Soon the chill of winter will begin to fade, flowers will burst forth, and millions of Americans will be utterly miserable. Spring is that time so many of us with allergies look forward to and dread at the same time. From Dallas/Fort Worth to anywhere North, South, East and West.
At Dry Eye Institutes of America™ our doctors perform comprehensive allergy testing to identify whether those itchy, irritated eyes are from the pollen count, dry eyes, or both. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), more than 35 million Americans suffer from some form of seasonal allergy. And it’s not limited to Spring. The most eye-irritating pollens are in the air from April to August.
Seasonal allergy symptoms very often resemble dry eye symptoms. Identifying which is which or if it’s both can be a challenge. Not only is this critical for proper diagnosis, treatment, and relief, but to determine if a more serious eye issue is involved.
Allergy treatment is quite different from dry eye treatment. What’s more, a patient suffering from both can have a different set of issues. For example, dry eye disease occurs due to a breakdown of your tear film (the thin film of tears that coats the eye’s surface). This can prevent your eye from getting the right amount or type of tears it needs to properly function—dealing with outside allergens for example.
“If the tear film is very low, it does not effectively wash away the allergens, and patients get more exposure because the allergen remains on the eye. As a result, there is a more vigorous allergic response,” said William B. Trattler, MD, a Miami eye surgeon, in an article appearing on EyeNet Magazine online.*
Then there are all those antihistamines, a way of life for many allergy sufferers. Oral antihistamines are considered a common cause of dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye disease is treatable in most cases, and effective management of dry eye symptoms can help sufferers live a more symptom-free lifestyle. Seasonal allergies can be effectively managed and treated as well. The key is to determine one from the other or if both are present to know the best course to take. At Dry Eye Institutes of America™ we perform thorough allergy testing as part of your diagnosis to effectively pinpoint the cause.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies with severe eye irritation call Dry Eye Institutes of America™ at 817-488-3490. Our main office is located in Grapevine, convenient to Dallas/Fort Worth.
*Pollen, Dust & Mold: Seasonal Allergies Assault the Eye; EyeNet Magazine, a publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology