Dry Eyes & Allergies

Eye allergies are a common condition that affects many people. Some find their conditions worsen at certain times of the year, when pollen from trees, grass, and other flora are present in the air.

West Boca Eye center | Dry Eyes & Allergies

For others, irritants, such as pet hair or smoke, cause their condition to flare up. Common eye allergy symptoms include redness, sore eyes, itching, excessive watering, and general irritation.

While some people effectively treat eye allergies with over-the-counter medication, many need to seek out the services of an eye allergy doctor to effectively manage their condition. This is because the symptoms can be so severe that they interfere with everyday life—including severe sneezing, itching, and a general feeling of being unwell.

How Do I Know if I Need to Find an Eye Allergy Specialist Near Me?

If eye allergy symptoms are severe or last for an extended period then you’ll probably need help from an eye allergy specialist. They will be able to determine the best method of alleviating the symptoms.

The most common signs of eye allergies are:

Itching eyes
Watery eyes
Hazy, blurred vision
Redness (hence sometimes being referred to as pink eye)
Swelling
Scaling around the eyes

Both eyes are usually affected. You might also experience nasal symptoms, such as sneezing, and a runny or blocked nose. The condition is caused by exposure to an irritating substance—known as an allergen—like dust, smoke, or pollen. Although the allergen is harmless, the body’s immune system mistakes it for being a threat. It reacts by releasing antibodies, which are chemicals that fight the perceived threat. It’s these that cause the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies.

There are many over-the-counter medications you can purchase to help combat eye allergies. However, if these don’t control the condition to a level where you can comfortably continue with normal life, then an allergy eye specialist can determine a treatment plan to effectively combat the symptoms.

What Happens During Eye Allergy Treatment?

There is no cure for the condition. Eye allergy treatment is all about management and determining what works for your situation. Your eye allergy doctor will first need to take a detailed history to find out what allergen (or allergens) you react to.

They will ask you many questions, such as:

What are your symptoms?
How long has the condition gone on for?
Is it all year round or seasonal?
Is it worse when exposed to animals/pets?
Do you have any medical condition, especially asthma and/or eczema?
Is there a family history of eye allergies/allergic conjunctivitis
Have you tried any over-the-counter treatments? If so, what are they and do they alleviate the symptoms to any extent?

The eye specialist will then examine your eyes. This is to rule out any other conditions (such as pink eye) and to check for typical eye allergy signs such as swollen blood vessels within the eye. They may also take a swab from the eye tissue and test it for white blood cells.
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Once the specialist has diagnosed an eye allergy they follow a stepwise approach as to appropriate treatment. Depending on the trigger/s, the treatment is likely to be a combination of allergen avoidance/reduction and the use of various products. For instance, if you’re allergic to pet dander then it’s advisable to keep all animals out of the bedroom, as well as washing your hands immediately after touching them. For those who suffer from pollen allergies, staying inside when the pollen count is highest (often mid-morning and early evening) and wearing sunglasses when outside will help reduce the exposure. While over-the-counter medications include artificial tears, oral antihistamines, and decongestants, your eye allergy specialist has many more options available to prescribe. These include:

Antihistamine eye drops: These can provide almost instant relief from itching and redness, but often need to be applied multiple times per day when symptoms are acute.
Mast cell stabilizer eye drops: Used before you’re exposed to a trigger, they prevent the release of histamine and other chemicals that are the cause of eye allergy symptoms.
Combination eye drops: If both antihistamine and mast cell stabilizers are needed then you might be prescribed eye drops that contain both.
NSAID eye drops: NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) effectively reduce the pain and itching of allergy symptoms.
Corticosteroids: Another type of eye drop, corticosteroids tend to be prescribed if none of the above-mentioned provide relief. They are very effective, but require regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist as extended use can raise the risk of eye infection, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Immunotherapy: For those who don’t respond to a combination of the above, immunotherapy shots might be the answer. These introduce tiny doses of the allergen into the body and are gradually increased over time. This allows the body to develop an immunity to them.

Does WBEC Have the Best Eye Allergy Doctor Near Me?

Dr. Brent Bellotte, lead clinician at the West Boca Eye Center offers a service dedicated to eye allergy treatment. Because no two cases of allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies) are the same, it’s vital to partner with a specialist with extensive experience of treating allergy conditions.

Bellotte is globally-renowned for bringing cutting-edge treatments to his patients, meaning the WBEC can often offer solutions not yet available elsewhere. For those with severe, chronic eye allergy conditions, this can be life-changing. With substances as common-place as pollen, smoke, chemicals used in cleaning fluids, dust, dust mites, and even food ingredients being the cause of many eye allergies, it can be difficult or impossible to minimize exposure in all situations. This makes additional treatment necessary.

For those suffering from the less-common conditions of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, or giant papillary conjunctivitis, prompt, effective treatment is essential to reduce and control what can be life-affecting symptoms. This is where the expertise of Brent Bellotte MD. is second-to-none, meaning that many people travel to take advantage of the West Boca Eye Center difference.

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DRY EYES & ALLERGIES