Tears are one of the protective barriers of the eyes. Dust, sand grains, dust - they stimulate their abundant secretion, which causes the foreign body to flush out of the eye. However, pollen, dust mite excrements and other allergens are not always flushed out. They penetrate deep into the mucous membrane - so-called conjunctiva of the eye - protecting the eye from external influences. Eye allergy induces local inflammation in people who are allergic. The conjunctiva becomes congested and swollen. .
What is the role of the conjunctiva in the eye?
The conjunctiva is a thin, almost transparent mucous membrane - moist and shiny. Its task is to protect the eye against small air pollution: dust, sand particles, microorganisms, etc. Thanks to the presence of glandular tissue, it secrete tears that help in removing impurities entering the eye.
How does the conjunctiva protect the eye from contamination and infection?
The secret of the protective effectiveness of the conjunctiva lies in the aforementioned layer of slightly oily tears. Tears are produced by the lacrimal glands of the conjunctiva placed above the eye and constantly distributed over its surface thanks to the blinking of the eyelids, which act as a "humidifier and doormat", analogously to the car wipers. They have bactericidal and virucidal abilities, as well as absorb small impurities and remove them from the surface of the eye thanks to eyelid movements. When the composition of tears due to conjunctivitis changes, their protective role disappears, and the effects of inflammation interfere with the actions of the conjunctiva and eyelids.
Conjunctivitis?
A typical symptom of conjunctivitis is swelling of the eyelids, watery discharge from the eyes and congestion. The latter triggers the effect of the so-called the red eye caused by the expansion of the blood vessels. The cause of the disease may be allergic reaction of the conjunctiva, as well as infection of bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.
Is it possible to recognize the type of infection after the symptoms of inflammation?
The nature of the discharge from the eye allows one to conclude about the cause of the inflammation. Aqueous conjunctival secretion is characteristic of viral infections, toxic and allergic reactions. In allergic conjunctivitis, watery secretion is sometimes with the addition of mucus. The mucus secretion is characteristic of spring conjunctivitis and dry keratoconjunctivitis, purulent for severe bacterial infections, mucopurulent for mild infections and chlamydial infections.
How often do we meet with allergic conjunctivitis?
Allergic conjunctivitis is a common allergic disease. Is one of the symptoms of hay fever, or an independent disease. It may also be the result of direct allergen activity on the mucous membrane of the eyes, as well as accompanying other types of allergies (atopic dermatitis, allergic catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, and allergic asthma with allergic base).
How does the eye react to the allergen?
The mucosal reaction is almost immediate inflammation and effusion of watery secretion, itching and pain. As a result of the first contact of the eye with the allergen, which is usually pollen of plants, pet dander, mold spores, mite droppings, etc. there is the emergence of on-site antibodies that quickly recognize foreign substances. Re-contact with them accelerates and strengthens the inflammatory reaction and severity of disease symptoms. This type of allergic reaction is called atopy.
What does a quick reaction to allergens, called the atopic reaction, mean for the patient?
This reaction means that the allergy will persist for many months or years, by creating a special class of IgE antibodies. These antibodies are constantly on the surface of the conjunctiva and each subsequent appearance of the allergen trigger abundant local burst of histamine and other inflammatory mediators causing the above-mentioned disease symptoms.
Why do we suffer from itchy eyes?
Eye pruritus is one of the most severe symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. It is located mainly in the medial angle of the eye, where as a result of blinking, pollen grains accumulate and release allergens. Therefore, in pollinosis the symptoms of pruritus are observed primarily in the medial angle of the eye, in contrast to the symptoms caused by allergens contained in the mold spores (about 10 times smaller than pollen grains) that cause symptoms of pruritus located in the outer corner of the eye.
What are the known allergic conjunctivitis diseases?
ALLERGIC SEASONAL LIGHTNING OF SPEEDS
Combined with allergic rhinitis or not. It can be dominated by either ocular or nasal symptoms. However, in almost 1/3 of patients with allergic rhinitis, the only symptoms in the first years of the disease are conjunctivitis
SPRING RHIZE AND SPILL IN SPRING
OSTRE ALLERGIC SPONITIS - a reaction of the urticaria type to a high concentration of allergens entering the conjunctival sac
ALLERGIC SEASONAL LIGHTNING OF SPEEDS
Allergic conjunctivitis, usually accompanied by hay fever or all-season allergic rhinitis. It makes itself known soon after the allergen has penetrated - for example, plant pollen into the body. It usually has a severe course and is manifested by a strong eye tear, as the swollen lacrimal channels, which are swollen by the allergen, prevent tears from draining into the nasopharyngeal cavity. Eyes bake and itch, provoking to rub. This may be the cause of additional infections, eg bacterial infections. The mucous membrane of the eyeball and eyelids is bloodshot and swollen. The eyes look "feverish".
Warning! Do not rub your eyes!
Rubbing the eye gives instant, but short-lived relief, itching returns with double strength and the "vicious circle" begins. As a result, the blood vessels of the conjunctiva dilate, the eyes become red and irritated, the itching builds up, and the photophobia can occur.
What is the course of the disease?
Symptoms - pruritus, tearing and redness of the conjunctiva without visual disturbances - appear suddenly, have a sharp and transient course. As a result, the conjunctiva is mildly swollen, and in more severe cases, the swelling affects the eyelids. Corneal involvement and visual acuity are never present.
