Eye allergy symptom treatments?
August 9, 2006 3:36 PM Subscribe
My eyes! My eye-related allergy symptoms have gotten completely out of control. What are your best tips and tricks for treating itchy, inflamed, crusty and/or red eyes?
I currently take Allegra and Nasonex for my year-round allergies. Both help my nasal/sinus symptoms somewhat, but in the past few months my eye symptoms have snowballed from minor annoyance to major problem. I wake up almost every morning with itchy, bloodshot eyes nearly swollen shut, and with way more crusties than a normal person should have. As the day goes on the swelling seems to lessen but the itchiness and redness remain. I'm constantly rubbing them absentmindedly though I try not to.
Things I've tried:
- OTC antihistimine eyedrops actually seemed to make the situation worse with extended use, so I laid off that.
- I have an allergen-reducing pillowcase on my pillow, but it seems to do nothing.
What are your best remedies for easing these symptoms? Cool washclothes? Some sort of magical herbal eyewash? Homeopathic, natural, cheap, prescription and/or other options all acceptable.
I currently take Allegra and Nasonex for my year-round allergies. Both help my nasal/sinus symptoms somewhat, but in the past few months my eye symptoms have snowballed from minor annoyance to major problem. I wake up almost every morning with itchy, bloodshot eyes nearly swollen shut, and with way more crusties than a normal person should have. As the day goes on the swelling seems to lessen but the itchiness and redness remain. I'm constantly rubbing them absentmindedly though I try not to.
Things I've tried:
- OTC antihistimine eyedrops actually seemed to make the situation worse with extended use, so I laid off that.
- I have an allergen-reducing pillowcase on my pillow, but it seems to do nothing.
What are your best remedies for easing these symptoms? Cool washclothes? Some sort of magical herbal eyewash? Homeopathic, natural, cheap, prescription and/or other options all acceptable.
I know several people who say Patanol eye drops are amazing/life changing.
posted by vronsky at 3:49 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by vronsky at 3:49 PM on August 9, 2006
patanol works okay for me, but it works much, much better than the other ~6 brands i tried first. get a microfiber allergen cover from mission:allergy for your mattress and any pillows on your bed. wash your sheets and bedding (including comforters) in hot water and dry them weekly. if your comforter can't be washed in hot water, buy one that can.
i second the tip to vacuum regularly, especially if you have upholstered furniture. make sure your vacuum has a hepa filter, and that it's clean.
also, i have this bucky eye pillow thing that's filled with buckwheat and has some sort of lavendar aromatherapy thing in it. you're supposed to heat it up a bit and put it over your eyes, and it actually helps. sometimes i think the warmth of it helps when my eyes are bad, but other times i think it's just helpful in that it keeps me from rubbing my eyes compulsively when they're insanely itchy/goopy.
most of these tips really only apply if you're allergic to dust mites. if you're allergic to pollens on a seasonal basis, you might want to talk to your allergist about steroid shots. they're super intense/bad for you, but i've found that when my allergies get so bad i feel like i'm going to die on a regular basis, those shots are the only thing that can help. it's a quick fix and it lasts a few months.
i've also heard that immunotherapy can be helpful, but if you're anything like me you can't afford it/can't make weekly visits, etc. best of luck, and you have all of my sympathy. :(
posted by booknerd at 4:08 PM on August 9, 2006
i second the tip to vacuum regularly, especially if you have upholstered furniture. make sure your vacuum has a hepa filter, and that it's clean.
also, i have this bucky eye pillow thing that's filled with buckwheat and has some sort of lavendar aromatherapy thing in it. you're supposed to heat it up a bit and put it over your eyes, and it actually helps. sometimes i think the warmth of it helps when my eyes are bad, but other times i think it's just helpful in that it keeps me from rubbing my eyes compulsively when they're insanely itchy/goopy.
most of these tips really only apply if you're allergic to dust mites. if you're allergic to pollens on a seasonal basis, you might want to talk to your allergist about steroid shots. they're super intense/bad for you, but i've found that when my allergies get so bad i feel like i'm going to die on a regular basis, those shots are the only thing that can help. it's a quick fix and it lasts a few months.
i've also heard that immunotherapy can be helpful, but if you're anything like me you can't afford it/can't make weekly visits, etc. best of luck, and you have all of my sympathy. :(
posted by booknerd at 4:08 PM on August 9, 2006
I had the same problem, tried antihistamine eye drops to no avail, then switched, on a doctor's suggestion, to contact lens rewetting solution. (I don't wear contacts, BTW). For me, that did the trick. I just use the generic Walgreens brand rewetting drops. Don't go anywhere without 'em.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:10 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 4:10 PM on August 9, 2006
At my last eye exam, I was told by the optometrist to take either fish oil or flax seed oil capsules because of my very dry eyes. Fish oil made my burps too fishy; flax seed oil has eased the dryness. (My hair is softer, too!)
posted by Carol Anne at 4:12 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by Carol Anne at 4:12 PM on August 9, 2006
Can't help with the allergy part, but I have a suggestion for the cleaning of mucky eyes part. I need regular retinal examinations and the dilation drops always seem to cause flare-ups of blepharitis. This causes me to wake up every morning with my eyelids practically glued together, and I have horrible red gunky eyes all day while it lasts.
The optometrist advised a tiny spot of baby shampoo on a cotton pad dampened with warm water, swiped along the rims of the eyelids. I do this under the shower and then use another cotton pad dampened with warm water to clean it off. It doesn't sting - well, no more than the inflammation does when rubbed with just a finger - and the feeling of relief from cleaning the gunk off is wonderful. You just need to make sure it's a tiny bit of baby shampoo, and that you get it on the rims of the eyelids and not in the eye itself.
