Itchy Eyes

We are heading into peak allergy season and a common problem is itchy eyes.
Dr. Neil Friedman, our guest blogger and ophthalmologist has a few words of advice.


Q: I have terrible allergies and my eyes are constantly itchy. Visine doesn’t seem to help at all. Is there anything else I can use?

A: Allergies plague many of us with the all too familiar symptoms of itchy eyes, running nose, tearing, sneezing, and congestion. There are over-the-counter (OTC) as well as prescription remedies available to treat allergic rhinitis, but with varying effectiveness for the eye involvement. Nonprescription eye drops to stop the redness and itching can alleviate symptoms temporarily, but eventually become ineffective with long-term use. The good news is that there are numerous prescription antihistamine drops that work better and are gentler to the eye.

Whether it’s an allergy to pets or to plants, seasonal or year round, the allergic response in the eyes is called allergic conjunctivitis. The eyes become itchy and red with varying amounts of swelling, tearing, and white, stringy discharge. Occasional use of the OTC eye drops can be tried, but resistance and an eventual rebound affect with more redness may occur with frequent, chronic use. Prescription topical antihistamine eye drops have been available for years. These preparations are more effective, longer lasting, safer, and better tolerated than their OTC counterparts because they have a dual or triple mechanism of action, blocking the allergic response at multiple levels. Usually just one or two drops provide all day relief. These medicines do not work equally in everybody, but there are enough choices that one which works for you can usually be found.

For severe allergic symptoms that do not respond to the antihistamine drops, temporary use of steroid eye drops is highly effective. For eyelid swelling, the application of cold compresses is soothing and also helps reduce itching. Therefore, with current treatments for allergic conjunctivitis, there’s no longer any need to suffer with itchy, watery eyes.