topic Re: Allergy Eyes in Wellness

Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:59:26 GMT

I guess I'm allergic to something since my eyes are red, itchy, runny & puffy swollen. I took a sinus pill yesterday & the day before which helped a little. I can't take another pill because it wipes me out.

I have been rubbing my eyes so much that I have rubbed the skin off at least 1/4th of my eyelid. Anyone know what I can use on that area that is eye safe?

Also OTC allergy meds that don't make you so tired. Which ones would those be? I have never taken any that did not wipe me out.

Re: Allergy Eyes

PinkyPetunia — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:04:51 GMT

It may not be allergies. Could be dry eyes. I have this issue every winter. My home has forced hot air heat. Try some lubricating eyedrops but if you are that irritated a doctor's visit may be needed. Good luck.

Re: Allergy Eyes

maximillian — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:07:35 GMT

Please see your ophthalmologist ASAP. There is a prescription cream that can be used on eyelids for your issue. Please do NOT mess with anything else; your eyes can be affected. Your eyesight is precious. I had that problem a few years ago due to eyedrops that I was using for glaucoma. The opthalmologist can help you with the redness and itchy eyes with a prescription drop. You need professional help.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Laura14 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:17:30 GMT

You may be drying your eyes out by rubbing them so much plus contaminating with your hands each time you do it and compounding the problem. They do make OTC eye drops for allergies if that's what it is.

My opthamologist says to stay away from Visine because it constricts. I had dry eyes horribly for about a month and the rewetting and eye lubricating drops were a lifesaver. Also, microwave a hot compress, wrap in a towel and let it sit on your eyes for about 10 minutes. It expresses the natural lubricants. That felt wonderful and really helped me too.

If you can see a doctor, always best but I know I fight it too for the inconvenience and cost alone. Obviously don't let it go too long. Like others said, sight is precious and if it's infected, nothing OTC will help. You'll need an antibiotic drop for that.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:25:10 GMT

It could also be pink eye!

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:28:08 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
It may not be allergies. Could be dry eyes. I have this issue every winter. My home has forced hot air heat. Try some lubricating eyedrops but if you are that irritated a doctor's visit may be needed. Good luck.

@PinkyPetunia I do have dry eyes. The drops I have for that are not helping. We have gas heat. Wonder if DH changed the filter like I asked him since the date on it was 2 months ago. I will go check it.

I'm getting ready to start dusting the house so it's only going to get worse. Last time I was like this it was from cat hair. I have not been around any cats that I'm aware of.

Re: Allergy Eyes

wishmoon — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:29:57 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
It could also be pink eye!

I never thought of that as I was reading, Plaid Pants2 is right. Be careful what you touch until you consult a dr. because you could easily spread it.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Laura14 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:31:49 GMT

@Nightowlz If you think it's pet dander or dust, the gold standard for allergic reactions like that is benadryl. Benadryl personally knocks me out so I would take it before bed. I think they do make a non-drowsy version but I would go with the regular.

Take children's benadryl if you are tiny like me to help with the drowsiness. You should feel better fairly quickly.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:33:51 GMT

On December 24, my right eye was itchy, red, swollen, and goopy.

I went to Urgent Care on Christmas day, and was diagnosed with pink eye.

The doctor told me to allieviate discomfort, to place cool used green tea bags on the eye.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:35:56 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
It could also be pink eye!

@Plaid Pants2 I just looked that up. I guess it could be Viral or Allergic Conjunctivitis from the symptoms shown online. I have been around people sneezing/coughing not covering their mouth like they should. It's not bacterial.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:37:06 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
It could also be pink eye!
@Plaid Pants2 I just looked that up. I guess it could be Viral or Allergic Conjunctivitis from the symptoms shown online. I have been around people sneezing/coughing not covering their mouth like they should. It's not bacterial.

@Nightowlz

I had the viral kind.

Re: Allergy Eyes

VaBelle35 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:37:58 GMT

Urgent Care thought I had pink eye but it was an allergic reaction to preservatives in the eye drops.

I had to switch to preservative free. I used Refresh Triple Action in the individual vials.

But I had to go on steroid drops first and an external cream to get rid of the swelling.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:39:03 GMT

@maximillian wrote:
Please see your ophthalmologist ASAP. There is a prescription cream that can be used on eyelids for your issue. Please do NOT mess with anything else; your eyes can be affected. Your eyesight is precious. I had that problem a few years ago due to eyedrops that I was using for glaucoma. The opthalmologist can help you with the redness and itchy eyes with a prescription drop. You need professional help.

