Monthly Archives: December 2017

Effective ways to deal with ocular allergies

Ocular allergies tend to develop when the immune system of the body becomes sensitive and overreacts to certain elements in the environment, which might or might not be harmful to the body. As soon as the allergens come into contact with the antibodies of your eyes, the cells release histamine immediately along with other substances that make the tiny blood vessels inside the eyes leak. As a result, the eyes become red, watery and itchy. In most of the cases, the symptoms of ocular allergies are strikingly similar to many eye diseases, which make it difficult to diagnose the problem unless you opt for the specific allergy testing methods.

 Common symptoms of ocular allergies:

The most common types of eye allergies are seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis or contact allergic conjunctivitis. The symptoms of these eye allergies are often accompanied by sneezing, coughing or a runny nose which are common symptoms of nasal allergies.

The common symptoms include:

  • Burning eyes
  • Redness
  • Fluid discharge
  • Itching

What triggers eye allergies?

The common allergens which cause ocular allergies are pollens, weeds, mold, pet dander, dust mites and irritants such as perfume, smog, cigarette smoke or vehicle exhausts. People suffering from eye allergies for a prolonged period may also develop severe dark circles under their eyes. Sometimes, the eyelids become puffy and the eyes are unable to tolerate bright lights. At times the itchiness becomes so severe, that the patients are unable to stop themselves from scratching or rubbing their eyes and ultimately end up worsening up the infections.

How to deal with ocular allergies?

In order to keep ocular allergies at bay, you should avoid the allergens which trigger the problem.

  • Try to stay indoors, during the high pollen period of the day. Use HEPA efficiency air purifier and air conditioning system, in your bedroom and car.
  • Using mite-proof bedding to combat the dust mites.
  • Use a dehumidifier in your home, to restrict mold growth.
  • Wash your hands and change your clothes whenever you return home from outside or play with your pets.
  • Try to cover your eyes with high-quality sunglasses, to shield them.
Effective medications to deal with emergency situations:

Whenever there is an emergency situation, but you are unable to visit the allergy clinic to get hold of the allergy shots or immunotherapy, or the eye drops you may try out these simple yet effective medicines, which are readily sold in the medical stores without any prescription.

  1. Decongestant eye drops
  2. Artificial tears
  3. The antihistamines

However, it is always better to consult an eye allergy specialist doctor because, the decongestant eye drops may not work after repeated usage or the antihistamines might dry up your eyes excessively, leading to other problems.

How to keep asthma and allergies at bay from your child?

It is no huge revelation that children are fond of animals and birds. More often than not, they are found interacting with them in some form or the other. However, the droppings of pigeons, the birds that children are fascinated by the most carry a certain fungus called Histoplasma Capsulatum. These can be detrimental to a child’s health and is said to have severe health implications, the most common one being asthma and allergies. But, by taking up the allergy tests beforehand and thereafter taking a few precautionary measures, one can easily trick the common allergens and prevent the allergy symptoms.

Why children are easily affected by the allergens?

It would be illogical to say that only a certain sex is susceptible to allergies because of Histoplasma Capsulatum in the environment. Both men and women are equally at risk of being affected. However, in case of the children the chances of being affected are higher, because their immune system is not as strong as adults. The most common infliction that is seen to affect people is the inflammation of the eye. Tests and examinations reveal ‘histo-spots’ and scars on the retina, that can result in blurry or impaired vision.

Effective ways to deal with the allergens:

Any form of allergy can lead to chronic health conditions for the little ones. But, it is practically impossible to confine your child within the house to avoid the allergens. Here are few ways you can control the problem by being extra careful:

  • Pay attention to the garden soil: In some cases pigeons in the vicinity may not be as harmful as thought, the larger they are in number, the higher the air and soil is likely to contain this fungus. So, make sure they are covered well if they go out to play in the yards. Ask them to change their outfits and wash their hands before entering the bedroom.
  • Avoid lakes parks or a bird sanctuary if your child is prone to allergies– Having a child who is prone to allergic reactions illness is bad enough. To top it, aggravation of the ailment because of bird droppings is more petrifying. Therefore, think twice next time you decide to visit the lake, park or any area where there is a possibility of birds, especially pigeons, being around in the vicinity.
  • Free your home from the common allergens– One of the most crucial steps in ensuring that hives and skin allergy don’t aggravate is to keep the environment at home clean. Clean air and ventilation, using the high efficiency particulate air or HEPA is crucial for the wellbeing of the child. Get rid of the dust mites in your home by regular cleaning sessions.

In case you are suspecting that your child is prone to allergies, it is always best to consult an allergy specialist doctor immediately. Their guidance will be crucial in determining the effect of the fungus on the child. Any problems with vision should be reported immediately. Even though scarring around the border of the retina is harmless, there is nothing to lose in seeking the opinion of an expert. However, avoiding pigeon and bird-infested areas is absolutely vital for children who are usually prone to such types of allergy-related ailments and illnesses.