Oh, Spring ... How Some Can Hate Thee!

For most people, spring brings with it short-sleeved shirts, outdoor activities, no more cold weather, and fun days in the sun. However, for some it means another dreaded season plagued with allergies.

Seasonal allergies are brought on from an immune response in certain individuals with sensitivity to allergens such as pollen. As the pollens are inhaled, allergy sufferers experience rhinitis, or inflammation of their nasal passages. Symptoms include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching.

If the pollens come in contact with the eyes or ocular surface, it results in allergic conjunctivitis, otherwise known as allergic pink eye. Around 50% of allergy sufferers experience ocular symptoms. Symptoms generally include red eyes, itching, burning, and tearing; as an eye doctor, I've seen these range from mild to very severe.

The best treatment for allergies is avoidance of the offending allergen, although this is often very difficult in regards to seasonal allergies. Some patients get relief of their eye symptoms with oral allergy medicines such as Claritin®. However a large portion of patients require topical allergy and anti-inflammatory drops. These drops concentrate the anti-allergy effect right in the eyes. In mild cases of eye allergies, I generally prescribe drops such as Pataday® and Lastacaft®, which help inhibit the action of histamine and even prevent certain cells from releasing it. I also recommend using artificial tears. They help to dilute and wash away any pollens or allergens from the ocular surface. Patients can even refrigerate the tears, which gives a soothing sensation when they use them.

In more moderate cases of allergic conjunctivitis, especially when the pollen counts are high, I add a steroid drop to help suppress the immune response. This generally produces very quick relief of symptoms.

I would urge anyone suffering from allergies to seek medical treatment. Too often, I find patients taking over-the-counter, "get the red out" drops because they think these are the only therapies available. These medicines generally don't treat the problem at its source and only mask the symptoms. I also find that I have to directly ask my patients if they experience eye allergies. Many don't report their ocular allergy issues because they feel it's just the norm to endure the bad months when pollens are high and their symptoms are severe. Untreated, seasonal allergies can leave a patient miserable; however, with proper medicines patients can enjoy the spring and summer months as they should.