Can allergic conjunctivitis affect vision?
Allergic conjunctivitis may or may not affect vision, depending on the severity of the disease.
1. Vision may remain unaffected
Allergic conjunctivitis is primarily an allergic reaction of the eye triggered by irritants such as pollen, dust mites, and catkins. It mainly manifests as symptoms including itchy eyes, redness, burning sensation, foreign body sensation, increased eye discharge, and tearing. Typically, under a doctor's guidance, treatment with antihistamines such as loratadine tablets or cetirizine hydrochloride tablets gradually relieves symptoms without affecting vision.
2. Vision may be affected
In more severe cases, transient blurred vision may occur, but this usually resolves gradually with treatment and does not permanently impair vision. However, if the condition persists and progresses, it may adversely affect the cornea, leading to conditions such as keratitis or conjunctivitis. In serious cases, significant vision loss or optic nerve damage may result.