Ocular allergies

​​Anyone else dealing with horrible allergies right now?
Did you know that allergies are not just a problem in the spring and summer seasons?  Many people suffer from allergies during the fall as well, some even have allergies all year long! 

Ocular allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, occur when an irritant or allergen hits the surface of the eye causing an inflammatory response which results in red, itchy, watery eyes. It is not uncommon for the eye lids to also become red, itchy and swollen.

Many people with ocular allergies also have nasal allergies and will develop a stuffy, or runny nose, and sneezing. Most people with seasonal allergies are used to taking over-the-counter allergy medicine in pill form or nasals sprays, but did you know, when someone is experiencing allergic conjunctivitis, it is best to use an allergy eye drop to target the ocular symptoms directly.
 
​Symptoms:
Redness in the white part of they or on eyelids
Watery eyes
Itching
Burning
Swelling
 
Causes:
Ocular allergies occur when an allergen hits the surface of the eye creating an immune response.  The eye tries to fight off the allergen by activating cells in the eye called mast cells to release histamine.  Once the histamine is released your eyes develop the typical allergy symptoms of redness, itching, and watering.
 
Treatments:
Most of the treatments are aimed at blocking the histamine from binding to receptors in the eye, these drugs are known as anti-histamines.  Some of the newer medications  block histamine binding and also work to stabilize the mast cells in order for them to stop releasing histamine, these are known as mast cell stabilizers.

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