Eye Allergies Management

The most important step you can take to make your eyes feel better when you have eye allergy (allergic conjunctivitis) symptoms is to avoid the substances that trigger the symptoms. When the pollen count is high, keep windows, doors, and vents closed; wear glasses or sunglasses; and avoid cutting grass, going on picnics, and camping. If symptoms do arise, you can obtain temporary relief by applying cold compresses to your eyes or by washing them out with saline or artificial tears.

In mild cases, a lubricant or artificial tear may relieve symptoms by washing the allergen from the eye and relieving ocular irritation. To learn more about artificial tears, go to the GenTeal® product page.

Eye drops: A wide range of eye drops that act in different ways are available to treat eye allergies. Your choice depends on the intensity of your symptoms. Since histamine causes most of the common symptoms associated with allergic conjunctivitis, the most commonly used agents either block the actions of histamine or prevent the rupturing of mast cells, from which histamine is released. However, because there are other processes involved in the allergic response, products with multiple actions that affect histamine as well as cells involved in the allergic reaction may be more appropriate to treat acute symptoms and to prevent their recurrence. For more information about treatment options, click here. Ask your doctor if such eye drops are suitable for you.

Tablets: Orally ingested antihistamines may partially relieve ocular symptoms and may also relieve nasal symptoms. However, topical eye drops may prove to be fastest and most effective in relieving ocular itch, redness, and swelling. Unlike oral medications, eye drops allow the medication to get directly to the affected eyes.

Allergen desensitization therapy: Immunotherapy may be indicated in selected cases but it must always be administered by specialized and experienced personnel who are familiar with this kind of therapy because of the risks of anaphylaxis and other adverse reactions.

For more information about managing eye allergies, click here.