Signs of Allergies
If your eyes are itchy, red, tearing or burning, pay attention to what they may be telling you. You may have eye allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis, a condition that affects millions of Americans. It is a condition that can occur alone, but often accompanies nasal allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, sniffling and a stuffy nose. While most people treat nasal allergy symptoms, they often ignore their itchy, red, watery eyes.
Just like hay fever and skin rashes, eye allergies develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something that is ordinarily harmless. An allergic reaction can occur whenever that “something” – called an allergen – comes into contact with your eyes. The allergen causes certain cells on the surface of the eye (called mast cells) to releaseHistamine is a chemical present in cells throughout the body that is released during an allergic reaction. Histamine is one of the substances responsible for the symptoms of inflammation and is the major reason for a nose running, sneezing, and itching in allergic rhinitis. It also stimulates acid production by the stomach and narrows the bronchi or airways in the lungs." rel="tooltip">histamineand other substances or chemicals that cause blood vessels in the eyes to swell, and the eyes to become itchy, red and watery.
Find expert care with an Allergist.
Don’t let allergies orAsthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes where the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. Sometimes episodes of asthma are triggered by allergens, although infection, exercise, cold air and other factors are also important triggers." rel="tooltip">asthmahold you back.
Triggers
Symptoms can be triggered by many different seasonal and environmental factors, such as:
- Outdoor allergens, such as pollens from grass, trees and weeds
- Indoor allergens, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold
- Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, perfume and diesel exhaust
How to Get Tested
Eye allergies share symptoms with some diseases of the eye, making accurate diagnosis very important. The symptoms of eyeAllergies are inappropriate or exaggerated reactions of the immune system to substances that, in the majority of people, cause no symptoms. Symptoms of the allergic diseases may be caused by exposure of the skin to a chemical, of the respiratory system to particles of dust or pollen (or other substances), or of the stomach and intestines to a particular food." rel="tooltip">allergy范围可以from mildly annoying redness toInflammation is the redness, swelling, heat and pain in a tissue due to chemical or physical injury, or to infection. It is a characteristic of allergic reactions in the nose, lungs, and skin." rel="tooltip">inflammationsevere enough to impair vision. If symptoms persist or over-the-counter remedies do not bring relief,see an allergist, who will review your medical history and symptoms and conduct tests that can reveal an eye allergy.
The tests may include an examination with a microscope, which will show swollen blood vessels on the surface of the eye. In addition, your doctor may test for a certain type of white blood cell that shows up on areas of the eye affected by allergies. This involves gently scraping the conjunctiva (the inner lining of the eyelid) and seeing if those cells are found.
It Could Also Be…
Other factors that cause eye irritation include:
- Air pollution
- Smoke (fire-related, second-hand cigarette smoke)
- Dry air (arid climates, airplane cabins, office buildings)
- Dust
- Airborne fumes (gasoline, solvents)
- Chemical exposure such as chlorine in swimming pools
- Overexposure to sunlight (without UV-blocking sunglasses)
