With the rise of temperature, many northern regions have entered a high incidence period of willow catkins, and Beijing, Shandong and other places have successively issued catkins warnings. Recently, allergic conjunctivitis has also entered a high incidence period, with a significant increase in the number of patients admitted to emergency departments in many hospitals. Medical staff urge the public to pay attention to the prevention and scientific treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, and not to self medicate. Allergic conjunctivitis, simply put, refers to conjunctivitis caused by allergies, mainly occurring from March to May. According to the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, allergic conjunctivitis can be divided into five subtypes: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, spring conjunctivitis, papillary conjunctivitis, and atopic conjunctivitis. Among them, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and perennial allergic conjunctivitis are the most common. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is more common in spring and autumn, and common allergens include pollen, wormwood, dust, mold, dust mites, animal hair, etc. Jie Ying, Director of Ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital, stated that over 90% of patients with allergic conjunctivitis experience varying degrees of itching. In addition to itching, there are also some other accompanying symptoms, such as swollen eyes, sometimes suddenly swollen like a blister, and there may be some sticky secretions. Another symptom is that the patient has red eyes. So basically, allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by itching, swelling, redness, and a small amount of mucus secretion, which are its main symptoms. It is particularly important to note that when discomfort occurs in the eyes, do not rub them with your hands. Although rubbing may alleviate temporary dryness and itching, hands that are not thoroughly cleaned may introduce microorganisms into the eyes, leading to infections. In addition, vigorous rubbing may also cause mechanical damage to the conjunctiva, leading to more serious problems. What should I do if I have allergic conjunctivitis? According to medical staff, the main purpose of treating allergic conjunctivitis is to alleviate symptoms and avoid sequelae. And getting rid of allergens is the most effective treatment method, such as avoiding areas with high pollen concentrations. Acute allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with cold compress to reduce inflammatory response, including using cold compress patches or wrapping ice cubes in a towel before applying ice for about 5 minutes each time. In addition, drug therapy is also very important. According to the severity of the patient's allergy, we can choose different types of medication. One of the commonly used methods is to inhibit mast cells, which reduces the release of inflammatory mediators. The second method is to directly block some inflammatory mediators, such as histamine drugs, which can relieve symptoms such as eye itching and swelling caused by histamine. In addition, we can also use some eye surface lubricants. Firstly, they can flush out allergens in our eyes. Secondly, they can provide some protection for our eyes. Who is more susceptible to allergic conjunctivitis? What should I pay attention to when preventing allergies? The following groups of people are more likely to be targets of allergic conjunctivitis: those in suboptimal health status: those with immune disorders are more likely to react to allergens. Immunohyperfunction: The immune system is overly sensitive and prone to overreaction to external stimuli. Dry eye patients: The ocular barrier function is weaker and more susceptible to allergen invasion. Jie Ying, Director of Ophthalmology at Beijing Tongren Hospital: Especially for some children and adolescents, they may be more prone to allergic diseases at this age. There may also be some genetic factors, and if both parents have allergies, the probability of the child being allergic is very high. To prevent allergic conjunctivitis, it is important to pay attention to mattress hygiene, regularly air dry the mattress, reduce the growth of mites and mold, and lower the risk of allergies caused by mites and mold. Reduce contact with animals to prevent allergies caused by animal hair, dander, etc. If allergic to dust, pollen, etc., consider using an air purifier indoors to absorb dust and pollen in the air and improve indoor air quality. (New Society)