Monday, April 29, 2013

RED AND ITCHY EYES

After a long winter and a delayed spring, Allergists are expecting a "rough" allergy season this spring and summer. We are already seeing lots of symptomatic patients complaining of itching, watering, red uncomfortable eyes often more severe than years past.


It is imperative that you have your eye doctor examine you to differentiate between allergies and other types of eye infections (such as viral conjunctivitis) and eye conditions as often there can be similiar symptoms among various maladies.

Oral allergy medications such as Zyrtec and Clarityn are often not enough to control and alleviate ocular allergy symptoms and in many cases may result in or add to dryness of the eyes.

An eye drop is usually needed when eyes are affected by allergies and there are some eye drops that can also prevent symptoms from occuring if started early enough. These drops have antihistamine properties (reduce or eliminate itching and redness) and are mast cell stabilizers which prevent the eyes from reacting to allergens in the environment. Drops like Pataday, Lastacaft, Bepreve, Elestat, Optivar among others fall into this category and also have different dosing and side effects so it is best to consult with your doctor before using. In more severe cases steroid eydrops are often very helpful in bringing relief and eliminating symptoms. Using these drops prior to the onset of symptoms can help prevent and ultimately decrease the overall severity of the allergic symptoms.


I often tell my patients to refrigerate their unpreseved artificial tears and they love the cooling soothing effect this brings about in addition to decreasing redness and flushing out or diluting the eye allergens.


Dry eyes also can result in greater and more exagerated symptoms and it is therefor imperative to have this managed by your eye doctor as well.

Should you have any questions please feel free to email me, Doctor Kevin Rosin at eyedockev@yahoo.com. Together with Doctors Barry Farkas, Jordan Kassalow, Susan Resnick and Regina Zyskowski we focus on Dry Eye , contact lenses and Ocular Allergies.

Visit us at our website www.eyewise.com or call me at 212-355-5145


Dr. Kevin Rosin - New York City