Causes and treatments of eye allergies

It is estimated that about 75% of allergies are associated with eyes, and most of them are hereditary. In the United States, eye-related allergic reactions are the most popular complaint among up to 50 millions people who suffer from miseries of allergies. These allergies are mainly caused by pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, foods, bee stings and even certain eye drops. Most of them are airborne. If some people are allergic to eye drops, the medications quite probably contain preservative.

More information about eye allergy

Ocular allergies occur typically the eye, or more exactly the eye’s conjunctiva, a clear layer of skin overlying the eye. Some people may wonder why certain allergens such as pollen, grass and weeds can trigger both eye allergy and nose allergy. The reason is that the eye’s conjunctiva has nearly the same composition of the skin that lines the inside surface of the nose. This explains why these two areas usually react in a similar way to certain allergens.

Symptoms and other conditions linked with allergies

Most of the allergy signs involve people’s eyes and noses, such as red, swollen, or itchy eyes, and runny, itchy nose. Other symptoms include sneezing, coughing, headache, and itchy mouth or throat. More severe conditions may be conjunctivitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. Not all substances that cause allergy are harmful, such as dust. In fact, their harmful effects may come from people’s overreaction.

How to avoid or alleviate them

The simplest way to “treat” allergies is avoiding the allergens, such as pet dander and pollen. And individuals can wear wraparound sunglasses to get eye protection. Once a person has suffered from allergies, medications such as eye drops can help alleviate related symptoms. Over-the-counter medications are always cheaper, while prescription medications are more effective. And antihistamines are always effective in treating airborne allergies, such as itchy, watery eyes and so on.

Decongestants and antihistamines for redeye treatment

Two types of treatments are available for red eyes. Decongestants can temporarily lessen the apparent redness by reducing the size of blood vessels. But it always causes rebound hyperemia, which means that if decongestants are removed, the patient’s vessels will become larger than their initial sizes. Another redeye treatment is mast cell stabilizer, which can relieve redeye in a longer term. Most allergies cause the eyes to water and the nose to run. The underlying reason is the release of histamine, so that antihistamines are created to cure redeye. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and prescription corticosteroid eye drops can be prescribed to relieve swelling, inflammation and conjunctivitis, whilst some of them may cause certain side effects.

Tips for contact lens users

Seasonal allergies may cause discomfort for some contact lens wearers, since airborne allergens can get on the lenses. While switching eye drops for contacts cleaning, it is always a necessity to consult the doctor, because some drops can discolor or damage certain lenses. The most convenient choice is daily disposable contact lenses, which are unlikely to develop irritating deposits and discomfort.