Eye allergic reactions are a common defence mechanism by your body when a foreign body comes in contact with your eye. The resulting response like red itchy and watery eyes can be a big nuisance if not treated properly. Often eye allergies are seasonal and the irritants cause stronger responses like sneezing and runny nose.
What causes allergies?
Allergies are caused by visibly harmless substances called allergens in people who are prone to allergic reactions. They are normally airborne like dust, pollen mould and pet dander. They are also caused by chemicals in eye cosmetics.
All though eye allergies are not a very serious eye condition, leaving them untreated can lead to eye infections like conjunctivitis.
Types of allergies
Eye allergies can also be of different types. A few of them are discussed here –
Seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis of (SAC) is one of the most common types of allergy. People experience symptoms like itching, redness and watery eyes during spring summer or fall depending upon the plant pollens in the air.
On the onset of the allergy, their eyelids become puffy and develop light sensitivity. SAC is often accompanied by a runny nose and nasal congestion. The patients will also suffer from extreme itching, causing them to rub their eyes frequently.
The perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC) occurs all year round with symptoms milder than SAC. The allergens, in this case, are mostly dust mites, mould or any other household allergens
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis
This is the type of allergy is much more serious than a SAC or PAC. The symptoms are mostly seen in boys and young men and occur all year round. The symptoms include itching, significant tearing, feeling of foreign body in the eye and photophobia. This form of allergy can cause vision loss if left untreated.
Atopic keratoconjunctivitis
This allergy is mostly seen in the elder, mostly men with allergic dermatitis. The symptoms,s include severe itching, redness and significant mucus production.
Identifying eye allergies
If allergies normally run in your family, then you are at high risk of having eye allergic reactions. The other symptoms are –
- Eye itch during pollen season
- Frequent diagnosis of conjunctivitis or pink eye
- Allergic to cats and dogs
- Requiring antihistamines or decongestants to control sneezing or coughing
- Strong eye irritations when you are around strong odours
Having anyone or more of these symptoms could mean that you are prone to eye allergies.
Treating eye allergies
Treating eye allergies can be treated with a few lifestyle changes and some medications. The best way is to avoid allergens. For instance, when the pollen count is quite high outside, try to stay indoors as much as possible and wear sunglasses to shield your eye from pollens whenever you go out.
To reduce the effects of allergens, avoid using contact lenses during the allergy seasons as they attract airborne particles causing allergic reactions. Over the counter eye drops also help to relieve the itchiness and redness of your eyes caused by relatively mild allergies.
In severe cases of allergy, your ophthalmologist in Spanish eye clinic will prescribe you eye drops and oral medicines like antihistamines or decongestants to help you deal with the allergic reactions.
You can also ask for immunotherapy, where allergy specialists inject you with small amounts of allergens to help you build up immunity.
Seeing your eye doctor in Spanish eye clinic in Dubai before the allergy season begins will help you reduce your sensitivity to allergens.
