Allergic Conjunctivitis - Prevention and Treatment

Conjunctivitis - a common eye disease. Symptoms: irritation and redness of the eyes, tearing. So, what is conjunctivitis? It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva - mucous membrane of the eye that covers the inside of the eyelids and sclera. Causes the appearance of conjunctivitis can be very different, but the most common - it's viral and bacterial infections and allergic reactions.


Causes of conjunctivitis: prolonged exposure to dirt, dust, aerosols and chemicals, metabolic substances, avitaminosis, diseases of the eyelids (blepharitis, meybomit); violation of refraction (hyperopia, astigmatism, nearsightedness), diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses.


The cause of conjunctivitis in children are usually dirty hands. Young children to touch everything around them items, and then rub their eyes. Conjunctivitis in children often occurs in conjunction with any colds, but it occurs mostly easy and runs on its own in 6-7 days.


Symptoms of conjunctivitis: a sense of debris, itching, stinging, burning, eye fatigue, lacrimation, profuse purulent discharge; conjunctiva red; photophobia.
Form of conjunctivitis.
Several forms of conjunctivitis: viral, bacterial and allergic.

Viral conjunctivitis. The main group of viral conjunctivitis is adenovirus, and enterovirus koksakevirusnye less. Adenoviral conjunctivitis are common and occur in the form of epidemic outbreaks and sporadic disease. As a general rule, adenoviruses cause the following clinical forms of eye damage: adenovirus conjunctivitis and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Epidemic conjunctivitis - hospital infections, more than 70% of patients infected in hospitals. Source of infection is the patient. Infection is spread by contact, rarely airborne. Acute onset, affects both eyes: first one, after 1-5 days the second. Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis: stinging, foreign body sensation in the eye, watery eyes. The duration of an epidemic of conjunctivitis is 3-4 weeks. Serious consequence is the development of dry eye syndrome in connection with violation of tear fluid production.

Bacterial conjunctivitis. In this form of the disease are usually infected with both eyes. Bacterial conjunctivitis is accompanied by copious mucus.

Allergic conjunctivitis - is, in essence, an allergic reaction to any stimuli: dust, harsh odors, pollen, and so on. This form of conjunctivitis is expressed by severe itching, redness of the eyelids and the viscous purulent discharge.

Tearing - this is a normal function of the eye. Severe tearing - a sign of eye disease. Tears come from the lakrimalnoy gland, located on the outer cover of the eyeball. Tears formed several eye membranes: water, mineral and antibodies. For the external cover of the eyeball - corneal humidity is very important to avoid damage to the cornea. Tears irrigate the eye through lakrimalnye channels. In the case of blocking these channels may be a strong tearing. Causes of epiphora: allergy, conjunctivitis, mechanisms of allergic inflammation, chronic rhinitis and postnasal syndrome.

Prevention of conjunctivitis.
You can catch conjunctivitis from the sick person, either through unwashed hands or by airborne droplets. And so it did not happen, it should comply with (fairly simple) preventive measures, which amount to personal hygiene, most important of which (in relation to our topic) - do not touch eyes with unwashed hands.

Conjunctivitis treatment.
Treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the pathogen, stage of development, the nature and process of the disease. Treatment prescribed by the ophthalmologist, which includes frequent washing of medicinal solutions and instilling the eye, use eye ointments.

In acute conjunctivitis should undertake frequent washing of the eyeball to remove the purulent discharge. In the treatment of conjunctivitis is necessary every two to three hours to conduct landfill eye antiseptic eye drops.
The treatment of conjunctivitis is usually long. If you used drugs for one to two weeks have not brought tangible results, they must be replaced by more efficient ones.

The most difficult to treat chronic conjunctivitis. This form of the disease occurs mainly in adults. Caused by chronic conjunctivitis irritants to eyes for a long time (dust, smoke, chemical impurities in the air, and so on). The cause of this disease may also be a metabolic disorder in the body, vitamin deficiency, chronic destruction of lacrimal and nasal canals. Symptoms of chronic conjunctivitis: eye fatigue, burning, photophobia, sensation of "sand for centuries, itching.
The treatment of conjunctivitis is considered complete only when completely eradicated pathogen infection and to remove all the painful consequences.

Allergic Conjunctivitis Types

Allergic conjunctivitis is divided into several subtypes depending on the nature of the allergen. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, medication reactions, contact lens allergy, giant papillary conjunctivitis, contact eye allergies and toxic papillary reactions are some of the most common type of eye allergies.

Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis: Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis as the name suggests are eye allergies caused during the particular season of a year. In it the eyes become red, watery and itchy. Persons affected also have burning sensation and eyelid swelling. During the summer season, it is caused due the exposure to grass and different types of tree pollen. In the fall, it is caused mainly due to the exposure to weed pollen. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is sometimes referred as ‘hay fever eyes or hay fever conjunctivitis or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.' An estimated 25% of American population is affected by seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Topical antihistamine, topical decongestants and mast cell stabilizers are the ideal treatments. An ophthalmologist should be consulted, if there is a decrease in vision or excessive pain or thick discharge,

Vernal Conjunctivitis: Vernal conjunctivitis is a severe form of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and is mainly seen in children and youngsters. In it the eye become itchy, red and watery and develops pain. The eyes become sticky due to a discharge and are quite hard to open. The pain intensifies when opening the eyes after sleeping. The inner membranes of the eyelids swell and conjunctiva has change in appearance. Vernal conjunctivitis should be treated immediately as it can lead to corneal damage.

Topical antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and low dose topical steroids are the most effective form of treatment. The occurrence of the allergy is more common during late spring, when dry and dusty conditions prevail. Using sunglasses can be very helpful.

Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis: Perennial allergic conjunctivitis occurs throughout the year and can be caused by both indoor and outdoor allergens. The main causes are house dust mites, pet dander and several other indoor allergens. In it the eyes become mildly itchy, watery and red.

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis: Atopic keratoconjunctivitis is one of the most severe forms of eye allergies. People with eczema are more prone to it. Continuous itching and dry eyes are the common symptoms, which is followed by blurred vision. Atopic keratoconjunctivitis, also referred as eczema eyes, if not treated can lead to corneal swelling and conjunctival scarring. This form of eye allergy is quite rare and is seen mainly in older people.

Apart from airborne allergens, atopic keratoconjunctivitis can be caused by common food substances. Topical antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers and short term use of steroids are the ideal treatment. This type of allergy should be treated immediately as there have been rare cases which have led to blindness.

Medication Reactions: Eye allergies can be caused by the intake of certain medicines. Conjunctival swelling and itching are the common reactions. The reactions occur immediately and can vary from mild to severe. Anesthetics, bacitracin, topical penicillin, and sulfacetamide are some of the medicines which can trigger eye allergies.

Defining Allergic Conjunctivitis

An inflammation of the tissue lining the eyelids. This is the definition of the condition called allergic conjunctivitis. The cause of the inflammation are allergy triggers (common allergic triggers for the condition include both dander and pollen). The most noticeable symptom is the reddened, swollen eyelid. Other symptoms common to the condition include: dilated vessels (in clear tissue of the covering white of the eye), intense itching in the area, burning sensation in the eyes, puffy eyelids (increased puffiness is typically evident in the early morning), tearing eyes, stringy discharge from the eye, red eyes, etc.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a result of exposure to a particular allergen or trigger. When the individual is exposed to their particular allergen or trigger histamine will be released. Blood vessels in the conjunctiva will swell. The eyes will become reddened. And other symptoms will begin to present.

Why do allergic conditions happen? Where do allergies come from typically? In a lot of cases "allergies" appear to run in families. The actual method of genetic inheritance has not yet been pinpointed by the experts and researchers, but familial connections are evident to the casual observer and studies support this probable theory. Allergic conditions are often hard to accurately identify because there is such a high number of allergy related conditions as well as types of allergy related conditions and all of them are lumped together with similar indicators and symptoms.

Allergic conjunctivitis symptom severity can be increased by the following:

1. the continued exposure of the patient to the allergen triggering the condition
2. patients that rub their inflamed eyes
3. patients that refuse proper treatment

Individuals who have allergic conjunctivitis have the highest chance of beating the condition and eliminating their future exposure to allergens. Avoidance of allergens can decrease the severity of symptoms and/or eliminate the condition altogether depending upon how effective the patient is in their avoidance procedures. The most effective way to experience relief from allergy related conditions is through a specialist like an allergist.

Treating allergic conjunctivitis can commonly offer relief of the symptoms. Allergy sufferers can expect the condition to present repeatedly with exposure to the same allergen. As is the case with any allergic condition, allergy sufferers are required to avoid the allergen in future so they can avoid negative allergic reactions.

For some allergy sufferers this is not possible. Avoidance measures are only successful with certain allergens. Other allergens are unavoidable. And some allergens are not identifiable; therefore they cannot be avoided.

