Eye Allergies are diagnosed and treated at Perfect Optical Eyecare Center

Eye Allergies, also known as Ocular Allergies or Allergic Conjunctivitis, are a far too common aggravation for many people. Typical symptoms include itchy, watery, or red eyes. Many people suffer from them seasonally, when the offending allergen is in bloom. Some people suffer from eye allergies all year long.

Eye Allergies are caused by allergens coming in contact with white blood cells, called mast cells, in the ocular tissue, that cause the mast cells to degranulate. Degranulation is the release of histamine from the mast cell into the ocular tissue. It is the histamine that causes the itchy, watery, red eyes.

Most over the counter allergy eye drops are anti-histamine, vaso-constrictor combination drugs. While these drops can relieve symptoms temporarily, they do nothing to stop the allergy process from occurring. Allergens are still causing the mast cells to degranulate and release the histamine in the eye. So that when the effect of the drop wears off, the eye continues to suffer from the allergy symptoms. The other problem with most over the counter drops is the vaso-constrictor component of the drop. Vaso-constrictors act by making the blood vessels in the eye constrict. This makes the eye look whiter and can also help the eye to feel relief. But all vaso-constrictors have a rebound reaction when they wear off. This causes the eyes blood vessels to become even more dilated than they were before drop instillation. Now the eye looks and feels just as bad, or worse than before the drop was instilled. This can create a situation where the allergy sufferer is constantly putting in the anti-allergy drop thinking that the allergies are not improving, when in fact, it could be just the drops effect on the blood vessels rebounding as the effect is wearing off. For this reason, these types of allergy drops are not recommended.

Another over the counter remedy is simply artificial tears. Although the tears have no direct effect on the histamine, or the mast cells release of the histamine, they can help to wash the allergens from the eye, and thus lesson the eyes allergic response. For those with Dry Eye Syndrome, allergies are often worse, in part because the allergens are not washed from the ocular surface as readily. So the artificial tears can help with both the dry eye and the allergies.

We now have Rx anti-allergy drops that are known as mast cell stabilizers. They work by stabilizing the mast cell, and preventing or limiting the release of histamine from the mast cells. These drops are very effective in stopping the allergies because they work at stopping the allergic cascade from occurring. If the histamine is not released into the ocular tissue, then there is no allergic reaction. They also have some anti-histamine properties so that some relief comes with the first instillation of drops. They do not have any vaso-constrictor properties.

One of these drops, Zaditor, or it's generic equivalent, Alaway, has just become an over the counter medication. It is very effective if used twice a day during the season that one has allergy symptoms. It is also safe and effective for year round allergy treatment. Pataday is a once a day dosing eye drop in this catagory. It is by prescription only.

Other Rx options are also available depending on the severity and symptoms of allergies. If you are suffering from symptoms such as itchy, watery, or red eyes, you should be evaluated to see if it is indeed allergic conjunctivitis and to be treated as needed. Sometimes other ocular conditions can have similar symptoms and should be treated differently. Also, if you are using over the counter drops, and are not getting relief, or if symptoms are worsening, you should come in for an evaluation.