What should we know about the treatment of conjunctivitis?
The aim of treatment is to stabilize the mast cell membrane, which prevents the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. It is important to use antihistamines appropriately early, which may prevent the onset of symptoms of inflammation. It is advisable to use medicinal preparations 7-10 days before the expected period of exposure (eg pollen season of a given plant).
What allergens often threaten our eyes?
. pet hair: a dog, a cat, a guinea pig; feathers
located in bedding (geese, ducks), and birds kept at home (parrots, canaries, etc.),
plant pollen (all actively dusting plants in the pollen season, especially grass),
mold spores, mites (they threaten slightly less because they are the most active during sleep when the eyelids are closed).
How do we treat seasonal allergic conjunctivitis?
The aim of treatment is to block the secretion of histamine by special cells of the immune system, so-called mast cells. Drugs should be used early enough to prevent the symptoms of inflammation from developing. It is advisable to use medicinal preparations 7-10 days before the expected period of exposure (pollination season of a given plant).
Treatment ... the nose stops tearing.
In this disease, tearing can be caused by a reflex that comes from both the conjunctiva and the nasal mucosa. For example, irritation of the nose by allergens causes temporary irritation of the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva, but does not cause pruritus. Therefore, after using topical preparations on the nasal mucous membrane (eg, sodium cromoglycate, or rather more modern nedocromil sodium), the conjunctival symptoms disappear. It is also advisable to use numerous preparations to relieve allergic conjunctivitis in the form of drops to the eye, prescribed by an allergist doctor.
What should we know about the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis?
The treatment of conjunctivitis with allergic rhinitis is not fundamentally different from hay fever therapy, also known as pollinosis. Antihistamines are considered the first-line drugs.Particularly noteworthy are the latest generation drugs that do not cause unpleasant side effects: drowsiness, sluggish reactions, which makes it difficult, and even impossible, for example, to drive a car, work in occupations that require concentration, increased attention and concentration or work at heights. The latest generation antihistamine, also recently available in Poland, is, for example, fexofenadine. When taking this medicine, you can drive your car with confidence, as well as work intensely mentally.
In the case of spontaneous conjunctivitis, without symptoms of hay fever, or urticaria, drops are usually administered directly to the conjunctival sac, symptom-relieving agents - vasoconstrictor, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, stabilizing mast cell fate (a type of immune cells responsible for the formation of allergic reactions). Popular means are - tetryzoline hydrochloride, antazoline hydrochloride, etc., which in a few minutes cause narrowing of blood vessels (eye congestion is reduced). Oral, antihistamine drugs are used selectively in more severe cases. .
What should you remember?
Allergic conjunctivitis may be accompanied by complications caused by, for example, an additional infection with pathogenic germs (scratching itchy eyelids!). That is why it is always necessary to consult an ophthalmologist. In addition, for each drug, especially if it is used by hypersensitive persons, an individual, unusual reaction of the body may occur. The doctor should always decide on the selection of medications to alleviate allergic or antiallergic symptoms, even if they are available in pharmacies without a prescription.
Does the patient help with allergies?
Even very much. All allergic symptoms disappear after they have been removed from the environment. Stopping the drug - allergen and replacing it with others, like changing allergenic cosmetics, is not difficult. It is worse with the ubiquitous pollen of plants that, when carried by the wind, can even tease a long distance from a blossoming tree or bush. So if you can not change your location periodically or close yourself in a well-moistened room (wet pollen falls on the floor and less gets into the nose and eyes), the symptom relief remains.
SPRING RHIZE AND SPILL IN SPRING
It is an allergic disease that affects mainly chronically ill. They suffer from exacerbation of the disease - most often, as the name suggests, in the spring during intense birch pollination or at the turn of May and June during grass pollination. During this period (due to the long period of pollen and therefore exposure to the allergen) the corneal inflammation may develop, which directly poses a threat to the patient's visual acuity.
Who is the condition most affected by this condition?
This disease, which is an eye form of pollinosis, mainly affects children and adolescents, mainly boys between 5 and 25 years of age. Nearly 3 in 4 patients have atopic allergy, and in 65% of patients atopic diseases affect the family. These people often had childhood asthma and allergic eczema. In the conjunctivitis, elevated levels of histamine are found.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
The main ailments are itching, tearing, feeling of a foreign body, burning, sometimes photophobia. The eyelids are swollen, stuck with copious mucus secretion, produced in excess by goblet cells. Spring keratoconjunctivitis is one of the symptoms of allergic syndrome, i.e. seasonal allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
ACUTE ALERGATIOUS COMBUSTION
What is this disease and how is it different from "normal" sensitization?
Acute allergic conjunctivitis is a reaction of the urticaria type, which is caused by the inflow of very large amounts of allergens, eg pollen, mold spores or household dust. Allergens get into the conjunctival sac causing conjunctival and palpebral edema. In most cases, it disappears spontaneously after discontinuation of contact with the allergen, or after administration of a single dose of the appropriate drugs.
Who most often affects this disease?
The disease usually occurs in small children playing on the grass in the period of increased pollination of these plants. Sometimes it is a reaction to house dust containing large amounts of mites.