@maximillian Guess I should check out our Ins to see which Ophthalmologist is covered. We probably only have 1 in town but I'm not sure.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:46:14 GMT

@Nightowlz

Do like I did, and go to your local Urgent Care.

At mine, you don't need an appointment. They take walk-ins.

I also forgot to mention, that my doctor at UC said that there wasn't anything he could give me for my pink eye, and that it had to run its course, which would last about 7 - 10 days.

Yesterday and today, the swelling is gone, along with the weeping/goopiness, itching, irritation. My eye is still red, but that is slowly going away too.

I took no otc medicine for my eye. I just kept cool compresses on it, and used the used green tea bags.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:46:36 GMT

@VaBelle35 wrote:
Urgent Care thought I had pink eye but it was an allergic reaction to preservatives in the eye drops.

I had to switch to preservative free. I used Refresh Triple Action in the individual vials.

But I had to go on steroid drops first and an external cream to get rid of the swelling.

@VaBelle35 That's what I have been using. The Refresh does not seem to be helping right now.

I also tried Opcon-A allergy eye drops.

The doctor gave me patanol eye drops once when my eyes were like this. It really helped but I need a script & it was over $100 back when I bought it years ago. Maybe the price has gone down by now. This is the only eye drop I have ever used that made my eyes feel better.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Kitlynn — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:53:41 GMT

Get some eye wash pads called Occusoft. You can get them at Walgreens'. You rub your eyes with them and then rinse with warm water. They are miracle workers! After you do that then put some Bausch+Lomb dry eye drops in your eyes. They also can be bought at Walgreen's. I use Allegra non drowsy allergy pills. I have really bad allergies and my eye doctor recommended that I use these a few years ago and I can't believe how well they work!!!

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:54:01 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
You may be drying your eyes out by rubbing them so much plus contaminating with your hands each time you do it and compounding the problem. They do make OTC eye drops for allergies if that's what it is.

My opthamologist says to stay away from Visine because it constricts. I had dry eyes horribly for about a month and the rewetting and eye lubricating drops were a lifesaver. Also, microwave a hot compress, wrap in a towel and let it sit on your eyes for about 10 minutes. It expresses the natural lubricants. That felt wonderful and really helped me too.

If you can see a doctor, always best but I know I fight it too for the inconvenience and cost alone. Obviously don't let it go too long. Like others said, sight is precious and if it's infected, nothing OTC will help. You'll need an antibiotic drop for that.

@Laura14 I know I should not touch my face/eyes but I do. At least my hands are clean. I wash them a million times per day. LOL!!! I also clean under my nails daily. It's the 1st thing I do in the morning before washing my face or brushing my teeth.

I have been using Refresh for my dry eyes.

I also tried Opcon-A for allergy eyes.

I hate going to the doctor. A trip to an Ophthalmologist won't be so bad since I probably really need to see one. I have only seen a regular eye doctor twice in over 40 years.

I don't want an antibiotic unless absolutely necessary. I did have to take one last time my eyes got like this from cat hair allergy.

I don't like the cost of doctor bills but that won't keep me. I just don't like to go period. I have to be in really bad shape before I go.

Like my sister said earlier this year you had to be in a lot of pain if you went to the doctor. LOL!!! I was I had Shingles.

Re: Allergy Eyes

VaBelle35 — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:54:59 GMT

@Nightowlz Are you using the preservative free Refresh or the individual vials? The individual vials have no preservatives, that's why you have to open a new one every day.

Mine started with Rx allergy drops. The more I put in, the worse it got. That's how they figured out I was allergic to the preservatives. My Rx drops were over $100 as well.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:55:11 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@Nightowlz If you think it's pet dander or dust, the gold standard for allergic reactions like that is benadryl. Benadryl personally knocks me out so I would take it before bed. I think they do make a non-drowsy version but I would go with the regular.

Take children's benadryl if you are tiny like me to help with the drowsiness. You should feel better fairly quickly.

@Laura14 I know it knocks me out too. I hate the way I feel the next day.

Re: Allergy Eyes

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 19:58:11 GMT

@Kitlynn wrote:
Get some eye wash pads called Occusoft. You can get them at Walgreens'. You rub your eyes with them and then rinse with warm water. They are miracle workers! After you do that then put some Bausch+Lomb dry eye drops in your eyes. They also can be bought at Walgreen's. I use Allegra non drowsy allergy pills. I have really bad allergies and my eye doctor recommended that I use these a few years ago and I can't believe how well they work!!!

@Kitlynn Thx for sharing. I have never heard of Occusoft so I will check it out. I have a Walgreens right around the corner about 3 mins from me. I have been using cool water on my eyes also a soft cool wet cloth to dab my eyes but trying not to rub.