Allergic and Irritant Conjunctivitis
What is allergic conjunctivitis?
Allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane covering the eye and the inside of the eyelids due to an allergic reaction of the membrane to an outside agency called antigen or allergen. Usually affects both eyes simultaneously.
Depending on the nature of the offending antigen, allergic conjunctivitis may be seasonal (only a few months of the year) or perennial (year round). Allergic conjunctivitis is the fourth part of conjunctivitis, and 2.5% of the reasons for consultation in allergology.
What is irritant conjunctivitis?
Irritant conjunctivitis is an overreaction of the conjunctiva usually irritating an external agent (fumes, vapors, fumes, etc.).. Moreover, some of these irritants can aggravate the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.What are the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis?
The seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes. The most common signs and symptoms include eye redness, itching, tearing, intermittent, photophobia (inability to look at the light) and foreign body sensation (sand). Often associated symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as sneezing and runny nose, and less commonly, asthma symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing).
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is usually caused by allergy to pollen in the flowering season.
What are the symptoms of irritant conjunctivitis?
Irritant conjunctivitis manifested by ocular discomfort such as itching or burning, with red eyes in the presence of a moderate irritant (snuff smoke, pool chlorine, etc.), and resolves spontaneously out of these particular environments.
credit to: Dr. Ignacio Jáuregui Presa, Dr. Michel Maille