Allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye resulting in swelling and redness of the tissue layer that lines the eye. This eye condition is caused due to a vulnerability to foreign matter or allergens. The affected mucous membrane or part of the eye is called the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is basically the transparent mucous membrane responsible for lubricating the eye that covers the eyeball and the surface of the eyelid.
The fine spores that are borne in a flowering plant are often the cause of the eye trouble. Other causes include vegetable organic compounds, animal proteins, dust and spore-bearing fungi. In some cases, the hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen can occur within minutes. Other times the response can be delayed for hours or even days. Atopic conjunctivitis or allergic conjunctivitis seems to bear upon people who have other allergy troubles. These include inflammatory conditions of the skin-particularly with the formation of cysts in or beneath the skin in the acute stages; bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis or an itchy skin eruption characterized by weals.
Causes of Conjunctivitis
Other common causes of allergic conjunctivitis are vulnerability to animal dander, cat hair, or bird plumages. An uncommon form of allergic conjunctivitis is due to the bacteria present on the eyelid or skin. This bacterium is known as the staphylococcal bacteria. The staphylococcal bacteria causes a kind of allergy may lead to an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid, which causes acne-like infections of the glands in the conjunctiva. It may also cause a small sebaceous cyst of the eyelid known as Meibomian cysts, which are obstructions of the oil glands in the eyelid.
Long-run troubles associated with allergies in the eye seldom take place due to allergic conjunctivitis. However, if the situation is out of control, the problem can disseminate to other areas of the eye, such as the cornea (the transparent dome-shaped anterior portion of the outer covering of the eye) and the area between the cornea and the iris, leading to pain and swelling of the iris.
Atopic conjunctivitis or allergic conjunctivitis can be avoided by keeping off the substances that triggers off the allergic reaction. Specific medicinal drugs or chemical compounds in eye drops or contact lens solutions may also cause some people to become more susceptible to the eye condition.
Air cleaners and cooling system can decrease dust and allergens in the air. Staying clear from dry earth or pollen and animal dander is also important. Under normal conditions there are no long-run consequences if allergic conjunctivitis is dealt with in the right manner.