Allergic Conjunctivitis
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergens. Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when a person's eye becomes sore, inflamed, and sometimes painful for allergic reasons. You usually see redness and itching in both eyes, instead of in just one eye. Conjunctivitis allergic causes red, watery, itchy or gritty eyes. There are many allergic conjunctivitis treatment options for sufferers of this common ailment.Allergies are often inherited through family lines, but are difficult to track as many different conditions are combined when speaking about allergies in general. A local physician may wish to inspect the discharge from a patient’s eyes to check for the presence of specific white blood cells, known as eosinophils that indicate an allergic reaction.
Another indicator of an allergic reaction will be small bumps that can be found on the inside of a patient’s eyelids. Most frequently, this condition is caused by hay fever or a reaction to common allergens such as pet dander or pollen. When the allergens come into contact with a person’s eyes, histamines are released by the body to attack the allergen. These histamines are what caused the general symptoms of allergic pink eye.
Allergic Conjunctivitis Symptoms
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Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms can be very annoying and can disrupt lifestyle. This common disorder affects many individuals during the allergy season which starts in early April and lasts till end of august. However, in a few unlucky individuals the symptoms of conjunctivitis may occur all year round. In allergic pink eye, the white part of the eye is irritated and this results in a number of symptoms.
Allergic conjunctivitis tends to affect both eyes at once. The condition is most commonly caused by allergens which include:
Pollen, grass or ragweed
Perfumes
Chemical fumes
Air pollution or smog
Smoke
Cosmetics or fragrances
Pet dander, molds, animal hair
Also Read: What are the Causes of Pink Eye
Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis include:
Redness of white part of the eye (blood shot eyes)
Tearing which varies in severity
Mild pain or itching
Swollen eye lids
Tired looking eyes
Blurred vision
Discomfort when looking at bright lights or the sun
Many people complain of a foreign body sensation or a gritty feeling
In some cases, symptoms of conjunctivitis may include a white discharge which tracks along the nasal side of the eye and creates a poor cosmetic effect.
Many people wake up in the morning and discover a crust covering of the eyelids.
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Why some people are more prone to allergic conjunctivitis symptoms is a mystery. However, individuals who have a history of allergies, hay fever, sinusitis or dermatitis appear to be at high risk for developing the pink eye.
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For some unknown reason, individuals who wear extended wear contact lenses are also more prone to allergic to contact lenses. If you develop an allergy to contacts, you'll first notice some symptoms like irritation and itchy eyes. Giant papillary conjunctivitis or contact lens–induced papillary conjunctivitis is a progressive intolerance to contact lenses.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - Home Remedies for Pink Eye Symptoms
In most cases the symptoms common on within a few minutes after exposure to the allergen. The symptoms may start off with tearing and eye redness and progress until the allergen is removed. The symptoms of allergic pink eye never disappear as long as the allergen is present or the individual walks away from the exposure.
Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are not life threatening and the condition is harmless. But recurrent pink eye can make life difficult and can be very irritating. One never has to rush off to the nearest emergency room for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
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Allergic Conjunctivitis Treatments
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In most cases the symptoms disappear once the individual keeps away from the potential allergen. Individuals who have allergic pink eye should definitely keep pets or smoke. These two conditions commonly flare up symptoms of the pink eye. In the majority of individuals with pink eye, simple home measures can help relieve the pink eye symptoms. This may mean using warm compresses, using artificial tears and frequently washing hands.
In addition, there are many antihistamine medications available for purchase, such as the well-known Benadryl. These medications reduce the amount of histamine being produced by the body, thus effectively treat symptoms of seasonal allergies including sneezing, runny nose, and itching or watering eyes. See: Home Remedies for Conjunctivitis
However, there are times when the symptoms persist and thus one should see an eye doctor. Individuals who have persistent allergic conjunctivitis symptoms which have lasted for more than 5-7 days, those who have a greenish yellow discharge, fever, or extreme pain should see an eye doctor.
The physician may use eye steroid preparations to deal with the condition or may prescribe eye drops in addition to antihistamines to help a patient cope with the conjunctivitis symptoms. A patient who is not able to get rid of the symptoms by normal methods should contact a doctor to discuss other allergic conjunctivitis treatment methods.
Related Post: Allergic Conjunctivitis Symptoms and Home Remedies
