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Allergic conjunctivitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Allergic conjunctivitis describes the eye's reaction to allergy-causing substances like pollen and dander. It usually includes redness, tearing, and itching.

Alternative Names:

Conjunctivitis - allergic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

When your eyes are exposed to anything to which you are allergic, histamine is released and the blood vessels in the conjunctiva become swollen (the conjunctiva is the clear membrane that covers the "white" of the eye). Reddening of the eyes develops quickly and is accompanied by itching and tearing .

Allergies tend to run in families, although no obvious mode of inheritance is recognized. The incidence of allergy is difficult to determine, because many different conditions are often lumped under the term allergy. Keep in mind that rubbing the eyes makes the situation worse.

• Review Date: 9/1/2006
• Reviewed By: Manju Subramanian, MD, Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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