What Else Could this Be?

Ocular allergy represents one of the most common conditions encountered by allergists and ophthalmologists.  Allergic conjunctivitis is often underdiagnosed and consequently undertreated.⁶ Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC) are the most common forms of ocular allergies.⁶

Even though you may think you suffer from ocular allergy, other ocular conditions may mimic allergy but require different treatment.¹ These conditions include dry eye, blepharitis, occupational or environmental-related discomfort or infections^12-17 and have symptoms similar to those for ocular allergy.^1,12

Dry Eye

Dry eye is a disorder of the tear film caused by a lack of tear quantity or quality.^1,12 This lack causes inflammation and damage to the surface of your eye, both of which can cause discomfort.¹² Dry eye can also result from other diseases or the use of certain medications.¹²

Dry eye symptoms include: discomfort, irritation, feeling that something is in your eye, burning, stinging, grittiness, blurry vision, sticking and redness.^1,12 Severe pain is not a typical feature of dry eye, itchy eyes with a burning sensation usually signals dry eye.¹

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a common inflammatory condition of the eyelid margins.^1,13 It involves the lash-bearing region of the lid margin, and it is often associated with bacterial infection.^1,13 Blepharitis can affect the oil-producing glands of the lids and may be associated with skin disorders such as seborrhoeic dermatitis and rosacea.¹³

Drug-induced Conjunctivitis

This condition is usually toxic and not truly an allergic reaction to some components of eye drops.¹⁵  This reaction may occur following instillation of eye drops, such as beta-blockers or over-the-counter anti-allergy eye drops. Antibiotic eye drops may provoke contact allergic reactions.¹⁵

Digital Eye Strain

Digital eye strain can be caused by excessive screen time, such as computer monitors, TVs and hand-held video game screens.¹⁶ Symptoms include dry eyes, blurred vision and eyestrain.¹⁶ These symptoms are not related to allergy.

Urban Allergy¹⁷

Some studies suggest that a polluted environment increases allergic sensitivity, and this is called Urban Eye Allergy Syndrome.  Sometimes symptoms similar to allergic conjunctivitis can occur without an allergic response. Symptoms might include redness, itching and burning.  Urban allergy can result from poor air quality both outdoors and indoors.  Poor building ventilation can be a  contributing factor.