What You Need To Know About Ocular Allergies

By | August 31, 2017

ocular allergies

Ocular allergies are no different from the other types of allergies. This is because they are brought about by almost the same allergens. The most common allergen triggers are: grass, dust, weeds, pollen, pet hair, and even medicines and cosmetics. When you are suffering from this type of allergy, you tend to experience redness, tearing, blurred vision, mucous production, eye swelling, and burning sensation.

Types of eye allergy

There are two main types of eye allergies that you can be suffering from: seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis. You are said to be suffering from seasonal eye allergy if the symptoms appear for only a short while and then go away. You will also be said to be suffering from the condition if you are bothered by grass, weed, or tree pollen. Just like when suffering from seasonal allergies, the symptoms of this condition disappear after a given time and then reappear usually in winter.

You are said to be suffering from perennial allergy if the allergy symptoms last throughout the year. If you are bothered by indoor allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, and cockroaches you will be suffering from the perennial allergy. If you suffer from these allergies, you will notice that they get worse when the seasonal allergens kick in. For example, when you are exposed to the pollen.

Conditions that you can mistake for eye allergy

Since symptoms guide you, it’s common to mistake certain conditions for eye allergy. Some of the common conditions that you can mistake are:

Dry eye: You are said to be suffering from the dry eye when you have reduced tear production. The main symptoms of the condition are: grittiness and burning sensations. You will often feel as if you have something in your eye.

Tear duct obstruction: The condition comes about when a blockage forms in the tear duct passage that travels from the nasal cavity to the eyes.

Conjunctivitis due to an infection: Eye infections are due to viruses or bacteria. When you have a bacterial infection, the eyes are bright red. Viral infections, on the other hand, cause only slight redness and glass appearance in the eyes.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about eye allergy. To be on the safe side when suffering from this condition you need to avoid the allergens. For example, you need to avoid the pollen and other factors that might cause it. To understand your situation better, consult your allergy doctor.