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An allergy is your body's overreaction to a substance that it thinks will do it harm. For example, dust is harmless to most people, but some people's bodies will try to flood it out with tears and mucus. Allergies are often hereditary. Allergies can trigger other problems, such as asthma and conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Over 22 million Americans suffer from allergies, and most of those also have allergic conjunctivitis, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

An allergy is your body's way of overreacting to an often harmless substance in the environment. In response to allergy-causing substances (allergens), your body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This antibody in turn triggers immune cells (mast cells) in the mucous lining of your eyes and airways to release inflammatory substances, including histamine.

Many allergens are in the air, where they come in contact with your eyes and nose. Airborne allergens include: pollen, mold, dust and pet dander.


Pollen is one of the most common airborne allergens.

Seasonal eye allergies can range from mild to severe and may occur with a full package of respiratory allergy symptoms. Plant pollens and molds are the most common causes for chronic seasonal allergies that affect about 26 million Americans. Milder symptoms may affect as many as 40 million more.

Environmental allergies are ubiquitous. The eye may feel either itchy or as if there is a foreign body in the eye. A mild mucous discharge is most evident when you awaken. There is generally little pain or light sensitivity, unlike bacterial infections of the cornea. And unlike a bacterial conjunctivitis, there is usually no yellow discharge that causes the eyelids to stick together in the morning.

 

Once histamine is released, it can produce a number of classic allergy symptoms. Eye allergy (allergic conjunctivitis) symptoms may include:

  • Itchiness (no pain)
  • Tearing
  • Red or pink eyes
  • Increased sensitivity to bright light
  • Mild eyelid swelling
  • Runny nose Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Itchy nose
  • mouth or throat
  • Headache from sinus congestion

If you suspect that you're dealing with allergic conjunctivitis, it may be best to see your doctor in order to determine if that's really the problem. Itchy, burning eyes may be the result of other conditions, such as dry eyes or a chronic inflammation of the eyelid (blepharitis).

 

The most common "treatment" is to avoid what's causing your allergy. Itchy eyes? Keep your home free of pet dander and dust, and stay inside with the air conditioner on when a lot of pollen is in the air. Air conditioners filter out allergens.

If your eye discomfort is allergy-related, your doctor may be able to help you identify what sets off your allergic response. When that's known, you can take measures to avoid or reduce contact with the offending allergen.

  • Use air conditioning. You can ease the effects of seasonal pollens by closing your windows and turning on an air conditioner. An air conditioner not only cools and dries the air but also cleans it.
  • Apply cool compresses. Applied to your eyes, these can be soothing.
  • Stay indoors. If possible, stay indoors when pollen counts are generally highest - from about 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Don't rub your eyes. Your hands can introduce allergens directly to your eyes.

If you have other symptoms in addition to allergic conjunctivitis, oral antihistamines may be helpful. There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) products, including diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy) and chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin). Drowsiness can be a concern with some of these medications. Some can also cause problems with urinary outflow, especially if you have an enlarged prostate.

For a list of side effects of over-the-counter medications, check the product's box, label or insert. For prescription medication, ask your doctor. If you wear contact lenses, keep in mind that certain drops can discolor or damage certain lenses. Before using any new eye drop, ask your doctor if it will affect your contacts.

Specially formulated OTC eye drops, such as Naphcon-A and OcuHist, combine an antihistamine (pheniramine maleate) with a decongestant (naphazoline hydrochloride) to reduce eye redness.

Immunotherapy

You may benefit from immunotherapy, in which an allergy specialist injects you with small amounts of the allergen to help you gradually build up an immunity to it.

 

Source(s): All above information & images are based on an article written on Allergies by Gina White, allaboutvision.com, an article at walgreens.com and material provided by Swastik Opticians, authorized dealers by Jitesh Monhindra, (Shop Owner). All rights reserved by respective owners.

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Disclaimer: Any information displayed here is just for educational purposes, and may not be taken as an expert advice and should not be applied in life without consulting your eye doctor/specialist. We here by take no responsiblity of the accuracy of the above content as they have been taken from various sources.

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