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The allergens
The allergens can cause ocular allergies. Seasonal allergen and chronic allergen should be differentiated. They don’t have the same impact on individuals and must be treated separately.
- Pollen is the most frequently accused of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. It is estimated that between 10 and 40% of the world’s population contract pollen allergy during spring-time, and the number is rising steadily for thirty years. Anemophilous pollen, in particular, have a strong allergenicity. These are very light pollens released in large quantity threw wind, sticking everywhere. Grasses, which constitutes an important botanic group, are part of it. In France, we find forage grasses in our gardens, on the sideroad and grain or cereal grasses in our farmer’s fields. Tree pollens are highly allergenic (birch, cypress, oak).
- Other allergens, called “indoor allergens”, are responsible for the most chronical forms of ocular allergic reactions. These indoor allergens are mites, dust, skin flakes and mildew we find in homes. It explains why the symptoms continually exist.
Air pollutants
Air pollutants, such as ozone or chemically laden smoke, are also being held responsible for promoting allergic reaction, accentuating the irritation of the mucous membranes of the eye.
Other factors
Finally, a past history with allergic diseases and atopic symptoms may explain some eye diseases but also reaction to substances found in contact lens and cosmetics. It should be noted that people with food allergies, seafood allergy for example, or allergic reactions to stings or injections (bee sting allergies or allergic reaction to penicillin) have no immediate ocular symptoms.
The symptoms of ocular allergies are various. Also, it exists different ways to treat these allergies.
