Eye Allergies

When life had begun to appear on earth, one of the first things to develop was the eyes. The importance of eyes for the survival of any species on the earth can be gauged from this fact. The defense mechanisms put up by the body to protect eyes are quite striking. It includes the eyelids, eyelashes and the conjunctiva, which covers the eyeball. In spite of all this defense mechanism of the body, eyes continue to be one of the most sensitive organs in the human body and are always open to the attack of airborne allergens.

Tears continuously keep the eyes clean but are ineffective when dealing with allergens. An allergy occurs due to the immune response of the body to a foreign particle. Most of the time an allergy is caused by the overreaction of the body. In the eyes, the allergic reaction occurs to the conjunctiva – a transparent membrane covering the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid. Dust, mold, pet dander and tree pollen are some of the most common allergens. If you are allergic to a particular substance, and when your eyes come into contact with the substance, it will kick start an allergic reaction.

It is estimated that more 50 million Americans suffer from various type of allergies. In it, majority of the people suffer from eye allergies. People with allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis or strong family history of allergy are more prone to have eye allergies.

Causes of Eye Allergies

An allergic reaction to the conjunctiva is popularly known as allergic conjunctivitis or ‘pink eye.’ It varies from soft irritation of the eyes to severe itching, which leads to corneal scaring. Direct contact with the allergen is the main cause of eye allergies. The contact can happen through air, hands and from materials used to rub the eyes.

Pollens, spores, pet dander, hair, dust, grass, mold, weeds, certain plants, nail polish, certain medicines and secretions like saliva are some of the most common allergens. The conjunctiva when comes into contact with an allergen produces a chemical called histamine, which causes the symptoms associated with eye allergies.

Cigarette smoke, wind, perfumes, air pollution, diesel exhaust also creates irritation to the conjunctiva but this is not included in eye allergies.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

Itching is the most important symptom of eye allergy. Redness, watery discharge, swelling of the eyeball, tearing, burning sensation, pain while opening eyelids after sleep, blurred vision, pus formation and the feeling of an alien body in the eye are some of the common symptoms. People wearing contact lens will have discomfort in wearing it. Eye allergies mostly affect both the eyes.

Dry eye and tear duct obstruction are sometimes confused as eye allergies. These two types of ailments have similar symptoms to eye allergies. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by bacteria and viruses.

Conclusion

Eye allergies rarely cause vision impairment. Itching is the most vital symptom of allergic eyes. Although most of the eye allergies are not dangerous, persistent eye allergies should be treated and it is wise to administer drugs after consulting and ophthalmologist.

Crazy Contact Lenses – Making Them Look Deep Into Your Eyes

The possibilities are endless. Get wild, weird, or simply beautiful lenses for whatever occasion you attend or impression you want to make.

But because decorative lenses do not always require a prescription and because there are so many ways to buy them, it’s important that consumers research companies selling them, especially those based online. Do not put your eyesight at risk!

They say eyes are windows to the soul. So if you are creatively stylish with your makeup, clothes, shoes, or hairdo, why not do the same with your eyes? Even if you have 20/20 vision, you can still be a part of the fashion trend of crazy contact lenses. Don’t just change the color of your eye, change the design! You don’t even need a prescription.

But if you do have prescribed contact lenses, why not experiment a little? Remember when you were younger and wore orange and black wired braces for the month of Halloween? Well, how about on October 31st you wear a really spooky pair of contact lenses?

There are all sorts of crazy contact lenses out there. You can make your eyeballs look entirely green or you can appear to have cat eyes. Maybe you want to wear crazy contact lenses for Halloween, a night out on the town, or perhaps you prefer a subtler, but equally awesome look for your daily life.

Conditions and Diseases of the Eye

Your eyesight is one of the most important things you possess. Taking good care of your eyes is crucial for eye health. However, sometimes the eye is susceptible to various diseases and conditions that you simply cannot prevent. Fortunately, there are treatments available for these problems. Here are the most common eye problems experienced and information on their treatment:

Allergies: Eye allergies are common and affect countless people around the world. Itchy, watery, swollen and red eyes are some symptoms of eye allergies. Over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications and eye drops provide easy relief.

Astigmatism: An astigmatism is an abnormal curvature of your cornea. Although this condition may worsen with age, it is easy to remedy with glasses, corrective contact lenses or LASIK surgery.

Blepharitis: This condition is an inflammation of the eye and eyelid that can lead to uncomfortable irritation, watering, and a crusty buildup. Blepharitis sufferers will commonly feel like there is something in the eye. This problem is often caused by a bacterial infection. Treat blepharitis with antibiotics, soothing drops, silicone punctal plugs, warm compresses and occasionally steroids.

Cataracts: A common problem for the elderly is cataracts. Cataracts refers to the clouding of the eye caused by a clumping of protein. This is caused by the aging process. Cataracts start out small and gradually get bigger with time. Cataract surgery is a safe, common procedure that your eye care professional can easily perform to remove the cataracts.

Dry Eye Syndrome: This uncomfortable condition is caused by the lack of proper lubrication in the eye. Chronic dryness, burning and itching are common symptoms of this syndrome. Dry eye syndrome can be caused by menopause or from certain medications. Contact lens wearers also commonly complain of excessive dryness of the eyes. Certain eye diseases and conditions can also cause this problem. Your eyecare professional can prescribe or recommend drops such as artificial tears to alleviate the problem.

Macular Degeneration: Also known as AMD, this condition is the leading cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of 65. Your eye doctor can educate you about the different kinds of macular degeneration. Although there is no cure for this condition, there may be ways your eye doctor can improve your eyesight.

If you experience these or any other eye problems, seek treatment right away from your eyecare professional.

Choosing an Antiaging Eye Cream

When it comes to choosing an antiaging eye cream, the possibilities are endless. The choices range from high end department store brands, to affordable names brands and can be found in all shapes, sizes, and forms. So you can imagine that when it comes time to choose an antiaging eye cream that will produce the best results for you, the job is a tough one. Whether your target area is above the eye, below the eye, or the eyelashes, the possibilities are definitely there.

For the Eyelashes

Although not your ordinary antiaging eye cream, the products available for your eyelashes are enriched with a complex of lecithin along with plant extracts.  It’s meant to promote growth of the lashes, and is clinically proven to do so while conditioning your existing lashes. Many Internet websites and beauty stores carry this type of treatment, so your best bet is to shop around for particular differences in products as well as price.

Wrinkle Reducers

A few different kinds of antiaging eye cream can be found that reduce wrinkles while promoting healthy skin. Some of these wrinkle reducers are left on over night and then washed off, while others are meant to be used under makeup or as a lotion alone. The severity of the eye lines you are trying to reduce or smooth will probably make a big difference in which type of antiaging eye cream you decide to use. For more deep lines or crows feet, you will probably want to sue an overnight treatment, couple with a leave on treatment. And for softer lines that need just a bit of smoothing, a leave on conditioner should do the trick.

Age Defying Choices

In addition to worrying about wrinkles, lines, and brittle eyelashes, we simply want to defy our age. It’s natural, as getting older means feeling older. What better way to feel younger than to look younger? With age defying antiaging eye cream choices, defying age is a possibility. The choices in this area include firming cream and glow enhancers but the line tends to also offer natural choices such as chamomile antiaging eye cream, and herbal treatments.

Many products offer multiple benefits in one treatment, while others come in kits and require multiple steps. The severity of your problem areas don’t really matter as to whether a one step or multiple step treatment is the best choice, however pricing, time availability, and satisfaction should be the deciding factors.