Tips To Treat Ocular Allergies and Dry Eyes
The number of people has allergies or asthma is one in five!
Allergy
patients can present themselves with itchy, red, watery and dry eyes.
They often complain of having a constant cold. Chronic dry eye is often
associated with ocular allergy. Want to know what medications are
prescribed and how the doctors diagnose ocular allergies and more? Read
on - - - -
Allergy
in the United States is very common and is considered a systemic
condition that is treatable. About one third of the patients who has
allergies are not aware they have this condition. Patients who suspect
they suffer from allergies usually first visit their family
practitioner, who may refer them to an allergist. These patients often
end up taking an oral systemic medication, and treatment often leads to
chronic dry eye, glaucoma and more eye issues.
Why your allergist and eye doctors should work as a team.
Although
allergy also affects the eyes, systemic antihistamines are partially
effective at alleviating ocular symptoms (e.g. itching and redness), and
they have also been shown to contribute to secondary dry eye problems.
Allergists and general practitioners tend to lack slit lamps, which can
provide more information regarding ocular health. Optometrists and
ophthalmologist are an integral care to both identify and manage ocular
surface problems.
Many
of your optometrists or ophthalmologists can refer you to an allergist.
They should work as an integral team for this wide spread problem.
What kind of symptoms do allergy patients exhibit?
Patients, who have allergies, though don't know it, often have this symptom:
1. Recurrent cold” that occurs around the same time every year,
2. Profound Itchy- how this is different than dry eye>
Exhibit a papillary conjunctiva reaction that is not always present in patients who have dry eye – they will complain of profound itching. “You can have some level of itching with dry eye, but its hallmarks are more the foreign body sensation, grittiness, discomfort and reflex tearing. And usually with allergy, there is more redness in the eye.”
Exhibit a papillary conjunctiva reaction that is not always present in patients who have dry eye – they will complain of profound itching. “You can have some level of itching with dry eye, but its hallmarks are more the foreign body sensation, grittiness, discomfort and reflex tearing. And usually with allergy, there is more redness in the eye.”
3. Lower lids may reveal dark half circles. This swelling and discoloration is indicative of allergy.
4. Constantly rubbing nose up and down.
Allergy and Chronic Dry Eyes.
Many
of these patients and those patients being treated for systemic
allergies are at risk for concomitant dry eye, as several OTC drugs
contain preservatives that put patients at risk for this condition.
During the patient exam, the eye doctor can be on the lookout for any
signs of ocular dryness, via slit lamp exam.
What Prescription Medications are used to treat Allergy?
Intranasal Corticosteroids for Ocular Allergy- Veramust ( GlaxoSmithKline)
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Prescription Ocular Allergy Drugs
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► Alcaftadine 0.25% (Lastacaft, Allergan) Age of use: two years +, Dosing: q.d.
► Azelastine hydrochloride 0.05% (Optivar, Meda) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: b.i.d. ► Bepotastine besilate 1.5% (Bepreve, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) Age of use: two years, + Dosing: b.i.d. ► Cromolyn sodium 4% (Opticrom, Allergan) Age of use: four years +, Dosing: q.i.d. ► Emedastine difumarate 0.05% (Emadine, Meda) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: q.i.d. ► Epinastine HCI 0.05% (Elestat, Allergan) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: b.i.d. ► Lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1% (Alomide, Alcon) Age of use: two years +, Dosing: q.i.d. ► Loteprednol etabonate 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch + Lomb) Age of use: Safety and effectiveness in children has not been established. Dosing q.i.d. ► Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (Lotemax, Bausch + Lomb) Age of use: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Dosing: q.i.d. ► Nedocromil sodium 2% (Alocril, Allergan) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: b.i.d. ► Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% (Pataday, Alcon) Age of use: two years +, Dosing: q.d. ► Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% (Patanol, Alcon) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: b.i.d. ► Pemirolast potassium 0.1% (Alamast, Vistakon Pharmaceuticals, LLC) Age of use: three years +, Dosing: q.i.d. * Be sure to check these drugs for their individual preservative amounts. Which makes dry eye symptoms worse. | |
1. Spangler
DL, Abelson MB, Ober A, Gomes PJ. Randomized, double-masked comparison
of olopatadine ophthalmic solution, mometasone furoate monohydrate nasal
spray, and fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets using the conjunctival
and nasal allergen challenge models. Clin Ther. 2003 Aug;25(8):
2245-2267.
2. Abelson MB, Welch DL. An evaluation of onset and duration of action of Patanol (olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.1%) compared to Claritin (loratadine 10 mg) tablets in acute allergic conjunctivitis in the conjunctival allergen challenge model. Acta Ophthalmol Scand Suppl. 2000;(230): 60-63.
3. Ouslter GW, Workman DA, Torkildsen GL. An open-label, investigator masked, crossover study of the ocular drying effects of two antihistamines, topical epinastine and systemic loratadine, in adult volunteers with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Clin Ther 2007 Apr;29(4): 611-616.
4. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Fox S. The Social Life of Health Information, 2011. http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Social-Life-of-Health-Info/Summary-of-Findings/Section-2.aspx
5. Stewart MG. Identification and management of undiagnosed allergic rhinitis in adults and children. Clin Exp Allergy 2008;38(5):751-760.
6. Rosenwasser LJ, Mahr T, Abelson MB, et al. A comparison of olopatadine 0.2% ophthalmic solution versus fluticasone furoate nasal spray for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2008 Nov-Dec;29(6): 644-653.
2. Abelson MB, Welch DL. An evaluation of onset and duration of action of Patanol (olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.1%) compared to Claritin (loratadine 10 mg) tablets in acute allergic conjunctivitis in the conjunctival allergen challenge model. Acta Ophthalmol Scand Suppl. 2000;(230): 60-63.
3. Ouslter GW, Workman DA, Torkildsen GL. An open-label, investigator masked, crossover study of the ocular drying effects of two antihistamines, topical epinastine and systemic loratadine, in adult volunteers with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Clin Ther 2007 Apr;29(4): 611-616.
4. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Fox S. The Social Life of Health Information, 2011. http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Social-Life-of-Health-Info/Summary-of-Findings/Section-2.aspx
5. Stewart MG. Identification and management of undiagnosed allergic rhinitis in adults and children. Clin Exp Allergy 2008;38(5):751-760.
6. Rosenwasser LJ, Mahr T, Abelson MB, et al. A comparison of olopatadine 0.2% ophthalmic solution versus fluticasone furoate nasal spray for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2008 Nov-Dec;29(6): 644-653.
This article is a short abstract from July issue of Optometric Management.
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1. Allergy medications- we recommend Claritin – a mast cell stabilizer.
2. Use a Hepa filter air cleaner
3. Leave outer clothing and shoes outside before coming into the house to avoid tracking allergens indoors.
DO NOT USE ANTIHISTAMINES – e.g. Benydryl,
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Dry eyes and allergies can share similar symptoms. watery, itchy, dry, and irritated. Learn the difference and treatments from TheraLIf. Call 1-877-917-1989
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