Allergy Shots and My Eyes

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mrshickadance9

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Hi everyone,

I've been getting allergy shots for about a year now. I've made HUGE strides as far as congestion and coughing- I am actually living with a cat and have no issues.

however, my eyes are still incredibly itchy, and scratching them only makes it worse. Will the itchyness fade over time with continued allergy shots?

Thanks!
 
You may want to get them checked by an ophthalmologist. Many drugs for allergies(and a lot of others) can cause "dry eyes" and believe it or not, dry eyes can present with very itchy, watery eyes and nothing seems to help. The problem is that your eyes may not be making the right kind of tears(due to the drugs) or the tiny pores in the lower eyeliRAB that make a thick oily substance that coat your eyes, may be plugged from all the allergy problems and rubbing(causes the pores to swell shut). Either problem can cause what you are experiencing. Your eye doc can test and give you drops to treat either problem(or both) or if neither is the problem, can give you some good prescription drops for the allergic reactions.

I have the same problem and was pouring eye drops into my eyes for years before finally seeing the eye doc and finding out I have severely dry eyes. I couldn't tell...they watered and itched like heck! But with a special dye, he could see that my corneas looked like shattered glass....a sign of severe dryness...and further testing showed that once my eyes were washed out and no allergens around, I really put out very few tears. Further examination showed that all the junk I was putting in my eyes had clogged the pores along the eyelid and I had none of the oily substance that protects the eyes, either.

So now when my eyes itch, I have drops that wet the eyes and I have an oily ointment that I put in at night and if it gets really bad, prescription drops that are anti-inflammatory that calm the eye and make more of the right kind of tears. Stopped my years of itchy eyes almost overnight. I took tons of antihistamines and got my allergy shots and did everything I could but I was treating the wrong thing.

Please see an ophthalmologist and find out what is wrong first.

Jenny
 
I second everything Jenny said. I have chronic dry eye in addition to the allergies and allergic conjunctivitus. I see an opthomologist yearly for treatment and check-ups for this. I use the dry eye drops. I also had punctal plugs put into my tear ducts. I produce very few tears, and the plugs keep any tears I happen to make from going straight down my tearducts. They usually fall out and need to be replaced periodically though. Restasis is also very helpful, but very expensive for dry eye. I was on it for a couple years, but finally gave up on it due to the cost.
 
Thanks to both of you for your help. I had been using Zaditor (an antihistamine eye drop) for about a week, and I think that's what was making my eyes so dry. I discontinued using it yesterday afternoon, and I've been using Systane dry eye drops. They have been helping a bit, but I'm still in considerable pain from the dryness and the itchyness.

I'll likely go see a doctor if this doesn't clear up in the next day or so. It doesn't help that I look at a computer screen all day at work.....

Thanks!

-Ben
 
You are welcome...both Mrshickadance and Falanfilan.

MountainReader.....here is what I do with Restasis. I make 1 month's worth last all year. I use it only when my regular regime is not doing enough for me. then I use it once a day and not the prescribed twice. When I open the tiny vial, I put in 1 drop in each eye and then promptly wrap the top in sterile tape to seal it. A good adhesive tape works just fine. I cut off a piece before opening the vial so it is ready and I make sure to never touch the tip. I then continue to use the vial until gone....lasts me 3-4 days.

I have found that if I use just one vial when I need to, it helps enough, along with the other drops and ointments, that I can stop for a while. If my doc orders 2 30 vial boxes(60 vials or 1 twice a day) I can make it last a year+.

I know it goes against the manufacturers recommendation to open and then discard the vial but there are at least 3-4 days worth of drops in each vial and why throw it away? I just am very careful to never touch the tip and to cover it back up with something sterile and that won't let air in. I told my rheumatolotigst what I was doing and he said if it works, then do it. My eye doc knows I use it only when I really need it so he's on board too.

If you need to go back on Restasis, consider doing this way and see if it helps. It certainly is cheaper! My insurance was charging me $100/month to use it so I had to do something.

hugs.............Jenny
 
After a few days of not using Zaditor, and almost constant use of Systane, my eyes are burning a little less. It's still pretty painful though.

Zaditor is awful. I can't believe how dry it made my eyes. It worked great to stop the itchiness from my cat, but then caused its own!
 
Try getting one of the nighttime ointments for your eyes and do that at bedtime. It feels weird putting something like Vaseline in your eyes but they are water soluble(don't actually use Vaseline) and help to keep your eyes protected during the day too by adding that oily film that may also be missing. You just put a tiny bit in....will blur your vision but your eyes will thank you in the morning.

My doc also suggested that when I get up and shower, let the hot water really run on my eyes....that helps to clean out all the gunk that might be plugging the oil glanRAB in the lower eye liRAB. I now wash my eye liRAB(very carefully and without soap) in the shower with the rest of my face.

If you find that Systane helps, try getting a gel formulation of the drops(I use Genteal Gel Drops and Gel). Lasts longer. I gel during the day and ointment at night and I no longer have to use the $100/month prescription eye drops.

Amazing that the itching may be form the eye drops and not from the allergy. Amazed me for sure! And I'm so glad I found out before I did damage to my eyes.

Jenny
 
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