Health & Fitness

Keeping an eye on Spring Hill – Spring is in the air – along with allergens

April 9, 2009 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

This time of year is particularly bad for allergy sufferers. Flowers are in bloom, lawns are being mowed, and pollen is in the air. Allergic conjunctivitis is a type of inflammation of the thin, clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the eyelids. The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are itching, redness, and burning of eyes. There may also be ropey mucous and lid swelling. Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a problem that causes contact lenses to become uncomfortable because of itching, heavy discharge, tearing and red cobblestone-like bumps on insides of the eyelids.

These problems occur when the immune system overreacts to substances such as pollens, dust, and animal hair. The immune system perceives these substances to be overly harmful when they are not. Rubbing your eyes, while providing temporary satisfaction, only increases the problem by causing the immune system to release even more chemicals that aggravate the symptoms.

The best action to take is to avoid the offending allergen; however, most often this not possible and rarely is the exact allergen is known. Optometrists can suggest the appropriate over the counter eye drop or prescribe medications to treat the problem. There are many different types of prescription medications to use. These include antihistamines, steroids, and mast-cell stabilizers. There are also combination medications that combine antihistamines (for immediate relief) with mast-cell stabilizers (for long-term prevention). Over-the-counter vasoconstrictors that “get the red out” only treat the symptom and not the cause. Over time, the blood vessels become dependent on the drops and when discontinued can cause an increase in redness called rebound hyperemia.

Allergy sufferers, especially contact lens wearers, who take oral anti-allergy medications prescribed by their primary care physicians may notice their eyes feel especially dry as a side effect of the systemic medication. Artificial tears can provide extra lubrication. Contact lens wearers can use contact lens rewetting drops for an increase in comfort. Hydrogen peroxide cleaning systems can help reduce deposits and aid in comfort for contact lens wearers especially during the allergy season.

Allergens can bind to contact lenses causing irritating deposits over time. Always follow the replacement schedule as advised by your doctor. Another option for contact lens wearers who suffer from lens intolerance during the peak allergy season is a daily disposable contact lens. Daily disposables offer the ultimate convenience: rather than clean and store the same lens every night, daily disposable lenses are discarded every night. Each morning, you insert a brand new lens. These lenses are also great for swimmers (and those who use hot tubs) because they are at a greater risk for eye infections if they wear contact lenses in the water. Rather than wear goggles or worry about this risk, a daily disposable lens can be discarded and replaced as soon as you are done swimming.

If you find yourself rubbing your itchy eyes, stop and call Spring Hill Eyecare to get some relief.

By Dr. Rob Szeliga

Dr. Rob Szeliga independently owns and operates Spring Hill Eyecare, PLLC. His office is located at 5328 Main Street. For more information, call 931-489-1950 or go to www.springhilleyecare.com.