Now is the best time to enjoy flowers, but why do some people always have itchy eyes?

In spring, everything comes back to life and flowers bloom. Going out to enjoy the beauty of nature is the natural choice of most people. However, recently, Wuhan Aier Ocular Surface and Cornea Department has received many such patients: as soon as spring comes, their eyes will itch extremely, and they will also have symptoms such as redness, swelling, tearing, photophobia, and increased secretions.

Dr. Chen Xiangxi, member of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Group of Aier Eye Hospital Group and deputy director of the Ocular Surface and Corneal Disease Department of Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, said: Most of the above situations are considered to be "allergic conjunctivitis"! Also known as allergic conjunctivitis. It is a hypersensitivity reaction of the conjunctiva to external allergens.

Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the common diseases in ophthalmology clinics, which can be divided into seasonal and perennial types. The main causes are:

★I have an allergic constitution

Allergic conjunctivitis often occurs in people with allergic constitutions. Since the eyes are exposed to the outside for a long time, the allergic reaction will be more obvious.

★ Eyelid inflammation

The secretions that accumulate on the eyelashes when the eyelids are inflamed may also irritate the eyes and become allergens, leading to allergic conjunctivitis.

★Wearing contact lenses

Because the contact lenses themselves or the contact lens cleaning solution can be allergens. When the eyelids are inflamed, the secretions accumulated on the eyelashes can also irritate the eyes and become allergens, leading to allergic conjunctivitis.

Don't rub your eyes.

Patients with allergic conjunctivitis should try to avoid rubbing their eyes, because rubbing the eyes can release more inflammatory factors, making the eyes more itchy and aggravating allergic symptoms. Rubbing the eyes can also easily bring germs into the eyes, causing eye inflammation.

How to prevent allergic conjunctivitis?

Most patients with spring allergic conjunctivitis are children and young people. People with allergic constitutions are more susceptible to it. The best way is to avoid allergens.

If you really can't identify the allergen, keep your living environment clean, clean your room and wash your bedding regularly. When you go out, avoid contact with pollen, and wear goggles to reduce allergens from entering your eyes. Exercise appropriately, and pay attention to the combination of work and rest. If you have symptoms such as allergic inflammation in your eyes, you should seek medical attention in time. In addition, pay attention to eye cleanliness and moisturizing, and use artificial tears appropriately.

How is allergic conjunctivitis treated?

If you have allergic conjunctivitis, you should go to the hospital for examination and receive standardized treatment under the guidance of a doctor. The treatment includes: The best treatment for allergic conjunctivitis is desensitization treatment for allergens; however, in most cases, the allergens cannot be found in time, so comprehensive anti-allergic eye treatment can be used, including cold compresses on the eyes, drops of anti-allergic drugs, and glucocorticoid/immunosuppressant eye drops when the condition is more serious.

Case Study: Focus on Children

Director Chen Xiangxi also reminded parents to pay attention to their children's blinking and rubbing their eyes, because young children cannot express complaints such as itchy eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis often manifests as frequent blinking, rubbing eyes, red eyes, and photophobia and tearing in severe cases. If parents find the above symptoms in their children, they should seek medical attention in time.

Some time ago, a 5-year-old girl came to Director Chen Xiangxi's clinic. Her mother said that she found that her eyes were red, she rubbed her eyes frequently, was afraid of light and had tears for a month, and even affected her ability to go out and go to school. When her mother gave her antibiotic eye drops but it didn't work, she had to lock her up at home and draw the curtains so that she could open her eyes. Director Chen saw that this little patient was thin and weak and had an allergic constitution. After asking, it turned out that she had eczema and rhinitis since she was a child. After checking her eyes, it was found that both eyes of this patient were severe spring allergic conjunctivitis, and even the left eye had a corneal ulcer, so she was afraid of light and had tears.

Fortunately, Director Chen gave the little patient timely and effective treatment. When she was checked again half a month later, the corneal ulcer had healed and the eye allergy symptoms had been significantly alleviated. The girl could go to school and live normally.