allergies to air conditioning

I have been working in an new office for 1 and a half years.  In that time i have experience some major problems with my eyes.  After about a month in the new building  my eyes started to where they would hurt all the time, I could rate the pain about an 8, they felt as though they are swelling up in my head and i could not keep them open.  went to several doctors (none of them had any bed  side manners if you know what I mean) the first three treated me for dry eye for about a year but would never listen when i said it is not working and i was still in pain and could not keep them open.  I finally found a doctor that said i did not have dry eye and in fact that i had theodores superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis ( inflammation of the conjunctiva)  well they put contacts in them which took care of some of the problems but i still have the feeling the my eyes are swelling and that they are sticky.  I ask him if i could be allergic to the air because when i am sitting or standing where a vent is it gets worse.  I can never get any straight answers.  it feels a though my brain is swelling (i guess from my sinus inflammation) which only gets worse in the air.  I hope someone out there can relate and give me some info. In this world today we have to diagnose ourselves and find a cure because it seems that the doctors have no time to do research.  

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, your symptoms are suggestive of allergic conjunctivitis, secondary to exposure to allergen and mediated by IgE antibodies. Your body is known to hypersensitive to certain things.  

In your condition, there may be an allergen coming out of the air conditioner which is causing such allergy. May be some type of gas you are allergic to. You need to avoid the exposure to such ACs. Prevention is better. You should remember that you will always be allergic to it. The reaction can be more severe with subsequent exposure.

You need to get evaluated clinically as well as certain tests will be help to determine the cause, they are
- Conjunctival scrapings - may be evaluated for the presence of eosinophils.
- Tear film levels of IgE
- Mast cell activity can be measured by immunoassay testing of tears

Usual management consists of  
- Basic eye care - you should not rub your eyes.
- Treatment of dry eyes- use of artificial tears throughout the day will dilute the allergen.
- Allergen avoidance- You need to find the allergen and you need to avoid further exposure. Keep a diary of all the things you are exposed to rule out the allergens.      
-  Allergy evaluation - You need to consult allergy specialist for evaluation of the allergen by skin testing. A history of concomitant rhinitis, asthma, or systemic allergic will be useful to know the allergen.

Take care and regards.