HAYFEVER
EYE HEALTHCARE – HAYFEVER AND THE EYES
Your Optometrist can easily confirm these symptoms of eye allergy by everting (turning around) the upper eye lid and revealing a characteristic ‘cobble stone’ appearance of the membrane behind, instead of the normal smooth one. It often involves restricting or stopping contact lens wear for the affected period.
The main treatment of the symptom in the eyes are antihistamine drops e.g. ‘otrivine’ which work effectively by suppressing any swelling and inflammation, where they act to prevent an over reaction of the body’s immune cells called ‘mast’ cells
Certainly pollen, particularly during these summer months is the major eye allergen but things like ‘mold’ (e.g. in compost piles, old shower curtains), ‘proteins’ (found on furry pets) and ‘dust mites’ (e.g. in old upholstered furniture) will cause similar symptoms in the eyes. It’s fair then that true identification will enable us at least to reduce if not remove these annoying symptoms.
Noel McCrystal
BSc.(Hons.)MCOptom.Dip.Sc.V MASv.P