Eye Allergies and Treatment
Do your eyes look or feel like this at any time of the year? If they do, then you may have eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis.
Background
Allergies are the body's hypersensitivity reaction to particles
in the environment, such as dust, mold and mildews, pollen, animal dander (dead
skin), etc. or, to substances in foods. As most allergy sufferers know,
symptoms can range from mild eye or skin itching, runny nose and sneezing to
hives,
asthmatic attacks and possibly even death. As many as 22 million
Americans suffer from allergies. Most of these people experience their
worst symptoms in the spring and fall months when there is the highest
concentration of pollen in the air. This is commonly called "hay fever"
or "seasonal hay fever".
Treatment
In most cases, common allergies can be effectively treated with over-the-counter
oral anti-histamines and/or decongestants. These medications calm the
allergic reaction by counter-acting the chemicals (histamines) in the body that
give that itchy, runny, uncomfortable feeling. Though they do make you
feel better, they can dry out your system and cause dry eyes, mouth, and skin,
as well as irritability and insomnia. If an allergic reaction is severe enough,
allergy shots may be necessary.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
It is possible to experience itchy, red, irritated, watery eyes
with and without the associated systemic symptoms i.e. sneezing, nasal congestion etc.
This eye condition is called ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS. In this case, the
best treatment option is an anti-histamine/decongestant eye drop. Since
the drops are placed directly on the eyes, they provide faster and more
effective relief than oral medications, without any systemic side
effects.
There are over-the-counter drops available
such as Naphcon-A, Alcon-A, and Visine-A that provide relief for mild itching. If these do not work, there are
stronger, more potent medications that Drs. Berke and Ryan can
prescribe. As well, cold compresses (ice wrapped in a washcloth or towel) placed over the eyes, used
in conjunction with the eye drops, can give additional soothing relief.
Links
If you want more information on allergic conjunctivitis or allergies in general,
take a look at the following links:
http://familydoctor.build.aafp.org/htdigsearch/htsearch?config=familydoctor_kidshealth&words=allergies&x=20&y=22
http://www.sinuses.com/allergy.htm
http://www.healthy-house.co.uk/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/allergy.htm
