Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane that covers the white part of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids, and occurs due to exposure to substances that cause allergies, such as pollen, dust or animal hair, leading to the appearance of redness, severe itching in the eye, pain, swelling, or excessive tear production.
Allergic conjunctivitis is more common in spring and summer, or when the weather is drier, as these are times when there is a greater concentration of dust and mites in the air, which can not only develop allergic conjunctivitis but also other allergic reactions such as rhinitis. allergic, for example.
In most cases, no specific type of treatment is necessary, it is only recommended to avoid contact with substances that cause allergies. However, there are eye drops, which may be recommended by your ophthalmologist, which can help alleviate symptoms and reduce discomfort.
Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis
The most common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include:
- Intense itching in the eyes;
- Increased clear and watery or thick secretion in the eyes;
- Constant tearing;
- Bleminess in the eye, especially in the morning;
- Redness of the eyes;
- Eye pain;
- Swelling in the eyelids;
- Blurred or blurred vision;
- Decreased visual capacity;
- Feeling of sand in the eyes;
- Increased sensitivity to light.
These symptoms usually appear in both eyes at the same time, and are similar to any other type of conjunctivitis, so it is important to consult an ophthalmologist, so that the diagnosis can be made, the type of conjunctivitis identified and the most appropriate treatment initiated, if necessary. necessary. Know how to identify the main types of conjunctivitis.
Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and therefore does not pass from one person to another.
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The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with an ophthalmologist.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis is made by an ophthalmologist by evaluating symptoms, health history and examining the eyes.
Additionally, during an eye exam, your doctor may place a drop of a fluorescein dye on the surface of each eye to check for lesions on the cornea.
Generally, laboratory tests are not necessary, however, the doctor may order an allergy test to identify which substance is causing allergic conjunctivitis. See how the allergy test is done.
Possible causes
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by the release of allergic substances in the body, such as histamine, when in contact with allergic substances, resulting in inflammation of the conjunctiva and the appearance of symptoms.
The main substances or factors that can cause allergies and the development of allergic conjunctivitis are:
- Dust;
- Pollen;
- Mite;
- Fungi;
- Smoke;
- Air pollution;
- Domestic animal hair;
- Plants;
- Eye makeup;
- Glue for false eyelashes;
- Cosmetic products;
- Swimming pool chlorine;
- Contact lens.
Therefore, the people most affected by this type of conjunctivitis are those who are already aware of other allergies, which is more common in children and young adults.
In addition, allergic conjunctivitis can also appear in people with a personal or family history of atopic dermatitis, eczema, asthma or urticaria, for example, this type of allergic conjunctivitis is known as atopic conjunctivitis.
Types of allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis can be classified according to the substance you are allergic to, time of year and severity of symptoms, the main ones being:
- Acute allergic conjunctivitis: This type of conjunctivitis appears suddenly, after exposure to allergic substances, and generally improves after a day when avoiding contact with the allergic substance;
- Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis or hay fever conjunctivitis: it generally appears in spring, due to allergies to dust, dust mites or pollen, which at this time have greater quantities in the air;
- Perennial allergic conjunctivitis: This type of conjunctivitis generally occurs throughout the year, with milder and more chronic symptoms, caused by allergies to animal hair or dust and dust mites, for example;
- Vernal conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis or atopic keratoconjunctivitis: is the type of allergic conjunctivitis that presents the most serious symptoms, being more common in children, especially boys, and in people who live in very dry or hot climates, or who suffer from eczema, asthma, hives or atopic dermatitis.
Furthermore, another type of allergic conjunctivitis is giant papillary conjunctivitis, which arises due to contact with an object directly in the eye, such as a contact lens, ocular prosthesis, or points from eye surgery, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of allergic conjunctivitis must be carried out under the guidance of an ophthalmologist, and it is always recommended to avoid contact with the substances that are causing the allergy. Therefore, it is important to keep the house dust-free, avoid opening windows during spring and not use products with chemical substances, such as perfumes or makeup, for example.
Additionally, your doctor may advise placing cold compresses on your eyes for 15 minutes or using moisturizing eye drops, such as Lacril, Systane or Lacrima Plus, to help alleviate symptoms during the day.
If the conjunctivitis does not improve or if it appears very frequently, the ophthalmologist may recommend the use of anti-allergy eye drops or corticosteroids, for example. In more serious cases, these remedies may also be indicated in tablet form. See the main types of eye drops for conjunctivitis.
