Eye - Allergy

1. Wash Allergens Off the Face:

   • Use a wet washcloth to clean off the eyelids and surrounding face.

   • Rinse the eyes with a small amount of warm water (tears will do the rest).

   • Then apply a cold wet washcloth to the itchy eye.

   • Wash the hair every night because it collects lots of pollen.

2. Oral Antihistamines:

   • If the nose is also itchy and runny, your child probably has hay fever (i.e., allergic symptoms of the nose AND eyes).

   • Give your child an oral antihistamine, which should relieve the nose and the eye symptoms.

   • Oral antihistamines usually control the eye symptoms and avoid the need for eye drops.

   • Benadryl or Chlorpheniramine (CTM) products are very effective (no prescription needed). They need to be given every 6 to 8 hours (See Dosage table). The bedtime dosage is especially important for healing the lining of the nose.

   • Continue oral antihistamines every day until pollen season is over (usually 2 months for each pollen).

3. New Antihistamine Eye Drops (Ketotifen) for Pollen Allergies - 1st Choice:

   • Usually an oral antihistamine will adequately control the allergic symptoms of the eye.

   • If the eyes remain itchy and poorly controlled, buy some Ketotifen antihistamine eyedrops (no prescription needed).

   • Dosage: 1 drop every 12 hours

   • Ask your pharmacist to recommend a brand (e.g. Zaditor or Alaway)

   • For severe allergies, the continuous use of ketotifen eye drops on a daily basis during pollen season will give the best control.

4. Older Antihistamine/Vasoconstrictor Eye Drops - 2nd Choice:

   • Usually the eyes will feel much better after the allergic substance is washed out and cold compresses are applied.

   • If not, this type of eye drop can be used for intermittent eye allergy symptoms (no prescription needed).

   • Ask your pharmacist to recommend a brand. Examples are Naphcon A, Opcon A or Visine A.

   • Avoid vasoconstrictor eyedrops without an antihistamine (without an A in the name). Reason: they only treat the redness, not the cause.

   • Dosage: 1 drop every 8 hours as necessary.

   • Avoid continuous use for over 5 days. (Reason: rebound red eyes)

   • Disadvantage: less effective than Ketotifen eye drops.

5. Contacts: Some children with contact lenses may need to switch to glasses temporarily (Reason: to permit faster healing).

6. Expected Course: If the allergic substance can be identified and avoided (e.g., a cat), the symptoms will not recur. Most eye allergies continue through the pollen season (4 to 8 weeks).

7. Call Your Doctor If:

   • Itchy eyes aren't controlled in 2 days with continuous allergy treatment

   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.