When his parents asked him why he was doing this, he said it was because his eyes were itchy. Especially in spring and autumn, the eye itch is more obvious, sometimes the nose is uncomfortable first, sneezing repeatedly, then the eyes itch, so can not help but use their hands to rub, sometimes the eyes are red and swollen. I have been to many hospitals and have been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis, and I have ordered many eye drops, but the symptoms are sometimes good and sometimes bad, and I have never been able to cure it. So, what is allergic conjunctivitis? How to treat it? According to statistics, about 1/5 of patients in ophthalmology clinics suffer from allergic eye diseases, of which allergic conjunctivitis accounts for about 50%, so it can be seen that allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common diseases in ophthalmology, which can affect both adults and children, but mostly children, especially children with allergies are more likely to develop. Broadly speaking, there are 5 main types of allergic conjunctivitis: chytridiomycosis (also known as seasonal allergic conjunctivitis), contact allergic conjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, spring cicatricial conjunctivitis, and vesicular conjunctivitis. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis has a rapid onset and occurs with exposure to the allergen and resolves with removal of the allergen. Contact allergic conjunctivitis has a clear history of exposure, such as drug or cosmetic exposure, and resolves with avoidance of exposure. Macrophthalmic conjunctivitis often has a history of contact lens (keratocontact) wear. Spring cicatricial keratoconjunctivitis, which often occurs or worsens in the spring and summer with typical smudgy yellow conjunctival changes. Vesicular conjunctivitis, typically characterized by congestion of the white of the eye and the development of small yellowish-white herpes. Allergens are the root of the problem Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergic reaction of the conjunctival mucous membrane tissue of the eye to an allergen. Allergens are substances that cause allergies and are medically called allergens. The allergen enters the eye and binds to immunoglobulins in the conjunctiva, causing local dilation of small blood vessels and producing symptoms of redness, swelling and itching. Allergens include pollen, dust, cold and humid air, dust mites, animal hair, soap, perfume, cosmetics, medications, contact lenses and their care solutions, etc. Because people’s individual constitution varies greatly, allergens vary from person to person. The most common allergen causing allergic conjunctivitis is plant pollen, and the symptoms of this allergic conjunctivitis tend to change seasonally. If the allergen is dust, dust mites or animal hair, etc., because these allergens are present year-round, the symptoms of allergy are usually continuous throughout the year and are milder, but may also worsen depending on the season. Allergic conjunctivitis is often accompanied by allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis and other areas of allergic inflammation. Typical symptoms are itchy eyes The main manifestation of allergic conjunctivitis is itchy eyes. Unlike ordinary eye itch, this itch is often very intense and unbearable, hence the medical term itchy. It also manifests as conjunctival congestion and edema with mucus discharge, sometimes accompanied by redness and swelling of the eyelid skin. These symptoms can come and go during the allergy season and recur, depending on the climate and the patient’s activities. Generally, the symptoms worsen during warm, dry days. Many patients have nasal allergy symptoms such as itchy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing in addition to eye discomfort, a condition also clinically known as allergic rhinitis conjunctivitis. Removal of allergens is the key to prevention and treatment The first step in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis is to find the allergen and remove it immediately, usually with good results. For example, pollen allergy sufferers should go outdoors less during pollen-rich seasons and wear goggles. However, most patients are not always able to identify the exact allergen, which is the fundamental reason why allergic conjunctivitis is recurrent and not easily cured. If the allergen cannot be identified for a while, first, improve the living environment, especially the air quality, reduce indoor dust, and change bed sheets and pillowcases regularly so that the impact of the allergen is reduced. Second, pay attention to nutrition and exercise to enhance physical fitness. Make the body’s potential to fight against allergic attacks increase and reduce and slow down allergic attacks. Again, local cold compresses on the eyes can be used to reduce the discomfort, artificial tears can be used to spot the eyes, and eye washes can also be used to significantly reduce the concentration of allergens and sensitizing factors and improve the symptoms. Medication mainly includes the use of anti-allergy drops such as sodium cromoglycate and Aramark. If symptoms are not relieved after treatment, short-term glucocorticoid eye drops such as Flomax and Cortisone can be used, and anti-allergy medications can be taken. In case of combined ocular bacterial infection, topical antibiotics may be used. It is important to note that anti-allergy treatment can only control the symptoms of allergy, but it is difficult to cure it completely, which is one of the reasons why allergic conjunctivitis remains untreated for so long. Patients with particularly severe symptoms that do not heal after years of treatment can also consider relocation therapy, that is, moving from the original area of residence to another more distant area to live and live, may receive better results. This is due to moving to a different location, away from the allergens of the original place of residence. Allergic conjunctivitis does not usually affect vision, but symptoms such as oddly itchy eyes cause considerable distress to the patient’s life. Adults who suffer from allergic conjunctivitis often have a history of allergies in childhood, yet it is easy to misdiagnose because the symptoms, such as redness, tearing and burning sensations, are similar to other eye diseases. Therefore, we would like to remind you that when your child rubs his or her eyes frequently at certain times of the day or has frequent blinking, it is likely that he or she is suffering from allergic conjunctivitis and needs to be seen and treated early.