Spring is here, and with Springtime comes allergies. Many of us are familiar with the runny/stuffy nose and sinus pressure that allergies often bring. Those systemic symptoms are often handled nicely by the fantastic over-the-counter antihistamine medications available. But what about eye symptoms? What about dry eye, red eye, watery eye, and itchy eye? Identifying ocular allergies is key to treating it, and Vista Eye Care is here to help!
Ocular allergies consist of a variety of symptoms that often can mimic other eye issues. Many times patients have arrived at our office complaining of pink eye, only to learn that their “infection” is actually an allergic eye reaction. The watery, sticky tears of eye allergies are a common sight in our office this time of year. The itchy sensation that is the key feature of allergies is only made worse when the patient itches their eyes. The allergic reaction is triggered by histamine particles which act on eye tissues to cause the allergic reaction. Cells that contain the histamine particles called “mast cells” burst open and the reaction then goes into overdrive. Many patients that are using systemic medications for their allergies still have issues with their eyes which should be addressed with topical medications.
The topical medications at the disposal of our eye doctors are excellent. Many prescribed antihistamine drops are used only once daily, and they even have the property of preventing mast cells from bursting and releasing the histamines they contain –this essentially stops an allergic reaction before it even starts. For those patients with the worst allergies that are in need of relief quickly, a topical steroid medication may be appropriate to get the allergies under control.
If you have any symptoms of ocular allergies, know that our optometrists are here for you! Medical eye visits can be billed to your medical insurance, so please visit us to get the relief you need. Please call us today at (303) 450-2020 to schedule your eye allergy exam, or your annual comprehensive eye and vision exam, or feel free to use the link below to schedule!
