How to Alleviate Eye Allergies – Centre for Sight

Have allergies made your eyes swollen and red? You’re not alone; allergic conjunctivitis affects people of  all ages. However, knowing your triggers and treating the symptoms of eye allergies is essential for  future treatment.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

Redness in the white area of your eye or the inner eyelid is one of the many symptoms of eye allergies.  Besides that, itching, weeping, impaired vision, a burning sensation, swollen eyelids, and light sensitivity  are among more warning indicators. Eye allergies can either occur alone or with nasal allergies &  eczema, an allergic skin disorder. Consulting your eye doctor is the only way to know if it’s an eye allergy. 

Causes of Eye Allergies

Eye allergies, like all allergies, are caused by your body’s overreaction to some external factors.  Antibodies produced by your immune system cause histamine and other chemicals released into your  eyes. Itching and red, watery eyes develop as a consequence of this.

Types of Eye Allergies

However, there are various eye allergies types; out of those, seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis,  vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, contact allergic conjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis are the most popular types.

1) Seasonal or Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis 

Depending on the type of plant pollen in the air, eye allergies symptoms appear in the spring, summer,  or fall. Itching, burning, redness, puffy eyelids, and watery discharge are common symptoms, often  accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and other hay fever symptoms. 

2) Vernal keratoconjunctivitis 

It can happen at any time of year, but symptoms may be more severe during seasonal periods. Young  men & boys are the most susceptible to this sort of eye allergy. If not appropriately treated, vernal  keratoconjunctivitis might cause long-term vision problems. 

3) Atopic keratoconjunctivitis 

The majority of patients with this type of eye allergy are older men with a history of allergic dermatitis.  The symptoms of eye allergies are similar to those of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, including acute itching, burning sensations, redness, and substantial production of thick mucus, which can cause the eyelids to  lock together after sleeping. 

If left untreated, atopic keratoconjunctivitis can cause scarring of the cornea and its fragile membrane. 

4) Contact allergic conjunctivitis  

This eye allergy can be caused by contact lens discomfort or proteins from tears that bond to the lens  surface. 

5) Giant papillary conjunctivitis 

It is a severe type of contact allergic conjunctivitis in which individual fluid sacs grow in the upper lining  of the inner eyelid. It is linked to the use of contact lenses. 

Treatment of Eye Allergies 

When home remedies are ineffective in treating eye allergies, it’s best for you to consult an  ophthalmologist. 
Below are some of the most common treatment options for eye allergies:

• When used as directed by an ophthalmologist, anti-inflammatory eye drops help to lessen  inflammation in the eyes.
• Histamine release is the cause of eye allergies. Antihistamine drops, whether prescribed or over the-counter, can help lessen the effects of histamine.
• Olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops are used to treat redness and itching in the eyes.
• Low-potency steroid eye drops, such as loteprednol and fluorometholone, are beneficial in  treating severe eye allergies. These eye drops help to minimize swelling and boost the body’s  immune system. Before using steroid eye drops, you should visit an eye doctor. 

Why Centre for Sight?

After all, the Centre for Sight is one of the country’s most highly advanced eye hospitals. It has a diverse  group of health professionals who specialise in various eye treatments. When it comes to complicated,  high-precision operations, CFS has a proven track record of success.

Article: How to Alleviate Eye Allergies – Centre for Sight
Author: CFS Editorial Team   |   Dec 20 2021 | UPDATED 08:00 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his privatecapacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.