Of course, IANA Optometrist, so you might want to visit one just to see if they can prescribe you something which treats the root cause as well.
posted by andraste at 4:21 PM on August 9, 2006
The optometrist advised a tiny spot of baby shampoo on a cotton pad dampened with warm water, swiped along the rims of the eyelids. I do this under the shower and then use another cotton pad dampened with warm water to clean it off. It doesn't sting - well, no more than the inflammation does when rubbed with just a finger - and the feeling of relief from cleaning the gunk off is wonderful. You just need to make sure it's a tiny bit of baby shampoo, and that you get it on the rims of the eyelids and not in the eye itself.
Of course, IANA Optometrist, so you might want to visit one just to see if they can prescribe you something which treats the root cause as well.
posted by andraste at 4:21 PM on August 9, 2006
Booknerd--those tips also work for people who are allergic to cats (or presumably ither furry creatures) but own several.
posted by internet!Hannah at 5:09 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by internet!Hannah at 5:09 PM on August 9, 2006
I suggest seeing an opthamalogist. You may have blepharitis as andraste mentions, a chronic but manageable condition.
The standard treatment for it is is a hot compress over the eyes once a day for five minutes, followed by gentle cleaning with water or dilluted baby shampoo. It's a condition that's easier to keep under control than it is to treat during a flare up.
posted by justkevin at 5:13 PM on August 9, 2006
The standard treatment for it is is a hot compress over the eyes once a day for five minutes, followed by gentle cleaning with water or dilluted baby shampoo. It's a condition that's easier to keep under control than it is to treat during a flare up.
posted by justkevin at 5:13 PM on August 9, 2006
A bit more information on blepharitis (if that is what it turns out to be).
posted by justkevin at 5:18 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by justkevin at 5:18 PM on August 9, 2006
I used to suffer all summer long from terrible allergies; I was that kid with the permanently runny nose. From experience, I can tell you that 'rinsing' your eyes when you are having a serious itch attack helps -- its like a reset.
Use and egg cup and some cool or lukewarm water and simply open your eye, tilt your head back, and gently pour the water onto the eye. Alternatively, fill a sink (clean) with water and dunk your face in it and open your eyes.
Not sure how 'good' that is for your eyes, but it helps me.
posted by maxpower at 6:33 PM on August 9, 2006
Use and egg cup and some cool or lukewarm water and simply open your eye, tilt your head back, and gently pour the water onto the eye. Alternatively, fill a sink (clean) with water and dunk your face in it and open your eyes.
Not sure how 'good' that is for your eyes, but it helps me.
posted by maxpower at 6:33 PM on August 9, 2006
Patanol seriously changed my life. That's a strange, dorky thing to say, but it's true. Ever since I started using it about four years ago, all of my allergy symptoms have been so, so much more bearable.
Water rinses are a start, but when the histamines are truly kicking in, the Patanol will also numb the rawness from scratching at your itchy eyes.
posted by wildeepdotorg at 7:00 PM on August 9, 2006
Water rinses are a start, but when the histamines are truly kicking in, the Patanol will also numb the rawness from scratching at your itchy eyes.
posted by wildeepdotorg at 7:00 PM on August 9, 2006
This sounds crazy, but one remedy suggested to me in Morocco for sensitive/itchy/red eyes was bathing them with rosewater. It worked.
posted by Liosliath at 7:25 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by Liosliath at 7:25 PM on August 9, 2006
Patanol worked for me. Won't go without the stuff now, because when I need it ... i *NEEEEEED* it.
I've also used Naphcon, which worked about half the time.
posted by SpecialK at 8:09 PM on August 9, 2006
I've also used Naphcon, which worked about half the time.
posted by SpecialK at 8:09 PM on August 9, 2006
Bausch & Lomb makes an OTC product called Opticon (or something like that). You might try that before advancing to Patinol, which requires a prescription. Both products have helped me.
posted by pmurray63 at 8:21 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by pmurray63 at 8:21 PM on August 9, 2006
Switch to a non allergenic/ organic type detergent and turn off any fans or air con when you sleep. If possible open all the windows. Does wonders for my chronically dry/ sensitive eyes.
posted by fshgrl at 10:49 PM on August 9, 2006
posted by fshgrl at 10:49 PM on August 9, 2006
Late to the party, but one of the IT guys was talking yesterday about the same problem, apparently some years ago he drove to the eye doctor with is eyes swelled shut and glued shut. (I didn't ask how.) The doctor was pushing flaxseed oil, he takes a capsule twice a day, and says as long as he doesn't run out, he hasn't had problems in years. He has both allergies and that genetic predisposition to dry eyes that doc says gets worse as you get older.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 5:11 AM on August 11, 2006
posted by unrepentanthippie at 5:11 AM on August 11, 2006
Bausch & Lomb makes an OTC product called Opticon (or something like that).
And now that I've found my bottle, I can tell you that it's Opcon-A.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:26 AM on August 11, 2006
And now that I've found my bottle, I can tell you that it's Opcon-A.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:26 AM on August 11, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also, try prescription antihistamine eyedrops. The odds are a lot better than OTC meds that they won't exacerbate things, and they've done wonders for me (sorry, no drops handy to give you the brand I use, but your doctor should be able to help). However, some are expensive, depending on your insurance.
Oh, and vacuum your living area as much as possible and make sure all of your air conditioning/whatnot filters are clean and changed regularly.
posted by internet!Hannah at 3:40 PM on August 9, 2006