Can eye allergies be contagious?

 

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common and treatable eye conditions in children and adults. Often called "pink eye," it is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and the white of the eyeball, and helps keep the eyelid and eyeball moist. It is important to find out whether your pink eye is caused by allergies or infection, because each condition has different treatments. This article focuses on allergic conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of allergic pink eye include:

·         Redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid

·         Increased amount of tears

·         Itchy eyes and nose

·         Blurred vision

·         Sneezing

·         Swelling of the eyelid

·  Allergy-associated pink eye may disappear completely, either when the allergy is treated with antihistamines, or when the allergen is removed. So, the first line of treatment is allergen removal. This may include things like wearing a hat outside and washing your face frequently during allergy season.

To relieve symptoms of allergic pink eye:

·         Remove contact lenses, if you wear them.

·         Place cold compresses on your eyes.

·      Try nonprescription "artificial tears," a type of eye drop that may help relieve itching and burning (note: Other types of eye drops may irritate the eyes and should not be used). Do not use the same bottle of drops in the other eye if it is not affected.