Children's eyes itch in spring, beware of allergic conjunctivitis

□ Tao Hai

In spring, everything comes back to life and flowers bloom. It is a time for people to go outing and enjoy the flowers. However, many people experience itchy and red eyes after going outing. Some people will experience these symptoms as soon as spring comes even if they stay at home. During the consultation process, patients often ask doctors questions like: Why do my eyes itch in spring? How to prevent and treat it?

In fact, most of these people suffer from allergic conjunctivitis, a common eye disease. These patients often show symptoms of onset in spring and summer, and the symptoms improve or disappear in autumn and winter. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually caused by allergens in the air, which may be pollen, dust mites, dust, animal dander, etc. Allergic conjunctivitis is also related to personal constitution. Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic reaction that is not contagious and has a certain degree of self-limitation. Since multiple people may have allergies in the same family or work environment, it is often mistaken for being caused by infection. In fact, it is mainly because everyone is in the same environment and is exposed to allergens, causing the same allergic conjunctivitis reaction.

Allergic conjunctivitis is common in children and adolescents, and affects both eyes. The patient has a layer of pink, irregularly shaped flat protrusions on the inside of the upper eyelid, which looks like paving stones. The symptoms are itchy eyes, redness and congestion of the whites of the eyes, tears, and mucous milky white secretions. In addition, some patients have similar symptoms all year round, with a peak in spring and summer, and symptoms alleviated in other seasons. In general, the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis can be relieved or disappear on their own with the change of seasons, and after repeated attacks for several years, the symptoms tend to alleviate or subside.

For the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, first of all, patients should try to identify the allergic substances, avoid contact with allergens in life, and cooperate with drug treatment, the effect is generally good. Some patients find it difficult to determine the allergic substances, so doctors' treatment of this disease is limited to relieving symptoms and alleviating patients' pain, and the treatment effect is generally not satisfactory. At present, there are several types of eye drops and representative drugs for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. The first is antihistamine eye drops: such as emedastine fumarate eye drops, etc.; the second is mast cell stabilizer eye drops: such as sodium cromolyn, pemirolast potassium and other eye drops; the third is dual-effect drug eye drops: such as olopatadine eye drops, etc.; the fourth is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops: such as diclofenac eye drops, etc.; the fifth is glucocorticoid eye drops: such as cortisone acetate, dexamethasone and other eye drops. It should be noted that although corticosteroids can effectively control allergic symptoms in the short term and have good effects, they should not be used for a long time and in large quantities, because these drugs may cause increased intraocular pressure, secondary glaucoma, cataracts and optic nerve damage, etc. It is recommended to use them according to the doctor's advice and not to use them at will.

Some patients whose symptoms are particularly severe and who have not been cured after years of treatment may also consider "relocation therapy", that is, moving from the original area where they lived to another more distant area to live and work. This may achieve better results because they have moved to a different place and are away from the allergens in the original place of residence.

(The author is the chief physician of the Department of Ophthalmology, PLA General Hospital)