Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is the eye equivalent of Hay fever. About 25% of the general population is affected.

Due to summer pollen season and the exposure to grass and tree pollen, the eyes are itching and become watery and red.

Eye allergies usually vary from mild redness and irritation of the conjunctiva up to severe conjuntival inflammation. The conjunctiva is the membane, that covers the visible eyeball and extends to the inside of the eyelids. It can be affected by allergic disease if exposed to allergen particles such as pollen, cat dander or house dust.

The treatment for allergic conjunctivitis is the regular use of eyedrops. During the past few years, the medical treatment has been improved. Several new products have been developed and put on the european market. The anti-allergy eyedrops for mild seasonal affection contain active ingredients such as sodium chromoglycate, nedocromil sodium or lodoxamide. In case of mild to moderate disease, the use of antihistamine solution, such as levocabastine is recommended by the medical doctor. In case of assocation with nasal allergy, oral histamines like cetrizine, loratadine, mizolastine or fexofenandine can be helpfull.

In more severe cases corticosteroid eyedrops might be used, but only for short periods of time. These type of eyedrops should never be used without direct supervision of a doctor. It could lead to unwanted side-effects.