Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

We welcome back Dr. Kestenbaum with a post on allergies and how you can help ease the itchy, watery eyes that come with them.

Every year, I stock up on over-the-counter allergy eye drops and pre-write prescriptions for allergy medications in anticipation of the droves of patients reporting to me with eye allergy symptoms.  These symptoms include itchy, red and watery eyes, a gritty feeling and reduced contact lens tolerance.  These symptoms are caused by airborne allergens including pollen, mold, dust and pet dander.

The best way to treat allergies is to avoid the allergens that cause them.  But, given the reality that life brings, we all know that this is nearly impossible.  So we have to find alternative methods to treat the symptoms that allergies bring.

Sunglasses help to prevent pollen from blowing into your eyes especially on windy days.  Staying indoors on bad allergy days is a choice for some.  For others, contact lenses usually become difficult to wear during allergy season.  But certain types of contact lenses approved by the FDA for people with allergies can also help to reduce symptoms.

photo via hubpages

If possible, one way to reduce allergy related eye symptoms is to wear disposable contact lenses that are replaced daily.  Since 1990, I have been recommending daily disposables and truly believe that this is the healthiest contact lenses type to wear.  Think about it.  You always have a fresh lens, you never put a less than perfectly clean lens in your eyes, you don’t have to clean them, you cannot be sensitive to cleaning solutions, and they are very convenient.

Here in New York, around mid to late March, I start prescribing allergy eye medications in an attempt to reduce patient symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.  These prescription medications include Pataday, Patanol, Elestat, and Optivar.  These are usually used daily but some doctors recommend them for as-needed symptomatic relief.  Consult your doctor for the proper way to use these medications.

In addition to prescription medications that are stronger, I sometimes recommend over-the-counter allergy eye drops to provide temporary relief of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.  Use for extended periods of time may make redness in the eye worse; therefore these drops should be used with caution and with your doctors recommendation.

Fortunately for most people, seasonal allergies usually last only about 6 weeks. Whether you use sunglasses, OTC eye drops, prescription medications, One-Day Contact Lenses or move to the North Pole, preventing symptoms is the true goal.

ENJOY SPRING.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
www.optixeyecare.com

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

VSP provider Joel Kestenbaum, O.D. from Long Island N.Y.  provides an overview of dry eye syndrome

Tears bathe our eyes to keep them nourished and usually do not leak down the cheek.  Why is that?  On the other hand, why do tears sometimes flow in such abundance that we must wipe them away?

Various glands in and around the eyelid produce the tears.  Microscopic glands produce the tears that are composed of water, oil, mucous and an abundance of nutrients.  If one of the components of the tears is not produced in the exact amounts, the tears become either too wet or too dry.

A common complaint in my office, especially as people age, is that tears run down the cheek.  Usually excess tear production occurs because the microscopic glands in the lid that produce the normal water part of the tears are not producing enough.  In response, the one large gland, the lacrimal gland, that normally secretes a lot of tears when we cry produces too much water so we drip.  This is classic dry eye syndrome.  Are you confused yet?

Among the many signs of dry eye include the eyes feeling scratchy, itchy, gritty, burny, looking red or pink, light sensitivity, vision complaints.

Dry eye treatment mostly consists of using artificial tears or tear substitutes.  There is also an FDA approved prescription eye drop, Restasis, which can help the tiny glands in the eyelid to increase its tear production.  Your eye doctor can make diagnosis of dry eye and offer treatment as needed.  Keep your eyes healthy.  Have your eyes examined regularly.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
www.optixeyecare.com

Photo from virtualmedicalcenter.com