Eye allergies are responses of the body’s immune system when certain substances come in contact with the eyes of sensitive individuals. They can cause uneasiness and disrupt your daily activities. These allergy-causing substances, called allergens, include pollen, dust, molds, and animal dander. Certain constituents in eye drops and cosmetics also can cause eye allergies.
If you are suffering from eye allergies, Dr. Civia McCaffrey at Summerlin Visions can help you explore treatment options to alleviate the symptoms of eye allergies and prescribe a treatment plan to provide relief.
Eye allergies affect each person differently, depending on how sensitive your immune system is to specific allergens. Foreign particles in the atmosphere cause allergic reactions upon coming into contact with the antibodies in your eyes. Those antibodies then release histamine and other chemicals that cause the tiny blood vessels to leak and generate eye allergy symptoms. This chemical reaction makes the eyes itchy and watery to remove the allergens.
Many common allergens are present both indoors and outdoors. Some of these:
Seasonal eye allergies are a kind of allergy affecting people during specific seasons of the year. For instance, allergy symptoms are often felt during the spring and summer months when the trees and flowers bloom.
Perennial eye allergies occur regardless of the seasonal changes. These eye allergies are often caused by compounds present year-round, such as pet dander, dust, air pollution, cigarette smoke, and strong odors.
The chronic symptoms of eye allergies include watery eyes, swelling, itching, blurry vision, burning sensations, redness, and increased production of eye mucus. These symptoms will be present until the allergen has been treated by managing the response of histamine.
The causes of allergic symptoms vary for each individual. Pay attention when your allergies are triggered to recognize the elements that are causing the reaction. Diagnostic tests, such as a pin pricking allergy test, can determine the allergy levels for each compound.
The most effective method to treat eye allergies is minimizing your exposure to an allergen. A person can avoid outdoors when the pollen count is high to reduce exposure to the eyes. In addition, wearing sunglasses can reduce the risk of pollen entering the eyes. If you are using contact lenses, it is best to discontinue these lenses while the symptoms are flaring. Also, it can be helpful to use prescription medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, or artificial tears to get relief from eye allergies.
If you experience eye allergy symptoms, contact us at Summerlin Vision in Las Vegas or call (702) 243-8788 to schedule your appointment.
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