyesight can be restored.
I'll continue to look around for you, and perhaps in the meanwhile someone will stop by that can explain it.