Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the more common allergic eye diseases. It may appear sporadically or be chronic. Symptoms such as itching of the eyes, burning and redness of the conjunctiva, and tears flowing without cause should prompt the patient to consult a doctor. What are the causes and how are allergic conjunctivitis treated?

Allergic conjunctivitiscan develop in people who work in the bakery, food industry, food wholesalers, fruit processing, dairy and pharmaceutical industries.

This ailment can be very troublesome, and to diagnose it, it is often necessary not only to consult an allergist, but also an ophthalmologist, who will assess whether the annoying symptoms are caused by an allergen or are caused by another cause, e.g. infection.

Allergic conjunctivitis - causes

Allergic conjunctivitishas various causes. This ailment may be of a seasonal nature and then it is associated with an allergy to pollen, but it may also persist permanently, e.g. with allergies to dust, allergies to mites or allergies to fungi and molds.

In addition, allergic people can react with allergic conjunctivitis also to occasional contact with allergens.

In case of an allergy to animal hair (hamsters, guinea pigs, cats), a signal triggering an allergic reaction may even be contact with the owner of the pet who has transferred the pet's hair, epidermis or secretions on his clothes. You can react similarly after visiting a pet store.

We can also deal with allergens at work. Then the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis will intensify during the week and will decrease during the days off from work. In the workplace, they are most often allergic to metals (platinum, chromium, aluminum, vanadium, nickel and their s alts used in the metallurgical industry).

In the second place among the perpetrators of allergic conjunctivitis are chloramine, rosin, vinyl chloride and dyes used in the production of plastics and those used in the chemical and furniture industries.

Allergic conjunctivitis: symptoms

The most common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include:

  • itching
  • baking
  • conjunctival redness
  • heavy tearing

They are accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing and itchy nose in 90% of cases.

When exposure to an allergen is severe, it may developacute allergic conjunctivitiswith symptoms such as:

  • annoying itching
  • tearing
  • visible swelling of the conjunctiva, sometimes making it difficult to lift the eyelids

Allergic conjunctivitis that occurs all year round is milder. The patient feels slight itching, a slight burning sensation and the so-called eye strain. Some people develop chronic reddening of the conjunctiva, making it difficult to function daily.

With year-round allergies, you may also experience frequent sneezing or a runny nose, or a constantly blocked nose.

Allergic conjunctivitis: diagnosis

In seasonal allergies, the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis is not difficult. Often the patient himself knows what is causing the ailments. To be sure, skin tests are performed with the suspected allergen.

In the case of acute inflammations, an ophthalmological consultation is necessary, which allows to decide whether the disease is caused by an allergen or another cause, e.g. infection.

When conjunctivitis is chronic, it may have periods of exacerbation. Some people develop dry eye syndrome. In such cases, skin tests with year-round allergens are performed to determine what is exacerbating the disease.

Sometimes it is necessary to perform more specialized tests, which include, among others, determination of specific antibodies against alleged allergens in the blood or carrying out conjunctival provocation, i.e. instillation of an allergen into the eye.

It is worth remembering that allergic conjunctivitis can also appear when we put new furniture in the apartment or put a new carpet.

Disinfectants, detergents, cosmetics, paints, hairspray, etc. may also be allergenic.

Symptoms of such allergic reactions are usually itchy and burning eyes, severe conjunctival redness and tearing, and eyelid swelling to varying degrees.

Allergic conjunctivitis: treatment

People who struggle with allergic conjunctivitis should take care of prophylaxis.

It is not only about avoiding contact with allergens (not always possible), but also about frequent eye washing to flush allergens out of the conjunctival sac. For this, saline solution or drops commonly known as artificial tears are used.

Puffinesscool compresses will soften the eyelids.

People with very severe symptoms should be under the care of an allergy specialist and undergo specific immunotherapy, called desensitization.

Another way to combat allergic conjunctivitis is to take antiallergic medications. They can be in the form of tablets, drops, which are used intranasally or conjunctivally.

Many people with allergic redness of the eyes use over-the-counter eye whitening products. Such self-treatment cannot be used permanently, because it can lead to disturbance of the tear film and fixation of the bloodshot eyes. In the worst case, glaucoma can develop.

Read also:

  • Types of conjunctivitis
  • Chlamydial conjunctivitis or trachoma

Category:

Allergies