What you need to know about allergy eye drops
Eye drops have long been the savior for dry eyes everywhere. They often provide immediate relief while also providing some additional protection to get you through your day. Did you know that eye drops can also help you with those pesky seasonal allergies or persistent pet dander? Well, they can!
Here’s everything you need to know.
What types of allergy eye drops are there?
Just like any other allergy medication, eye drops come in different variations. Each type solves a specific issue you might be having, whether that’s redness, dryness, irritation, or general discomfort. They also vary in relief speed and duration.
There are seven types of allergy eye drops:
1. Antihistamine eye drops
These drops block histamines from being produced in your body and therefore provide relief caused by allergic reactions. Antihistamine eye drops are often the next option if oral medication doesn’t resolve your symptoms. They provide relief from itchy, watery eyes quickly but require multiple applications each day. There are some over-the-counter brands available, but most antihistamine eye drops will need a prescription from your doctor.
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2. Anti-inflammatory eye drops
Eye drops that have anti-inflammatory medication in them relieve itchiness by blocking certain nerve cells. They fall into two groups, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and corticosteroids. NSAID eye drops can be purchased without a prescription to treat itchy eyes. They do take about an hour to take effect, but the relief they provide lasts longer than antihistamine eye drops. Corticosteroids are typically only prescribed by your doctor for severe allergic symptoms and will only be used over a short period.
3. Decongestant allergy eye drops
These types of eye drops relieve redness and brighten the whites of your eye. They work by constricting the blood vessels in your eyes. Most doctors would not recommend these drops to treat allergies as they can have adverse effects when used long-term.
4. Mast cell stabilizer eye drops
The most recent development in eye drop technology, mast cell stabilizing eye drops, work by preventing your body from producing histamine. No histamine in your eyes means no itchy, irritated eyes. These are unique because they work to prevent allergic symptoms instead of relieving them. They are also safe to use for an extended period since they have little to no side effects. You can find both prescription and over the counter variations of these drops.
5. Dual or multi-action eye drops
Lastly, these eye drops are a combination of the ones we’ve described. Some provide both redness and itch relief, others relieve irritation and prevent further allergic symptoms. Multi-action eye drops come in various combinations to relieve or prevent your specific symptoms.
Chronic allergies
There are numerous options for allergy symptoms when it comes to your eyes. You may find that a simple over the counter antihistamine eye drop relieves the issues you’re having. Great! Problem solved.
However, if you find that your allergies are consistent and interfering with everyday life, we encourage you to talk with your doctor about other options. Now you know what to ask about at your next visit and they can help you get a prescription for the treatment you need.
Life feels so much better with happy, healthy eyes!