Eye allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis, are a pretty common disease affecting millions worldwide.
These allergies can cause extreme discomfort with redness and itching. Furthermore, these substances affect your daily routine. Although eye allergies might strike at any time of the year, they are more frequent during specific seasons when the cause of these allergens is highly present in pollen.
What is an eye allergy?
An eye allergy occurs when the eyes respond to allergens, for example, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or mold. Since the immune system misidentifies these innocuous substances as enemies, the chemicals will be released to create symptoms of an allergic reaction. Allergic conjunctivitis is noncontagious but irritated and uncomfortable.
Symptoms of eye allergies
Symptoms can vary from mild to very severe, depending upon the individual and the allergen. Common symptoms include:
Itching:
The most unpleasant symptom is itching—itching usually results in rubbing the eyes and thus exacerbates the allergy.
Redness:
The blood vessels of the eyes get inflamed because of the allergic reaction, causing red, irritated eyes.
Rip or watery eyes:
The eyes will often produce more tears and create rips or tears constantly.
Bleeding of eyelids: Swelling is often noticed in the area surrounding the eyes, mostly after some prolonged exposure to allergens.
Eye burn:
A burning in the eyes is another common symptom.
Photophobia:
Eyes become sensitive to light.
Blurry vision can be a result of too much tearing or irritation in the eyes.
Typically, eye allergies are accompanied by other allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, or nasal congestion, especially in seasonal types.
Types of Eye Allergies
There are various kinds of allergic conjunctivitis, each differing as to trigger and severity.
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC):
This is the most common type of eye allergy and occurs during specific seasons, usually when there is a high pollen count in spring and fall.
Allergic conjunctivitis is seasonal or perennial, depending on the allergen.
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC):
This form of the eye disease is seasonal, and the allergen usually responsible for this type includes tree pollen and grass and weed pollen, and they are seasonal.
Perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC):
This form of the eye disease is year-round, and the common allergens include dust mites, pet dander, and mold.
Contact allergic conjunctivitis:
This is a type of conjunctivitis caused by substances, for example, cosmetics, eye drops, or contact lens solution. Giant papillary conjunctivitis: This is a serious form of contact conjunctivitis. It is prevalent among some contact lens wearers who do not clean their lenses frequently enough or wear them for longer periods than recommended.
What Causes Eye Allergies?
Exposure to allergens is the primary cause of eye allergies and can either be indoors or outdoors.
Some common allergens include.
Pollen:
When trees, grasses, or other weeds are in flower, pollen is released into the air and causes seasonal eye allergies.
Dust mites:
Tiny creatures that live in house dust flourish in bedding, carpets, and upholstery.
Pet dander:
proteins in scales of skin, saliva, and urine from domestic pets like cats and dogs cause allergies.
Mold:
Mold spores found in damp settings may cause eye irritation and allergic reactions.
Smoke and pollution:
Allergens found in environmental irritants such as tobacco smoke or pollution can trigger or aggravate the eye allergies.
Fragrances and chemicals:
Perfumes, cleaning agents, and some other chemicals may also cause an allergic reaction in a susceptible patient.
How is eye allergies diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually comes through physical Examination and your history.
They ask questions about your symptoms and any known allergens that may trigger them. They also inquire about the time of the year or season when you commonly experience allergic reactions. Sometimes, it is necessary to test for allergies to pinpoint which allergen triggers it. This is done in one of two forms—the skin prick test or blood test—to determine which allergens are your major threats.
Treatment of Allergic Eyes
The objective of the treatment of eye allergies is to minimize the manifestations and prevent the subsequent allergic event. Few alternatives are possible, depending upon the circumstances of the allergy and the particular allergen.
1. Avoidance of allergens
The best approach toward the management of eye allergies is avoidance or minimizing exposure to the allergen. This might involve:
Stay indoors:
Spend as much time as possible indoors when the pollen count is high, with windows and doors closed.
Use air filters:
HEPA filters in your home reduce the number of indoor allergens such as pet dander and dust mites.
Clean frequently:
This can minimize dust mites and mold. Wash bedding in hot water to kill dust mites.
Medications
There are many OTC and prescription medications that can help alleviate an eye allergy’s symptoms:
Antihistamine eye drops:
These drops block histamine, the chemical responsible for many allergy symptoms, and provide relief from itching and redness.
Decongestant eye drops:
These decrease redness by shrinking the blood vessels inside the eye; they should not be used for more than a few days to avoid rebound redness.
Mast cell stabilizers:
These drugs prevent the release of histamine and other chemical mediators, which otherwise exert allergic responses. They are primarily prescribed as a preventive measure before the onset of symptoms.
Corticosteroid eye drops:
In severe cases, prescribed corticosteroid eye drops can even be applied with a doctor’s prescription because they reduce the inflammation but need to be used with caution because of side effects.
Oral antihistamines:
Oral antihistamines may be even more beneficial for those patients who have associated nasal and throat manifestations, but they sometimes produce dryness of the eyes.
3. Cold Compresses
Applying cold compresses to the eyes will reduce the swelling and provide relief from the itch. This can be applied immediately after exposure to the offending allergen.
4. Artificial Tears Over the counter
artificial tears may wash allergens from your eyes and keep them moist. They also relieve dryness that irritation has caused.
Prevention of Allergic Eye Diseases
Even though you cannot avoid all allergens, you can protect yourself from coming into contact with many of them and, thus, from allergic reactions:
Keep windows closed:
During periods of peak pollen generation, close your windows to keep out as much pollen from entering your living space.
Wear sunglasses outside.
Sunglasses will cover your eyes with the floating pollen.
Shower immediately after spending time outdoors:
You can remove all allergens on your skin and in your hair by showering immediately after you spend some time outside.
Avoid excessive contact with animals.
If you are a dander-sensitive person, avoid more contact with animals and keep washing your hands after touching any animals.
Make use of dust mite-proof covers:
Employ covers that have been shown to protect pillows and mattresses from dust mites.
Conclusion:
Eye allergies are really uncomfortable and disturbing. So, properly treated and prevented, they are sure effective. It becomes quite important to know the allergen causing your symptoms and avoid exposure. It’s still more necessary to approach a health professional in case of persistent or severe symptoms.
