While most people associate allergies with runny noses, sinus congestion, hacking and sneezing, in fact allergies can affect various organs, including the eyes. Because the eyes are often a significant component of your allergies, they deserve specific attention and treatment.
Those who have ocular allergies know that itching is the primary source of discomfort. Other common symptoms include redness, lid swelling, tearing, and swollen eye. If you have dryness, stinging and the feeling that there is a foreign body in your eye, you likely have dry eye syndome.
But beyond being annoying, ocular allergies may be very disabling. Allergic symptoms typically occur when allergy sufferers are in situations that put them in close contact with allergens to which they are sensitive: i.e., mowing the lawn, spending time outdoors, playing with pets. Thus, it can affect one's ability to do engage in these activities, as well as one's efficacy at work and school. Beyond activities, however, appearance issues become a major quality of life factor for allergy sufferers -the appearance of red eyes and puffy eyelids can be bothersome because it gives the appearance of fatigue, or perhaps even illness or substance abuse.
Dry eye sufferers typically feel 'tired eyes' or symptoms that affect them most in computer work, reading or TV watching.
Eye allergies are anything but rare. In the U.S., an estimated 80 million people experience them, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the incidence appears to be on the rise. Some researchers believe that increased air pollution and cigarette smoke may be making people more sensitive to the usual culprits-seasonal and pet allergens that are usually harmless. But when the body's immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to these substances, an allergic reaction can occur whenever they come in contact with your eyes. So while many people enjoy the spring and fall, millions of others frequently live in dread of those times when the trees, grass and weeds begin to pollinate. People who are sensitive to these allergens experience seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, the most common type of eye allergy. Conjunctivitis refers to a part of the eye called the conjunctiva that becomes inflamed when triggered by an allergen. All the signs and symptoms of allergy-itching, redness and tearing-as well as inflammation occur when someone who is sensitive is exposed to allergens such as pollens, molds, house dust mites, animals and insects.
The reason the eyes are so sensitive to these substances is that they, like the skin, are exposed, unprotected surfaces that are especially vulnerable to allergens and other irritants. Allergens cause cells in the eye, called "mast cells," to release histamine and other substances or chemicals that cause blood vessels to dilate, mucous membranes to itch, and the eyes and eyelids to become inflamed, and tearing may also occur. Symptoms can range from mild eye annoyance to severe itching with major effects on the tissues inside the eyes. When the blood vessels expand, this allows for a greater flow of inflammatory and allergic molecules from the bloodstream into the eye, the site of the allergic reaction. This causes the redness and swelling of the eye. The itching is induced by a separate action of histamine binding to nerve cell receptors inducing the sensation of intense itching.
There are also several more severe, although rare, forms of allergy, such as topic keratoconjunctivitis (AK) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VK). These conditions may lead to corneal ulcers. However, the vast majority (90 percent) of eye allergies are caused by seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, discussed above.
To avoid allergens, some patients have to stay indoors and lose time from school or work. Yet taking shelter is not always the answer, as some allergens reside indoors and avoidance is not feasible for someone who must go about some daily activities outdoors. Pet hair or dander, dust mites and molds are all common indoor allergens that can trigger symptoms for some people all year round, making their conjunctivitis not simply seasonal, but perennial.
Those who have ocular allergies know that itching is the primary source of discomfort. Other common symptoms include redness, lid swelling, tearing, and swollen eye. If you have dryness, stinging and the feeling that there is a foreign body in your eye, you likely have dry eye syndome.
But beyond being annoying, ocular allergies may be very disabling. Allergic symptoms typically occur when allergy sufferers are in situations that put them in close contact with allergens to which they are sensitive: i.e., mowing the lawn, spending time outdoors, playing with pets. Thus, it can affect one's ability to do engage in these activities, as well as one's efficacy at work and school. Beyond activities, however, appearance issues become a major quality of life factor for allergy sufferers -the appearance of red eyes and puffy eyelids can be bothersome because it gives the appearance of fatigue, or perhaps even illness or substance abuse.
Dry eye sufferers typically feel 'tired eyes' or symptoms that affect them most in computer work, reading or TV watching.
Eye allergies are anything but rare. In the U.S., an estimated 80 million people experience them, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the incidence appears to be on the rise. Some researchers believe that increased air pollution and cigarette smoke may be making people more sensitive to the usual culprits-seasonal and pet allergens that are usually harmless. But when the body's immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to these substances, an allergic reaction can occur whenever they come in contact with your eyes. So while many people enjoy the spring and fall, millions of others frequently live in dread of those times when the trees, grass and weeds begin to pollinate. People who are sensitive to these allergens experience seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, the most common type of eye allergy. Conjunctivitis refers to a part of the eye called the conjunctiva that becomes inflamed when triggered by an allergen. All the signs and symptoms of allergy-itching, redness and tearing-as well as inflammation occur when someone who is sensitive is exposed to allergens such as pollens, molds, house dust mites, animals and insects.
The reason the eyes are so sensitive to these substances is that they, like the skin, are exposed, unprotected surfaces that are especially vulnerable to allergens and other irritants. Allergens cause cells in the eye, called "mast cells," to release histamine and other substances or chemicals that cause blood vessels to dilate, mucous membranes to itch, and the eyes and eyelids to become inflamed, and tearing may also occur. Symptoms can range from mild eye annoyance to severe itching with major effects on the tissues inside the eyes. When the blood vessels expand, this allows for a greater flow of inflammatory and allergic molecules from the bloodstream into the eye, the site of the allergic reaction. This causes the redness and swelling of the eye. The itching is induced by a separate action of histamine binding to nerve cell receptors inducing the sensation of intense itching.
There are also several more severe, although rare, forms of allergy, such as topic keratoconjunctivitis (AK) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VK). These conditions may lead to corneal ulcers. However, the vast majority (90 percent) of eye allergies are caused by seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, discussed above.
To avoid allergens, some patients have to stay indoors and lose time from school or work. Yet taking shelter is not always the answer, as some allergens reside indoors and avoidance is not feasible for someone who must go about some daily activities outdoors. Pet hair or dander, dust mites and molds are all common indoor allergens that can trigger symptoms for some people all year round, making their conjunctivitis not simply seasonal, but perennial.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder