Ocular allergies or allergic conjunctivitis as they are in medical terms, they are conditions that come about when your eyes get into contact with an allergen. As a result of this you have itching, red, watery eyes. In some cases the condition is accompanied with nasal allergy. You develop the condition when the allergens enter your eyes when you walk into a source of the allergen. The allergens can also get into your eyes when you rub or touch the area around the eyes with your hands.

Types of eye allergies

There are two main types of eye allergies: seasonal and perennial eye allergies. From their name, seasonal allergies happen at certain times of the year. In most cases this is usually from spring to autumn. The triggers for this condition are pollen from grasses, weeds and trees. The condition is also triggered by spores from molds. Once the allergens are gone, the condition also goes away. This is usually during winter.

Perennial eye allergies are characterized by symptoms that last throughout the year. The major causes of this allergy include: dust, feathers, mites and animal dander. Air pollution, cosmetics, smoke, chlorine and a number of medicines have also been shown to cause the condition.

How to avoid eye allergy

There are many things that you can do to prevent the condition from occurring. The obvious thing is to avoid contact with the allergens by staying indoors when the pollen count is high. This is usually mid-morning and early evening. When you are out, always wear eyeglasses to prevent the allergens from getting into your eyes.

While most people are able to pinpoint the exact cause of their allergies, there are some that are unable to do it. If this is you, you should visit your allergy doctor or ophthalmologist who will analyze the condition and recommend the best medication.

Medications for eye allergies

There are plenty of medications that your allergist can recommend. One of the most common is the over-the-counter eye drops. Your doctor will recommend eye drops when your condition is mild. If your condition is relatively severe the doctor may recommend stronger medications that include antihistamines, decongestants, steroids and mast cell stabilizers.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about eye allergies. While you can get rid of most of the conditions by simply avoiding the allergens and taking over-the-counter medications, you should visit an allergy clinic if the condition worsens.