Pollen can cause severe forms of conjunctivitis – naturopathy & naturopathy specialist portal

Pollen can cause severe conjunctivitis in people with eczema

Neurodermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases. In Germany, more than four million people are affected. Typical complaints are itching, eczema and very dry skin. At present there is also a risk that those affected will develop a severe form of conjunctivitis caused by pollen.

The pollen season has been in full swing for weeks. Unfortunately, many people suffer from symptoms such as red and itchy eyes. Special care is required for patients with atopic dermatitis: pollen can contribute to a severe form of conjunctivitis. Experts from the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) explain in a current release what to do in these cases.

More than four million people in Germany are affected

Neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis, atopic eczema) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.

According to the allergy information service of the Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Health and the Environment, the number of neurodermatitis diagnoses is increasing.

According to the experts, the German Dermatological Society (DDG) states that every year two million children and 2.5 million adults suffer from neurodermatitis.

Threat to eyesight

“Anyone who has neurodermatitis is particularly susceptible to non-infectious conjunctivitis, which can also be triggered or exacerbated by pollen,” explains Professor Dr. med. Philip Maier from the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Medical Center Freiburg.

As the DOG writes, 25 to 40 percent of atopic dermatitis patients develop a severe form of conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKK).

“If left untreated, it can lead to corneal complications and therefore be dangerous for the eyesight,” says the ophthalmologist. Experts suspect that the structural protein filaggrin could be the cause of this.

“In patients with neurodermatitis, defective filaggrin production was detected in both the skin and the cornea,” reports the Freiburg researcher, who has published a contribution on the subject with colleagues in the specialist journal “Der Ophthalmologe”.

A strong eye rub caused by the itching, especially in children, can further promote corneal complications, according to a new study published in the magazine “Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology”.

With alarm signals to the ophthalmologist

As the DOG explains, AKK initially manifests itself as “normal” conjunctivitis with itchy, red and watery eyes, swollen eyelids and a feeling of a foreign body in the eye – whereby the symptoms are often more severe than with purely allergic conjunctivitis. But there are important differences.

“In addition, there are often typical thickening on the edge of the eyelid, skin changes such as scaling or wrinkles, as well as skin cracks on the lower eyelid. The conjunctivitis often shows no signs of improvement over a long period of time despite caring measures, ”explains Maier.

In the case of severe courses, superficial defects, including ulcers, can occur on the cornea, or blood vessels grow in, which in extreme cases leads to blindness due to complete clouding of the cornea.

“Anyone suffering from neurodermatitis and noticing signs of conjunctivitis should therefore see an ophthalmologist quickly. This also applies if the family has eczema, ”recommends Maier.

By examining the eyelids, conjunctiva and cornea with a slit lamp microscope, the ophthalmologist recognizes whether it is a typical conjunctivitis in which both eyes are always affected. “In principle, contact lenses should not be worn during conjunctivitis,” said the DOG expert.

Regular ophthalmological checks

According to the announcement, AKK therapy includes daily eyelid care – careful cleaning of the eyelid edges with moist cotton pads or cotton swabs, accompanied by a warming mask that is heated in the microwave or in the oven.

Gels or tear substitutes without preservatives, which also wash out pollen, help against dryness and itching.

In case of severe itching, anti-allergic eye drops – antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers – can be instilled several times a day, which prevent the release of histamine or at least suppress its effect and thus alleviate the allergy symptoms.

“In persistent AKK cases, immunomodulatory eye drops are used, such as ciclosporin A,” says Maier. According to a contribution, surgical interventions on the eyelids and the surface of the eye are sometimes necessary.

Regular ophthalmological checks are particularly important for an AKK in order to avoid long-term consequences as far as possible. “And for the treatment of the underlying disease, neurodermatitis, an allergist or dermatologist must be consulted,” said Maier. (ad)