Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva (whites of the eye and other tissue around the eye) caused by allergens or irritants.
There are two types:
The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis can include:
Allergic conjunctivitis does not spread from person to person. It almost always occurs in both eyes. It is important to note that allergic conjunctivitis does not cause severe eye pain or changes to vision. If a person notices these symptoms, they should see a doctor right away.
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by allergens or irritants to the eye. The most common are:
Allergic conjunctivitis is more common in people who have other types of allergy symptoms, asthma, or eczema. It is also more common in people who have a family history of allergies.
A healthcare professional will be able to diagnose allergic conjunctivitis after a full history and examination of the eyes. They will be able to tell whether a patient has allergic conjunctivitis or other types of contagious conjunctivitis (viral or bacterial). The term pink eye or red eye is usually used for infectious or contagious types of conjunctivitis.
In severe cases, allergy testing may be advised to determine the actual allergen which is causing the problem. This is sometimes a blood test and sometimes a skin prick test (where different allergens are injected under the skin to see which ones react). Immunotherapy can then be made to combat a person’s specific allergy.
Allergic conjunctivitis is usually a mild condition which causes annoyance or discomfort but isn’t vision threatening. A person rubbing their eyes because of allergic conjunctivitis may introduce an infectious bacteria or virus to their eyes.
Treatment usually consists of eye drops and antihistamine tablets. Soothing cool compresses on the eyes can help.
The best prevention is avoiding the allergen, though this isn’t always possible. If a person knows they usually have seasonal allergies, they can start taking antihistamine allergy tablets and eye drops about a month before their allergies usually start. This allows the medication to get into their system. Other prevention strategies include frequent vacuuming and dusting indoors, not drying laundry on the line during a person’s allergy season, and keeping windows closed. A person may wish to wear sunglasses when outdoors to prevent allergens from getting into their eyes. Washing the face after exposure to allergens can help. Likewise, bathing or showering before bed can wash any allergens from the body. Washing clothing and bed linens often can also help.