The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) appropriately singles out May as Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month. According to the AAFA, there are more than 50 million allergy sufferers in America. May can be a bad month for certain allergens like grass pollen in many parts of the country. And summer’s on its way with a host its own allergens. During this month of awareness, if your allergy symptoms are especially bothersome in your eyes we’d like to raise our own awareness about ocular (eye) allergy testing.
As covered in a previous blog, it’s very common for seasonal allergy symptoms to resemble dry eye symptoms. In fact, it’s possible to have dry eye disease and eye allergies at the same time. Pinpointing this can be a challenge, but it’s crucial to treatment success whether you have one or the other, or both.
In recent years, ocular allergy testing that uses the surface of the skin has become available. It’s painless because it doesn’t prick your skin like traditional skin testing. Ocular allergy testing takes only takes about 3 minutes, with results in just 20 minutes.
Like traditional skin tests, ocular allergy skin testing can identify common pollen, insect, animal, mold, and dust allergens. It focuses on what’s going on with your eyes so that your doctor can distinguish between eye allergies or if something else is a concern—like dry eye disease.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology states: “If your eyes itch and are red, tearing or burning, you may have eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis), a condition that affects millions of Americans. Many people will treat their nasal allergy symptoms, but ignore their itchy, red, watery eyes.”
Regardless, if your eyes are irritated, red, itchy, watery, or simply downright hurt in May or any month, it may be time to let an eye doctor take a look—preferably a dry eye specialist.