Help your patients understand how their eyes work, how to care for their eyes, their children's eyes, and what tests they may receive during an eye exam.
The predominant symptom of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is low-grade ocular and periocular itching, but other symptoms may be present, including excessive tearing and burning. Classical clinical signs include vasodilation and hyperaemia, chemosis, and mild eyelid swelling. Severe cases may present with papillary hypertrophy of the tarsal conjunctiva.
When making the diagnosis, it is important to consider signs and symptoms other than itching since as many as one in five patients with allergic conjunctivitis may present without a complaint of itching. Most presentations are bilateral due to airborne particles affecting both eyes, but a unilateral response can occur if an antigen such as animal dander is introduced to the eye by hand contact.
The clinical signs and symptoms associated with perennial allergic conjunctivitis are similar to those experienced with acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, although they tend to be milder and more persistent. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis occurs throughout the year, with seasonal exacerbations when exposure to dust mite and fungal allergens is greatest.
