Beyond Allergy » Allergic Conjunctivitis

Claritin etc. (Loratadine)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:38:19 +0000

Claritin (loratadine) is one of the most popularly prescribed antihistamines and is available over-the-counter. It prevents sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, itching and watering of the eyes in those with allergic rhinitis. It is also used to alleviate skin allergies such as hives or urticaria by relieving swollen, red, itchy patches of skin as well as other allergic inflammatory conditions. It is a second generation antihistamine that is minimally sedating.
Its improved version is desloratadine, manufactured under the trade name, Clarinex, which is just as effective but with fewer side effects.

Allegra (Fexofenadine)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:34:57 +0000

Allegra (Fexofenadine) is a second generation, minimally sedating antihistamine that produced fewer side effects than the first generation antihistamines (diphenhydramine and brompheniramine). They are less sedating and are not known to cause dizziness or impairment of the cognitive function. They are also a safe prescription for children with no known negative effects on learning abilities. Fexofenadine is prescribed to treat seasonal allergies and chronic urticaria.
Recommended dosage for seasonal allergies for adults and children 12 years or older is 60 mg twice daily or 180 mg once daily. Children 6-11 years old should only be given 30 mg twice daily.

Optivar (Azelastine)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:34:03 +0000

Azelastine ophthalmic solution is specifically prescribed to treat irritated, watery, itchy eyes caused by seasonal allergic conjunctivitis from airborne allergens (like pollen, pets, or dust). It is sold under the trade name, Optivar. The drug usually takes effect within 3 minutes of instillation of the eye drops, and its efficacy usually lasts for around 8 hours. Do not use Optivar to treat eye irritation not caused by seasonal allergies and never use it to treat itching and redness from wearing contact lenses.
If you are diagnosed with an eye allergy and wear soft contact lenses, remove your lenses before application. Wait at least 10 minutes before inserting them back in to avoid damaging the lenses.

Acular etc. (Ketorolac)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:33:15 +0000

Acular (ketorolac tromethamine) is a non-steroidal medication used to treat itching and swelling of the eye brought about by seasonal allergies. It is also prescribed to reduce inflammation following cataract surgery and used to alleviate pain and minimizes light-sensitivity following other eye operations. Usage of Acular is generally at four times daily for one to two weeks, then one to three times daily thereafter as needed to control the itching. The medication will take effect after one hour of instillation.
The drug is known to cause a stinging sensation upon instillation and it is suggested that Acular be refrigerated prior to instillation to help reduce the stinging.

Alrex (Loteprednol)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:32:38 +0000

Loteprednol is a type of topical corticosteroid medication that inhibits bodily processes that cause inflammation and swelling of the eye following surgery and infection. Also, it relieves itching, redness, burning, and photophobia brought about by seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Its trade name, Alrex (loteprednol etabonate 0.2%) ophthalmic suspension, is approved for treatment of such eye allergies. It takes only 2 hours after application to take effect with noticable improvement of the symptoms over a two-week treatment period. Since the formulation is site-specific, the medication stays on the affected area long enough for it to activate the drug’s therapeutic properties but not long enough to produce any complicated side effects.
It is a safe and effective allergy therapy that can be used four times a day or as needed to control the itching.

Patanol (Olopatadine Hydrochloride)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:31:41 +0000

Olopatadine hydrochloride is an antihistamine used for treatment of itching, redness, and irritation of the eyes as a result of eye allergy conditions such as allergic conjunctivitis and allergic pink eye. It works by blocking histamine, a substance in the body that triggers allergic symptoms. It is sold as a prescription eye drop, Patanol, manufactured by Alcon. Recommended dosage is 1 drop in each affected eye twice a day, 6 to 8 hours between doses, or as directed by the physician. The patient must keep in mind that this medication should not be used to cure eye irritation that is caused by wearing contact lenses.
If the patient wears contact lenses, they should be removed before application, and kept out of the eyes at least 10 minutes after applying the eye drops. The doctor should be informed if side effects such as headache, burning, stinging, dryness, foreign body sensation, keratitis, lid edema, itching, sore throat, and taste change are recurrent.

Artificial tears

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:30:59 +0000

Artificial tears are lubricant eye drops or eye ointments used to moisten and relieve the irritation associated with deficient tear production in dry eyes. They are used also to moisten contact lenses and in eye examinations. They are composed of water, salts, and polymers without the proteins found in natural tears. Eye drops are the most common form of artificial tears but there are also ointments that are usually prescribed for extremely dry eyes and may provide longer relief than drops.
Eye drops are best for all-day use while the eye ointments are best used at bedtime because the ointments cause blurred vision. For the relief of dryness and irritation caused by allergic conjunctivitis, artificial tears help moisten the eyes by diluting accumulated allergens and preventing them from sticking to the conjunctiva.

Aromatherapy etc. (Essential Oils)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:30:12 +0000

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative and complimentary medicine using the fragrances from concentrated herbal extracts or essential oils derived from grasses, flowers, leaves, bark, branches, needles, twigs, peel of fruit, and roots of plants for purposes of healing and upliftment of a person’s overall well-being. Each type of essential oil having a unique healing property specific to the kind of plant it was derived from. Lavender has antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties used to relax the body and soothe headaches. Tea tree oil is used as a topical antimicrobial antiseptic and disinfectant.
Jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang oil are aphrodisiacs. These oils are usually mixed with a carrier oil such as soybean or almond oil and can also be diluted with alcohol or water to be rubbed on the skin, sprayed, inhaled, or applied as a compress administered through massage or as as internal medication in baths or showers.

Benadryl etc. (Diphenhydramine)

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:29:22 +0000

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that has a sedative effect used in treating allergic reactions. It works by blocking the effect of histamine at h1 receptor sites and reduce the muscle contractions, thus reducing the onset of allergic symptoms.
It is prescribed for allergic conditions such as seasonal allergic rhinitis, chronic urticaria, and also to treat allergic conjunctivitis, the itching and swelling of the eyes caused by seasonal allergens such as pollens and indoor allergens such as dust and dander. Diphenhydramine will take effect an hour after taking it and the effects will last for around 4-6 hours. Other than being an antihistamine, diphenhydramine also has anticholinergic (drying) effects when it is used to prevent motion sickness and to treat cases of Parkinsonism. Also, because of its sedating properties, it is also used to treat insominia.

Cool compress

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:28:09 +0000

Unlike conjunctivitis caused by a bacterial or viral infection, allergic conjunctivitis can be managed by simply placing a cool compress over the eyes to relieve the irritation to help prevent the patient from rubbing their eyes.
A variation to the home remedy of using a cool compress is to look for tea bags of black tea or chamomile tea, cool them in the refrigerator until they dampen a bit. Placing these cool, damp tea bags over the eyes will ease the discomfort and soothe the itching. If there is itching in other cases of allergic conjunctivitis, topical, anti-inflammatory eye drops or topical antihistamines can be used. But the best way to avoid the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis is to stay away from the known allergen.