People who are suffering from allergic conjunctivitis don't often have to experience any serious complications. But the condition does bring fairly persistent discomfort. An effective allergy treatment plan should begin immediately in cases of allergic conjunctivitis in order to maximize the benefit of working with an experienced allergist.

Treatment For Allergic Conjuctivitis

Eye allergies affect millions of people every year. There are a few different eye allergies and allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common. Although it does affect a lot of people allergic conjunctivitis happens to be one of the most treatable eye conditions, both in children and in adults.

In order to treat conjunctivitis however, one must know the major causes. There are many different factors that can cause allergic conjunctivitis, including:
* Viruses
* Bacteria
* Irritating substances
* Sexually transmitted diseases

Treatment For Allergic Conjuctivitis

There are a few different treatment options when it comes to the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. One is topical decongestants, which are medicines that help to reduce redness in the eyes by constricting small blood vessels in the eye.

As a result the eyes look less pink and are less irritated in general. However, these are not recommended for long term use and typically doctors will only suggest that the patient use them for a couple of weeks at the very most.

There are also many topical antihistamines that are available for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis which also help to reduce redness in the eyes but as well swelling and itching. There are topical steroids which are often recommended and which must be used with careful consideration because otherwise they can be potentially dangerous.

The specific treatment plan for allergic conjunctivitis that is going to work best will have to be determined by a medical professional. Your doctor will take your personal characteristics into consideration as well as a number of other factors including how severe the condition is and how long you have been dealing with it for.

All of these issues are going to play an important role not only in the matter of the doctor deciding on the appropriate treatment, but also on how you can prevent yourself from getting it again in the future.

There are many other eye allergies that one can develop as well and of course prevention is always the best method. Some prevention methods include:

* Washing your hands frequently (especially after meals and going to the bathroom)
* Avoiding shaking hands as much as possible
* Not using anyone else's cosmetics
* Not using other people's personal items

Just as one would to prevent a cold, it is important to stay guarded against bacteria and disease because this is how the conjunctivitis, allergic or not, begins. The best way to stay guarded is to amp up your immune system. You can do this through exercise, following a healthy diet of organic fruits and vegetables as well as taking a natural immune booster such as Echinacea or Interferon.

If you have already developed conjunctivitis make sure that you go see your doctor and follow any of their recommendations. Otherwise remember to follow the preventative measures listed above to keep you out of the doctor's office in the future. Good luck on you journey towards health and wellness!

Recognized Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis refers to an inflammation of the conjunctiva. Conjunctiva is a part of the eye; the membrane that covers the white of the eye. Allergic conjunctivitis refers to conjunctiva occurring in reaction to exposure to an allergen. Allergic conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by hay fever, but many allergic conditions can act as a trigger for the condition.

Allergic conjunctivitis can be easily recognized by its symptoms. Symptoms include: oedema of the conjunctiva, redness, itching and increased lacrimation. At times these symptoms present along with rhinitis.

When rhinitis presents alongside the other common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis the condition is then referred to as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

The redness that is associated with allergic conjunctivitis is typically in response to the vasodilation of nearby small blood vessels. Mast cells release histamines and other substances that cause other common symptoms and stimulates dilation of blood vessels. Nerve endings are also irritated and the irritated nerve endings increase lacrimation (tear production).

Treatment:
The first step in treating allergic conjunctivitis is avoiding the allergen. Individuals who suffer from hay fever allergies should avoid grass in bloom. In many cases of allergies antihistamines are an effective treatment. Antihistamines are available in two forms: systemic and topical. Topical antihistamines are available in the form of eye drops. Systemic antihistamines are available in the form of tablets.

Summary:
Many allergy sufferers are able to identify their allergens. This sometimes makes it easy for them to avoid repeat episodes of allergic conjunctivitis. They just avoid the allergen they identified as the cause from that point forward. Others are unable to easily identify their allergen. These individuals should contact an allergist to discuss common treatments that may aid them in decreasing their risks for future episodes. Common allergens that may trigger conjunctivitis include dust, smoke, mites, eye drops, seasonal changes, animal skin, pollen, makeup, skin medications, air pollution, perfume, etc.

In specific instances the presentation of allergic conjunctivitis can be perennial. These perennial presentations of allergic conjunctivitis are typically due to dust mites (they are tiny insects present in every home). A rare form of the condition can be caused by surgery. This form of the condition is referred to as papillary conjunctivitis.

Another form of the condition is referred to as contact dermaconjunctivitis. It appears as a result of using cosmetics or medications while suffering from allergic conjunctivitis.