The conjunctiva, a transparent and thin mucosal tissue that connects the eyeball and the eyelids, performs essential functions such as protecting the eyes from various physical stimuli and the external environment, forming a mucus layer in tears, and immune function to protect the ocular surface. When these conjunctiva problems occur according to various causes, various related diseases occur. The conjunctiva is one of these conjunctival related diseases, and it refers to inflammation and infection occurring within the conjunctiva due to causes such as bacteria and viruses. Depending on the cause, it is divided into bacterial and viral, chlamydial infection, and allergic.
If bacterial and viral conjunctivitis is caused by several pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, and influenza, and several viruses such as herpes simplex virus, enterovirus, and adenovirus, allergic conjunctivitis is caused by pollen, house dust mites, Animal dander and hair, eye drops, contact lenses, cigarette smoke, chemicals and medicines, and beauty products and cosmetics are known to cause it. In particular, allergic conjunctivitis is well known as a seasonal disease that frequently occurs in spring due to various environmental factors such as pollen, fine dust, and yellow dust, as it is known as the main cause of pollen generation. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, as well as various information related to treatment and prevention.
The main symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is largely divided into seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, springtime keratoconjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis. , and causes a burning sensation and pain. Also, as the amount of tears increases, the amount of transparent secretions and mucus in the eyes increases, and the increased tears come out through the lacrimal glands to the nose, leading to symptoms of nasal congestion and clear runny nose. And if these symptoms become more severe, the conjunctiva may become swollen or bleeding may occur. These related symptoms are characterized by worsening symptoms as the exposure to environmental factors such as pollen, fine dust, and yellow dust increases.
In some cases, allergic conjunctivitis can be cured naturally, but if the symptoms worsen without a natural cure, various problems occur. The main symptoms such as itching and pain not only cause difficulties in normal daily life, but also the runny nose discharged can worsen in the form of a purulent, sticky, gradually becoming sticky due to chronicity. In addition, if symptoms worsen further, not only may it cause deterioration of vision, but also symptoms such as increased inflammation levels and dry eye syndrome. And if the increased inflammation is confirmed to be the cornea, it can lead to secondary complications. In particular, if you have atopic keratoconjunctivitis accompanying atopic dermatitis or springtime keratoconjunctivitis, which occurs a lot in digestion, vision loss often occurs, so it is important to get a quick examination and treatment. In addition, as allergic conjunctivitis is a disease that recurs more easily when exposed to an environment with many allergens, it is important to consistently practice lifestyle to reduce the allergen-causing substances as much as possible.
Conjunctivitis treatment and prevention
1. Accurate diagnosis and treatment according to the diagnosed result
Allergic conjunctivitis has different causes and prevention methods, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis and examination through a visit to the hospital, and to treat differently depending on the diagnosis result. It is important to check the exact status of allergy through blood tests and skin reaction tests, as well as interviewing with a specialist. If you have been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis through multiple tests, you will receive physical therapy such as washing your face, poultices, rinsing your eyes with saline, and putting artificial tears into your eyes in the early stages of symptoms. In addition, related drugs such as antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and steroid stabilizers are treated according to the prescription of the specialist. If symptoms do not improve with these treatments, you can proceed with treatment considering corticosteroids. In addition, if the eyelids are swollen enough that it is difficult to open the eyes, or the corneal epithelium is damaged, treatment such as surgery may be performed.
2. Minimize exposure to allergens
In order to prevent allergic conjunctivitis and relieve symptoms, the most important thing is to avoid exposure to substances that cause allergies as much as possible. It is important to keep the indoor humidity below 50 degrees and at the same time use a disinfectant to reduce allergy-causing house dust mites, animal hair, dander, and fungi. In addition, fine dust is known to be the main cause of allergic conjunctivitis as well as worsening of symptoms by causing damage to mucus-secreting cells due to cell damage in the conjunctiva. It is important to wash thoroughly. It is also important not to ventilate the room during periods of severe fine dust or pollen.
3. Maintain the habit of not touching or raining your eyes
Rubbing your eyes when symptoms of conjunctivitis appear can make the symptoms worse, and in severe cases, styes or epidemic conjunctivitis can occur. Therefore, it is important to make it a habit to avoid touching your eyes, and wash your hands frequently to avoid infection as much as possible from germs. In addition, if symptoms of itching or swelling are severe, applying ice packs 3-4 times a day can help relieve symptoms. Also, when contact lenses are worn with various causative substances in contact lenses, it can cause giant papillary conjunctivitis, a type of allergic conjunctivitis. Therefore, it can be said that clean use and management of contact lenses is also an important management habit in preventing and relieving symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
4. Maintain a healthy diet
In order to prevent allergic conjunctivitis and improve symptoms, it is important to consume foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and seaweed that are composed of balanced nutrients. In particular, eating foods rich in dietary fiber has the effect of removing harmful substances and toxic substances that cause allergies, so sufficient intake is important. In addition, drinking plenty of water also helps in the discharge of toxic and metal substances, so it is an essential management habit.
On the other hand, chemical seasonings and various additives contained in various processed foods can cause allergies, and fried or fried foods can also cause symptoms aggravation by promoting active oxygen production. It is recommended to do In addition, various foods such as fish, seafood, and dairy products can also cause allergies depending on the constitution, so it is recommended to pay attention to intake.
