Allergies & Cures

There are 2 main types of eye allergies:  Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis (PAC) and Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis (SAC). Each of them comes with its own symptoms that will require special treatment in order to be alleviated.The main difference between these common forms of eye allergy is their timing. Here are their main symptoms in order for you to determine from which you are suffering from.

Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis (SAC) comes with symptoms that last for a shorter period of time – once you are bothered by grass pollen in the summer, tree pollen during springtime or weed pollen during fall time, you are very likely to suffer from this particular form of eye allergy. Also, this type of allergy may come with longer periods of time during the whole year where you will experience no symptoms at all – for instance, you are very likely to experience no symptoms during wintertime.

Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis (PAC)  comes with symptoms that will last throughout the whole year – once you are bothered by pet dander, cockroaches, dust mites or other indoor allergens, you are very likely to suffer from this form of eye allergy. Also, you will find out that several seasonal outdoor allergies may worsen your eye allergy especially if you are sensitive to those particular outdoor allergens as well. Some of the most common allergens that can trigger an eye allergy include grass, pollen, dust, weeds, cosmetics, dander or pet hair and some medicines.  Also, you may experience adverse reactions to certain elements even if they are not to be regarded as true allergens. Such elements may include perfume, cigarette smoke or diesel exhaust.

Eye allergies come with symptoms such as burning sensations in the eyes, tearing, redness, swelling of the eye, blurred vision and mucous production. Once you find out that you are completely unable to determine the exact cause of your eye allergy, you should seek professional help in order to find out more about the exact allergen that triggers your adverse reaction and how you can avoid contact with this particular allergen. For instance, if you are suffering from SAC, you will have to pay a visit to an ophthalmologist right before the season when the eye allergy flares up. By doing this, you will be able to start the necessary treatment or a personalized prevention program in order to avoid allergy symptoms.

If you are suffering from PAC, you will gave to get appointment at your ophthalmologist on a regular basis in order to amke sure that your eye allergy is monitored in the right way. For instance, occasional flare-ups will make it essential for you to keep your ophthalmologist up to date when it comes to your PAC condition. Plus, you may consult an allergist as well in order to get a full treatment for your PAC condition. Also, you may ease your allergic reactions (PAC or SAC) while at home by paying attention to the following tips:

• Start by not rubbing your eyes during the allergic reactions because an hand-to-eye direct contact will introduce even more allergens right to your eyes.
• Also, you should splash your face with plenty of water once you feel that your eyes are getting more and more itchy. By doing this, you will rinse the allergens off and keep them away from your ocular areas.
• Once you feel that you have already come into direct contact with the allergen – you feel that your eyes are burning – you should use lubricating drops/artificial tears in order to flush all the allergens off.
• Plus, you may apply some cold compresses to the eyes in order to reduce irritation and swelling caused by your eye allergy.