Eye Allergies and Conjunctivitis
Also called: Pink Eye
What is it?
Eye allergies occur when a substance to which
you are sensitive comes into contact with your
eyes and causes irritation and redness.
These types of substances are called allergens.
Most allergens are carried in the air, but can
also be transferred through contact.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the
conjunctiva, which is the delicate membrane lining
the inner eyelid and covering the white of the
eye. Conjunctivitis can be caused by
allergies or by viral or bacterial infections.
Conjunctivitis is also called pink eye.
Who gets it?
Often people with eye allergies have other
allergy syndromes affecting the sinuses, nose, or
lungs. People with colds may get viral
conjunctivitis. Bacterial and viral
conjunctivitis are spread by contact.
What causes it?
Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when you have
direct contact with a substance that is an
allergen. Direct contact can occur through
the air, or if the allergen is on your hands and
you touch your eyes. Common allergens
include pollen, fungal spores, pet hair or dander,
and dust. The conjunctiva can be irritated
by wind, smoke, perfumes, and air pollution, but
these are not usually considered allergic
substances. If your eyes are exposed to
allergens frequently, your body produces
antibodies to fight them. It also produces a
chemical called histamine, which causes the
symptoms of swelling, redness, and itching.
Viral conjunctivitis can be caused by the same
viruses that cause colds. Viral forms of
conjunctivitis can be spread by coughing or
sneezing. Bacteria such as chlamydia,
staphylococci, and streptococci also cause
conjunctivitis. Viruses and bacteria can get into
your eyes through contact with contaminated
objects, such as cosmetics, false eyelashes,
contact lenses, washcloths or towels, and hands.
Newborns can develop bacterial conjunctivitis if
they are infected by the chlamydia bacteria as
they pass through the birth canal. Adults
can be infected if they are exposed to genital
secretions containing chlamydia. Repeated
bouts of conjunctivitis may also be caused by a
problem with the alignment of the eyelids or by
clogged tear ducts.
What are the symptoms?
Both allergic conjunctivitis and viral or
bacterial conjunctivitis have symptoms including
watering, redness, itching, and swelling in the
eye area. However, allergic conjunctivitis
usually affects both eyes. If the symptoms
are caused by pollen, they will also occur each
year around the same time. Viral or bacterial
conjunctivitis can affect both eyes, or only one
eye. The eyes are also more likely to be
sensitive to light, burn, and feel as though they
are stuck closed and crusty upon waking.
Viral and allergic conjunctivitis may produce a
clear discharge, while eyes with bacterial
conjunctivitis may have a thick, creamy discharge,
called pus.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms,
including when they began and how long you have
been experiencing them. He or she will then
examine your eyes. If the symptoms appear to
be caused by an infection, the doctor may take a
sample of the pus to test for bacteria. He
or she will also check your lymph nodes for
swelling, which also is a sign of infection.
If the symptoms appear to be caused by allergies,
your doctor will ask you about any history of
allergies and about any common allergens you may
have had contact with. If you do not respond
to common allergy treatments, your doctor may
recommend seeing an allergist to test for
reactions to specific allergens.
What is the treatment?
If you suffer from allergic conjunctivitis,
your doctor will recommend that you avoid
allergens that you know trigger a reaction.
This may be hard to do where the allergens, such
as pollen, are seasonal and airborne.
Because of this, allergic conjunctivitis is
usually treated with oral antihistamines. An
antihistamine acts against the allergic reaction
caused by the production of histamine. Your
doctor may also recommend eye drops to relieve
redness, swelling, and itching. Viral
conjunctivitis will usually go away on its own,
without treatment. However, your doctor may
also prescribe eyedrops and antihistamine pills to
help relieve symptoms. Bacterial
conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eyedrops
or ointment. All types of conjunctivitis can
be relieved by gently bathing the eye area with
cool to lukewarm water and a clean washcloth to
remove any discharge. Then, gently pat the
eye area dry with a clean towel. Conjunctivitis
caused by an infection is highly contagious, so
you must be careful to wash your hands before and
after bathing the eyes and applying medication.
Keep any towels and washcloths used for the eyes
separate from the rest of your towels and
washcloths. Do not wear contact lenses until
after the eyes have healed. If the infection
is in only one eye, be careful not to touch the
infected eye, then touch the healthy eye.
Infectious conjunctivitis usually spreads quickly
among school-age children, so it is important to
notify the school if your child has infectious
conjunctivitis and to keep the child at home until
your doctor feels the risk of passing on the
infection is gone. Viral conjunctivitis usually
improves within 10 days to 1 month. You
should see an improvement in bacterial
conjunctivitis within 2 days of using antibiotics.
Allergic conjunctivitis that does not respond to
the usual treatments, or is extremely severe, may
be treated with immunotherapy. With this
treatment, the specialist performs tests to
identify the specific allergen that triggers your
allergic response. Then, tiny amounts of
that allergen are injected under the skin over a
period of several years. With this process, you
gradually lose your sensitivity to your allergens.
Conjunctivitis caused by problems with the
alignment of the eyelids or clogged tear ducts is
treated with surgery.
Self-care tips
While it may be difficult to prevent allergic
conjunctivitis, you can help control symptoms by
avoiding exposure to allergens. Try to stay
indoors when pollen counts are high, and do not
have pets if you are sensitive to animal dander.
If you have a form of conjunctivitis caused by an
infection, wash your hands often and do not touch
your eyes. Do not share eye makeup,
sunglasses, or towels, washcloths, or pillows with
others. Follow your doctor's recommended
treatment to clear the infection.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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