ALLERGIES II

 ALLERGIES AND PHOTOKERATITIS

 CHRISTMAS is here again,snow is falling once again,the weather is cold....

As family and friends enjoy the best of summer,others cannot wait for it to pass by.Medically,some people are very reactive to the presence of snow flakes and seasonal changes in the weather patterns.

 Photokeratitis is a painful eye condition that occurs when your eye is exposed to invisible rays of energy called ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun or from a man-made source.

Photokeratitis can be caused by sun reflection from sand, water, ice and snow. It can also happen if you stare at the sun, such as watching a solar eclipse directly without using a special device. A solar eclipse can also cause a burn to the retina, which is long lasting and more serious than temporary corneal damage.
There are also many man-made sources of ultraviolet light, including tanning lamps and tanning beds, as well as arc welding.

Snow blindness: a common form of photokeratitis

Snow blindness is a form of photokeratitis that is caused by UV rays reflected off ice and snow. Eye damage from UV rays is particularly common in the North and South Pole areas or in high mountains where the air is thinner and provides less protection from UV rays.
Snow blindness may also refer to freezing of the cornea’s surface, as well as severe drying of the corneal surface due to extremely dry air. Skiing, snowmobiling and mountain climbing are activities commonly associated with this condition.

most often,some may experience symptoms like:

 in cases of PHOTOKERATITIS:

• pain
• redness
• blurriness
• tearing
• gritty eye sensation
• swelling
• sensitivity to bright light
• headache
• seeing rainbow rings around light(halos)
• small pupils(miotic )
• eyelid twitching
• rarely, temporary vision loss

In rare cases, you may also experience temporary color changes in your vision.
The longer you are exposed to UV rays, the more severe your symptoms will be.

in cases of SEASONAL ALLERGIES:

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is more commonly known as hay fever. About 8 percent of Americans experience it, reports the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Hay fever occurs when your immune system overreacts to an outdoor allergen, such as pollen. The most common culprits are pollens from wind-pollenated plants, such as trees, grasses,snow flakes and weeds. The pollens from insect-pollinated plants are too heavy to remain airborne for long, and they’re less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
symptoms may include:

• redness
• itchy sensation
• tearing(watery eyes)
• runny or stuffy nose
• gritty eye sensation
• swelling
• sensitivity to bright light
• itchy throat
• frequent catarrh(sneezing)
• blurry vision sometimes(keratoconjunctivis)

 NOTE: THESE ALLERGIES ARE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY.THIS IS HOW YOUR BODY SPEAKS TO YOU TO GET AWAY FROM NOXIOUS STIMULI(PARTICLES) THAT THE BODY DOES NOT LIKE.
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY.
STAY AWAY(if possible)....these reactions(not diseases) are self limiting if you stay away from stimuli.

FIRST AID TREATMENTS/MANAGEMENT  
 
Photokeratitis and snow blindness usually go away on their own, so treatment is focused on making you feel better as your eyes heal.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them immediately. Get out of the sun and into a dark room. For relief, you may try:

• placing a cold washcloth over your closed eyes
• using artificial tears
• Antihistamines(nostamine,citrizine) and mast cell stabilizers(Sodium comoglycate) are helpful for allergies
• taking certain pain relievers as recommended by your ophthalmologist
• using eyedrop antibiotics if your ophthalmologist recommends this

Avoid rubbing your eyes as you heal. Symptoms usually go away gradually in a day or two.

Photokeratitis prevention

Photokeratitis may be prevented by wearing eye protection that blocks UV radiation. This includes:

• sunglasses that block or absorb 99 percent or more of UV rays
• snow goggles designed to block UV rays
• welding helmets