Around 54 million people, about 20% of the U.S. population, suffer from outward symptoms of allergies. Almost 50% of these people have allergic eye disease.
Introduction on Eye Allergy
The eyes are the windows to the soul only because they reflect our frame of mind. This can not be true if our eyes are swollen, red, watery, and damage from an allergic attack. Severe allergic eye disorders are a frequent reason for visits to an ophthalmologist, the allergist, and also can be distressing and at times be painful too. Occasionally, eye allergies can also become a reason to severe eyesight issues.
If you’re to understand what exactly is affected in eye allergies, then let me tell you that eye allergies affect conjuctiva (a tissue lining) over the white surface of our eye and inner folds of our eyelids. It’s the conjuctiva that’s exposed to various allergens of the environment.
Note: Many people get confused between what’s the difference between conjuctiva and cornea! So, cornea is the transparent sheath over lens of the eye and conjuctiva is a thin tissue lining over white surface of the eye.
What Causes Allergies?
Eye allergies usually are connected with other allergic conditions, specially hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and atopic eczema (dermatitis). The source of eye allergies is similar to those of hay-fever and asthma. You must also know that in causing allergies, makeup and medications can also play a significant part. Reactions to eye irritants and other eye conditions (for instance, infections like pink eye) are usually confused with eye diseases or allergies. Any kind of irritant, whether environmental, infectious, or man-made, can cause symptoms persistent with allergies.
Here are some of the useful tips that can help you protect yourslef from harmful allergens:
Wear glasses instead of contact lenses during allergy season. Allergens can collect on the outside surface of contacts. Talk to your optometrist to make sure you are wearing corrective glasses that are appropriate and are efficient in shielding your eyes.
Reduce Allergen Exposure: If you’re heading outdoors, make sure you minimize allergen exposure by wearing sunglasses and by shutting your windows. Avoid going outdoors during the early and mid-morning evening when the pollen count reaches its peak.
Clean your home: Use wet cloths to wash your furniture to reduce dust and pollen from scattering. Moreover, maintaining your grass cut and hedges trimmed helps reduce pollutants at dwelling.
Rubbing your eyes will only make your allergies worse as doing it releases more amount of histamines. Use eye drops suggested by your eye doctor.
Invest for the cooling or heating system in an air purifier and allergen-trapping filter.
Shower before going to sleep and cleanse your eyelids. This will help you sleep.
Speak to eye-care pros. Stop by at your eye doctor clinic when allergy season is about to arrive and learn about the allergens and also there associated natural treatments.
Read More: Best Allergy Eye Drops FAQs