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Body Allergy ImageYou can’t miss an allergic eye reaction. The technical term is “allergic conjunctivitis,” and in Colorado, they’re pretty common. Red, bloodshot eyes, wateriness, and itching. And when you give in and itch your eyes just a little bit, the itching only intensifies. We see a many patients with allergic conjunctivitis in the Spring and Summer, and we felt the time was right to explain what happens in allergic conjunctivitis. If you’re a patient experiencing symptoms of eye allergies, what exactly can you do about it? Systemic anti-allergy pills have only a limited a affect on eye allergies, and there is a bewildering array of eye drops available in the pharmacy. To understand the treatment, you have to appreciate what’s going on at the level of your immune system.

Let’s start with mast cells. Mast cells are immune system cells that are loaded with histamine molecules. Mast cells sit in waiting, ready to unload their contents into the surrounding bodily tissues to trigger the unneeded immune response that causes the symptoms of your allergy. Allergens are the microscopic particles that trigger an allergic reaction and include pollen, dust mite waste, smoke, cosmetics, and pet dander. When allergens reach a mast cell, the mast cell disintegrates, spilling its contents and kick starting the allergic reaction.

The first step to avoiding allergic conjunctivitis is to avoid contact with the allergens in the first place. Wash your hands after petting your dog or cat. For those people with pollen allergies, taking a shower at night cleans your hair of potential allergens, as does changing your pillowcase regularly. Cold compresses can reduce some of the swelling associated with an allergic reaction, and provides quick relief for a mild allergic conjunctivitis.

The root cause of the allergic reaction are the mast cells breaking open and releasing histamines, so naturally, stabilizing the mast cells and preventing them from spilling their contents should be a priority. Mast cell stabilizers prevent histamines from being released in the first place, and work well for those patients that suffer from allergies year-round, or for an entire season. Mast cell stabilizers work great, but can take several weeks to reach their full potential.

For faster relief, antihistamines are to the rescue! These medications work to deactivate histamines that have already been released. While they work quickly, their effects are short-lived. Most over-the-counter anti-allergy medications are antihistamines. There are some medications that offer both antihistamine and mast cell stabilizing properties. These medications provide instant relief via the antihistamine as well as long-term allergy control via the mast cell stabilizer.   It’s little surprise that the best anti-allergy medications are available only by prescription. Some of our optometrists’ favorite medications include Pataday® (Alcon), Lastacaft® (Allergan), and Bepreve® (Bausch and Lomb).

For those allergies that are completely out of control, extra help is needed in the form of a topical steroid medication. Steroids calm the immune system, and if an allergic reaction is too big to be soothed by antihistamines alone, steroids can be turned to for quick relief. Once a comfortable baseline is achieved after use of the steroids, a course of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers will allow the patient to maintain good comfort over time. While steroids do a great job when used properly, the can cause fluctuations in intraocular pressure (potentially leading to glaucoma), cataracts, and rebound inflammation if the steroids are not properly tapered after use.

Allergies can get in the way of what you want to do, and with proper management, you can minimize their effect on your life. Please call our office today at (303) 450-2020 to schedule your annual eye and vision examination. If you have an acute case of allergic conjunctivitis, our optometrists would also be happy to see you for a medical visit.

Ready to schedule your annual eye check-up?

Ready to schedule your annual eye check-up?