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Allergen
A foreign substance, or irritant, such as pollen or pet dander, to which your eye is sensitized. When the eye comes into contact with allergens, an allergic response results.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
The medical term for "allergy eyes." The word conjunctivitis refers to the swelling and redness of the thin layer of mucous membrane (the conjunctiva) that lines the inside of your eyelids and the white part of your eye. Allergic conjunctivitis often involves itching, watering, and redness of the eye.
Antibodies
Naturally occurring proteins (immunoglobulins) which are produced by your body's immune system in response to a foreign substance or allergen. IgE, the antibody type responsible for most allergic reactions, can bind to the surface of mast cells. When allergens come into contact with and crosslink the IgE antibodies, the mast cell degranulates and releases the histamines that produce symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
Antihistamine
A type of allergy medication that works by blocking the action of histamine.
Histamine
A naturally occurring substance released by your eye's mast cells during an allergic reaction that causes symptoms such as itching, redness and watering to occur.
Irritant
A foreign substance, or allergen, to which your eye is sensitizing.
Mast Cell
Special cells that, when triggered by allergens, release histamines and other substances that cause the itching, redness, watering, and burning associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
Mast-Cell Stabilizer
A type of
allergy medication that works by preventing the mast cell from releasing substances that cause eye allergy symptoms.
