Causes, symptoms and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a fairly common disease, with which at least once in life, a large part of the population is facing. And although most often the cause of inflammation is an infection, often the disease is an allergic reaction. Since allergic conjunctivitis is treated ? What are the signs of the disease?

Allergic conjunctivitis: causes

Allergy is nothing more than a manifestation of an increased sensitivity of the body to a particular group of substances. But before you learn how to treat allergic conjunctivitis, it is worth familiar with the main causes of its occurrence.

To date, the mechanisms of the allergic reaction to the end have not been studied. Nevertheless, it is proved that such a problem is often of a genetic nature. In the role of an allergen, almost any substance can act:

• Many people suffer from so-called seasonal allergies. In this case, inflammation of the eye mucosa occurs as a result of contact with the pollen of plants.
• Potentially dangerous substances can also include various cosmetics, including soap, shampoos, mascara, eye cream, etc.
• In some cases, the cause of inflammation is ordinary dust, or rather, the protein products of the decay of animal organisms (for example, insects) contained in it.
• People who work in factories or laboratories often suffer from the disease, as they are often forced to deal with certain chemical substances.
• Prolonged wearing of contact lenses can also lead to the appearance of an inflammatory process.
• People with ophthalmic surgery often encounter such a problem, after which scars were left on the mucous membrane.

Statistics also show that this form of conjunctivitis is much more often diagnosed in patients with eczema, dermatoses and other allergic diseases.

Symptoms of an allergic conjunctivitis

Most often, the first symptoms appear within a day after contact with the allergen. In this case there is swelling and reddening of the mucous membrane of the eyes. The main symptoms are constant burning and severe itching, which bring a lot of troubles to a person's life. Symptoms can also include tearing. In most cases, this form of the disease is accompanied by a runny nose. But the allergic reaction is not accompanied by the formation of pus - the discharge from the eyes is transparent.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis: basic principles

With a similar problem, it is best to contact the ophthalmologist immediately, since in some cases the absence of treatment can lead to damage to the mucosa. By the way, allergic conjunctivitis in children is often diagnosed . Treatment depends on the age of the patient, and on the severity of the symptoms.

Of course, first of all, it is necessary to determine the nature of the allergen and eliminate any contact with it, for example, to change cosmetics, use protective glasses when working with chemicals, etc.

In addition, the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis includes the use of antihistamines. Doctors also advise using special eye drops that moisturize the eyes, eliminate itching and pain. In some cases, the use of drugs containing steroid hormones - they quickly help to eliminate the inflammatory process.