What's Going Around: allergic conjunctivitis

A mild fall means more allergens in the air and that is leading to more late season cases of allergic conjunctivitis, according to Dr. Charlie Thompson, ophthalmologist with The Eye Clinic.

While the weather is cooling down this week, we are still yet to hit the freezing mark and Dr. Thompson says that is impacting seasonal allergy sufferers.

"We haven't had a good, hard freeze to kill off everything that's in bloom, so people's allergy season, those that have seasonal allergies, is just stringing out longer," he said.

Dr. Thompson is treating patients for allergic conjunctivitis, eye inflammation resulting from allergies to pollen, ragweed, and mold spores.

"Most people that have allergic conjunctivitis are allergic to a certain allergen in the environment, so typically things that are in bloom in the fall season," said Dr. Thompson.  "That allergen will come in contact with the ocular surface and it will stimulate a release of histamine."

That reaction causes red, itchy, watery eyes.

"That can be swelling.  It causes the blood vessels on the surface to dilate, and so it gives them a red eye and it causes a lot of itching, which is kind of far and away the most common symptom of true allergic conjunctivitis," said Dr. Thompson.

Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, like viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye.  It is treated by avoiding exposure to the allergens, cool compresses to the eyes, over-the-counter antihistamines and in some cases, prescription eye drops.

"There are newer generation antihistamine and mass cell blockers, which is a combination eye drop, that are prescription grade that most insurances will cover, but can be a little bit pricier, so we try to save those for the more aggressive cases," said Dr. Thompson.

As winter season approaches, Dr. Thompson says to make sure indoor allergens are minimized.  Dust, mold, and pet dander can also trigger allergic conjunctivitis.

Allergy testing can confirm the exact culprit for the allergic reaction.  A clinical diagnosis comes through a thorough eye exam with a microscope, looking at the eyelid and surface of the white of the eye.

Copyright KPLC 2015.  All rights reserved.