Allergic Conjunctivitis

 

Allergic conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the membrane enclosing the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) due to allergy.

 

Causes

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are caused by exposure to a particular allergen, which varies between patients. The most common allergens are:

·         Pollen;

·         Cosmetics and perfumes;

·         Air pollution;

·         Dust mites; and

·         Smoke.

 

Disease pathway

The conjunctiva comprises many cells linked to the immune system (mast cells) which release chemicals in response to certain allergens.

These chemicals cause the dilation of nearby blood vessels, irritation of nerve endings and subsequent inflammation of the conjunctiva.

 

Symptoms and diagnosis

Common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include:

·         Intense itching sensation in both eyes;

·         Puffy, red appearance of the eyeball; and

·         Thin, stringy discharge from the eye.

Doctors are able to diagnose allergic conjunctivitis based on its typical symptoms and appearance.

 

Treatment

Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with anti-allergy eye drops, with tear supplements to help alleviate symptoms.

In mild cases, drugs to constrict the blood vessels in the eye may be sufficient.

 

 

 

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Megavitamin Therapy (Multivitamin, Vitamin Supplements) [1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]:

Please Note that while supplements are effective in correcting deficiencies in the body, their long-term usage is not helpful in preventing diseases like cancer and heart disease. To prevent these illnesses one should eat the natural foods which these vitamins and minerals come from. Replacing natural sources with artificial supplements actually increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Supplements should be taken only as a balanced multivitamin supplement that contains no more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance. It would be most helpful in people with restricted food intakes, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

Recommendation: Weakly against. (There is no evidence that Megavitamin therapy can prevent or treat allergies. In fact, long term therapy can lead to increased risk)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Kampo [1, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Kampo helps in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Glyconutrients [1, 6, 7]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (Available evidence does not support claims that glyconutrients help to treat allergic reactions. More studies are needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Cloves (Caryophyllum Aromaticum, Eugenia Caryophyllata) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Cloves help to treat allergic conjunctinvitis in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Cats Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa) [1]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recomendation (insufficient evidence to support claims that Cats Claw can help to treat allergic conjunctivitis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Neural Therapy in any way helps treat Allergic Rhinitis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):

NOT RECOMENDED

Recommendation: strongly against (available evidence shows that HBOT is in no way useful in treating HIV/AIDS, and can have harmful effects. NOT RECOMENDED)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Neuro-Linguistic Programming:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Neural Therapy in any way helps treat Allergic Rhinitis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

 

Summary References

Treatment

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 94.

3. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition by Dan Bensky, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew Gamble 2004

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/cloves

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-clove.html

6. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3228488

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/glyconutrients

8. Shibata, Yoshiharu and Jean Wu. "Kampo Treatment for Climacteric Disorders: A Handbook for Practitioners." Paradigm Publications, 1997

9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kampo

10. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/orthomolecular-medicine

11. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/163/2/192.pdf

12. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html

13. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/5/707

14. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/13638.shtml

15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17327526