Allergies lying in wait: red eyes, tears and severe itchiness
Summer is around the corner, the trees are a mass of beautiful flowers, the beach is calling more loudly and for allergy sufferers an alarm bell is ringing. Pollen, dust and grains of sand are some of the main causes of red, irritated eyes that are almost always the symptoms of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the thin, transparent membrane that covers the eyeball.
«Allergies have increased in recent years, especially those that affect the eyes», explained Dr. Francesco Loperfido, head of the general ophthalmology service in the Ophthalmological Surgery and Vision Science Unit at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan and a consultant with the Commissione Difesa Vista (CDV – the sight protection commission). «These are seasonal allergies because they mainly occur at certain times of the year, particularly in the spring when there is pollen in the air, but they continue to create problems throughout the summer. They vary from region to region and from north to south, depending on the plants in bloom and the humidity and pollution levels in a particular area». It is precisely during the flowering season that sunglasses are an invaluable ally for protection against pollen.
We may have bought a pair of eyeglasses from a street vendor believing that the problem would be solved but, unfortunately, this sometimes worsens the condition because of allergic reactions on the nose, cheeks and auricle. It is increasingly important to protect the eyes from pollen and foreign bodies, but skin allergies must be avoided also by wearing good-quality sunglasses made from non-allergic materials that meet all the health protection standards.
What happens to the eyes when we have an allergic reaction? Redness, itchiness and excessive amounts of tears almost always affect both eyes. The biggest mistake? Rubbing your eyes. «This is the worst thing you can do. Rubbing increases the allergic reaction because it is a physical trigger that causes the mast cells to release more mediators as an immune response. Rubbing the eyes makes antibodies and antigens (pollen or any other allergen) more “friendly” because they release histamine which increases itchiness», Loperfido explained. Recent research has shown that a high number of inflammatory cells are brought to the surface of the eye simply by massaging the eyelids.
Allergic conjunctivitis must not be underestimated because, in the long term, it can damage the surface of the eye. There are two types of treatment. «Preventive: antihistamine, cortisone-free drops are administered at least 10 days before the allergy season explodes. Unlike cortisone, they have no side effects; their job is to block the release of histamine and prevent the related symptoms», Loperfido explained. Or «Curative: when an allergic reaction already exists, cortisone drops are administered. However, the recommended solution is to have an allergy test for the preparation of a vaccine».
“Drastic” remedies can be accompanied by some simple measures to prevent the discomfort of conjunctivitis. For example: carefully clean the eye area with sterile saline solution, avoid walking in fields or open spaces, especially when the pollen causing the allergic reaction is at its peak, dehumidify your living environments. In addition to all these remedies, there is another and essential one: the best way to prevent inflammation is to protect your eyes by wearing quality sunglasses every day, «preferably the wraparound kind as they create a protective barrier that keeps pollen and foreign bodies away», Loperfido concluded.
Wraparound sunglasses are particularly recommended for contact lens wearers, because they are a barrier against foreign bodies.
GLOSSARY
CONJUNCTIVA: the fine, transparent mucous membrane that lines the underside of the eyelid and the white part of the eye.
CORNEA: the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber; it ensures most of eye’s optical power.
HISTAMINE: a substance released by the mast cells in response to allergic phenomena. It causes vasodilation of the capillaries and arteriole and venule vasoconstriction resulting in edema; it stimulates gastric secretions.
