Struggling with allergies? Suspect you have a pink eye (allergic conjunctivitis)? Minimize your exposure to allergens by vacuuming and dusting. Also, it is a good idea to keep your doors and windows closed if it is an allergy season.
Every season can be allergy season, but spring hits our immune system with an extended arsenal of allergens. In springtime there is a lot of pollen floating in the air, and along with dust mites and animal dander, it’s responsible for frequent cases of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Allergy is our immune system’s overreaction to essentially harmless substances called allergens. Symptoms of allergic reaction are similar to symptoms of influenza. Your body actually goes through the same process in both cases, causing respiratory, dermal, nasal and ocular response.
Pink eye manifests in inflammation of eye’s conjunctiva, its surface membrane. Since there are a few conditions that can potentially cause these symptoms (e.g. other types of conjunctivitis, dry eye), eye examination is highly recommended: treatment varies depending of what causes the inflammation.
Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamine medications, artificial tears, and punctal occlusion. Antihistamine pills and drops work by blocking the effect of histamine, a neuro-transmitter your body produces during an allergic reaction. Since histamine is what causes the inflammatory symptoms, blocking it may solve the problem. Artificial tears can also be helpful in reducing the inflammation. They can dilute particles trapped in tear ducts. Another treatment option is punctal occlusion (tear duct plugs). They can help prevent allergens from getting into tear ducts.
There are a few lifestyle adjustments that have proven to help with allergies. Keep in mind that minimizing your exposure to allergens is the goal, hence frequent vacuuming and dusting is recommended. Keeping windows and doors closed will prevent pollen and dust from getting into your home, but make sure it still has proper ventilation.
Constantly rubbing your eyes, forcing yourself to blink, depending on eye drops to achieve only temporary relief – it all prevents you from getting the most out of your life. Even if it feels like you've already tried everything, we are here to prove you still have options.
Allergy season brings a myriad of challenges, notably the impact on our eyes. As plants bloom and pollen pervades the air, the familiar discomfort of allergic conjunctivitis, akin to a non-infectious pink eye, emerges: itchy, watery eyes that drive us to seek relief. But what triggers these ocular allergies, and more importantly, how can we address them?
Are you suffering from dry, itchy eyes? Blephex treatment may be the solution you've been looking for.
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelids. It causes sore, red eyelids and crusty debris at the base of the eyelashes due to clogged oil glands in the area. A chronic condition, it’s challenging to treat – but not impossible.
The reasons for itching, the pathophysiology of dry eyes, what causes conjunctivitis, and what an "allergic salute" is being covered in the question-and-answer part.
A lot of people run to buy over the counter eye drops if they experience burning, itching and redness of the eyes during the allergy season. Unfortunately, store-bought drops only cover the symptoms up temporarily, rather than stopping it where it originates.
