Eye Allergies : An Understanding

Eye Allergies: An Understanding

Eye allergies causing red, puffy eyes? You're not alone -- millions of people cope with eye allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis.  A cold compress can give you a quick fix before heading out in public. But for long-term relief, you need to identify triggers and treat symptoms. 

Symptoms: Eye Allergy

Symptoms can include redness in the white of the eye or the inner eyelid. Other signs: itchy eyes, tearing, blurred vision, burning sensation, eyelid swelling, and sensitivity to light. Eye allergies can occur alone or with nasal allergies and the allergic skin condition eczema. The only way to know for sure if it's eye allergies is to see your doctor.

Why Allergies Make Eyes Red

Eye allergies happen when your eyes are exposed to the offending allergen -- say pet dander or pollen. Cells in your eyes called mast cells release histamine and other chemicals, causing inflammation. The result: itchy, red, and watery allergic eyes.

Don't Rub Your Eyes

It may be tempting, but rubbing itchy eyes can make things worse. Rubbing your eyes may cause the mast cells to release more of the chemicals that caused your eyes to itch in the first place! Instead, take contact lenses out (if you wear them), avoid eye makeup, and apply cool compresses to your eyes. Wash your hands often.

Cover Up Tips in Eye Allergy

Apply a hypoallergenic concealer to help hide dark circles. Don't try to cover up with heavy makeup -- it will only call attention to red, watery eyes. Instead, emphasize another feature -- wear a pretty lipstick, for example.

Eye Allergy Triggers: Pollen

If your eyes well up around Mother Nature -- and not just because of all the beauty she inspires -- you may have seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Grass, tree, and weed pollens are the worst offenders. When pollen counts are high, stay indoors, keep your windows closed and the air conditioner on. Wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.

Indoor Eye Allergens: Pet Dander

Pet dander, dust mites, and molds top the list of indoor eye allergens. These triggers tend to cause symptoms all year long. To help control pet allergies, keep the pet out of your bedroom. No dog or cat, but can't resist playing with a friend's pet? Limit exposure by washing your hands immediately after you touch the pet. Change clothes as soon as you go home.

Mop Away Allergens

If dust mites trigger your runny, watery eyes, invest in bedding and pillowcases that keep them out. Wash sheets in hot water, and try to keep the humidity levels in your home between 30% and 50%. Clean floors with a damp mop. Don't sweep, which stirs up allergens.

Eye Allergies and Mold

If indoor molds cause eye problems, regularly clean bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where mold lurks.  Invest in a dehumidifier, and clean it often.  A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help trap mold spores before they attack your eyes.

Treating Eye Allergies

Most drops for eye allergies may have the same medications used to treat nasal allergies: antihistamines, decongestants, and mast cell stabilizers. Antihistamines combat symptoms by blocking the effect of histamine, which can help with itching. Mast cell stabilizers reduce inflammation by preventing the release of chemicals such as histamines from mast cells.

Eye Allergy Drops

Tear substitutes rinse the allergens out of your eye and keep eyes moist. Decongestant drops shrink blood vessels in your eyes, which decreases redness. But using them long-term can actually make symptoms worse. Both kinds of eye drops are available over the counter. People with certain conditions should not use certain types of eye drops, so ask your doctor.

Oral Medicines for Eye Allergies

Oral antihistamines and decongestants may help control symptoms of eye allergies. However, oral antihistamines have a tendency to further dry out your eyes and may cause drowsiness. And some OTC decongestants have side effects, such as dizziness or excitability. People with certain conditions shouldn't take some kinds of oral allergy medications. Talk to your doctor.

Other Kinds of Eye Drops

Antihistamine eye drops reduce swelling, redness, and itching.  Some eye drops have both antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer properties.These drops are available OTC and by prescription. Other prescription options may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug eye drops and steroid-based eye drops.

Can Allergy Shots Help?

Allergy shots work well for eye allergies. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) help your immune system get used to the substances that cause your allergy symptoms. They are usually an option for severe allergies.

Treatment can take months, and you may still need to use medicine. Are you a candidate? Talk to your doctor.

Ending Eye Allergies

From prevention and OTC artificial tears to prescription eye drops and allergy shots, there is a lot you can do to take the sting out of your eye allergies. Develop a plan of action with your doctor so today is the last day you have to put up with red, watery and itchy eyes.

Steps to Maintain Good Eye Health

Don't take your eye health for granted. Protect your eyesight with these six tips:

1. Eat for Good Vision

Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate.

Studies have shown that nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health:

·         Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards
·         Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
·         Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
·         Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

Eating a well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Quit Smoking for Better Eyesight

Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you've tried to quit smoking before and started smoking again, keep trying. Studies show that the more times you try to quit smoking, the more likely you are to succeed.  

3. Wear Sunglasses for Good Vision

The right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection.

4. Use Safety Eye-wear at Home, at Work, and While Playing Sports

If you work with hazardous or airborne materials at work or home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time.

Certain sports such as ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Wear eye protection (such as helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to shield your eyes.

5. Look Away From the Computer for Good Eye Health

Staring at a computer screen can cause:

·         Blurry vision and strain on your eyes
·         Difficulty focusing at a distance
·         Dry eyes
·         Headaches
·         Neck, back, and shoulder pain

6. Protect your eye health by taking the following steps:

·         Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and adequate for       computer use. 

·         Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer.

·         Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows   you to look slightly down at the screen.

·         Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if   needed.

·         Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.

·         If your eyes are dry, blink more.

·         Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. At least every two hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

Eye care in Diabetes

Diabetes can affect the eyes and vision in a number of ways. It may lead to frequent fluctuations in vision, cataract in young age, decreased vision due to involvement of optic nerve, temporary paralysis of the muscles controlling the movement of eyes and thus double vision. The most significant complication of diabetes in eye is diabetic retinopathy and its complications. Eye care is especially important for people with diabetes because they are at increased risk of developing eye complications from the disease. Blindness is 20 times more common in people with diabetes. 

Diabetes and Eye Sight:

Diabetes can harm your eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back part of your eye. This is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems. You may not know there is any damage to your eyes until the problem is very bad. All people with diabetes should take precautions to help reduce their risk of developing eye problems. Here are some eye care tips diabetes and eye disease.

·         Schedule regular appointments with your eye doctor so that any eye problem can be detected early and treated.

·         Maintain control of your blood glucose levels.

·         Keep your blood pressure in control. High blood pressure by itself can lead to eye disease, so if you have high blood pressure as well as diabetes, it is especially important that you take steps to control both conditions.

·         Eat a healthy diet.

·         Avoid smoking.

·         Exercise regularly.

Diabetes and Eye Problem Symptoms

You should consult the doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms like blurring of vision, black spots and flashes of light. 

           

Eye Tests

If you are a diabetic patient, you should have an eye exam every year by an eye doctor. The eye exam may include:

·         Dilating your eyes to allow a good view of the entire retina. Only an eye doctor can do this exam.

·         At times, special photographs of the back of your eye.

Treatment and Prevention

At Silverline we are providing good diagnosis and care for the diabetic patients with eye problems. If doctor found that you have some eye problem he will give you medications and will give you information about how to control the disease getting worsened. There are some common things to be followed by a diabetic patient to prevent eye problems like control your blood sugar levels and blood pressure and quit smoking. If you have eye problems, ask your doctor if you should avoid some exercises that can strain the blood vessels in the eye. These include weight lifting and other exercises that make you strain and high-impact games, such as football or hockey.