What are the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis?
Most people with allergic conjunctivitis have problems with both eyes. Symptoms may appear quickly, soon after the eyes have come into contact with the allergen. In other cases, as with some eye drops, symptoms may take from two to four days to appear. The following symptoms are most typical for allergic conjunctivitis:

• Eyes become red/pink - by far the most common symptom. The eyes become irritated as the capillaries (small blood vessels) in the conjunctiva widen.

• Pain - some people have pain in one or both eyes. If the eyes are very red and painful it is important to see a doctor. Any patient with painful, red eyes, and has become sensitive to light (photophobia), and feels his/her vision is affected should see a doctor straight away.

• Itchiness - as the eyes are irritated they may itch. The itch may worsen if you keep rubbing them.

• Swollen eyelids - the eyelids may puff up when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, or if the sufferer has been rubbing them a lot.

• Soreness - the inflammation may make the whole area feel sore and tender. Some people say the soreness feels like burning.

Conjunctivitis in young children
Small children may be susceptible to infective conjunctivitis and they may develop severe forms of the condition because of poor immune defences. This is particularly the case in babies and conjunctivitis in an infant aged less than one month old is a notifiable disease in the UK.


This type of conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) may be due to an infection that has been contracted during the passage through the birth canal and may include gonococcal or chlamydial infection. Small babies may develop conjunctivitis from other types of infection but swabs should always be taken in order that appropriate treatment can be given.

Small babies often have poorly developed tear drainage passages (a condition known as nasolacrimal duct obstruction). These children are susceptible to watering eyes and they may intermittently become sticky, but this is usually not serious.


People with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis will experience symptoms at certain times during the year - usually from early spring, into summer, and even into autumn (fall). Those with perennial allergic conjunctivitis are susceptible at any time of year, and may find certain times of the day are worse than others.

If the eyelids are red, cracked and/or dry it is an indication that the patient most likely has contact conjunctivitis. Contact conjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis are not seasonal - symptoms may occur at any time of year.

Treatment
Before the advent of modern medications, treatment for allergic conjunctivitis was limited to eye washes. This would wash the allergy causing material from the eye and provide short term relief. Today, there are many treatments available for allergic conjunctivitis. They include:

• Lubricants
• Decongestants
• Antihistamines
• Decongestant / Antihistamine combinations
• Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents (NSAIDs)
• Steroids

Your choice of therapy will depend on the intensity of the allergic response. Since histamine causes most of the common symptoms associated with allergic conjunctivitis, an antihistamine or histamine blocker are effective.

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