Posted by: Clemson Eye in News
The Easley Progress, May 2015
Spring in The Upstate is beautiful. Jasmine and gardenias are blooming, you can get out on the lake and the golf course again, or grab your dog and take a hike down the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Sounds great.
Until you get outside and the pollen, mold spores and grasses hit you.
Yes, spring in The Upstate is beautiful but it also bears the dubious distinction of being high on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation list of worst areas in the country for allergies.
Most of us think about congestion, sneezing, stuffiness, and upper respiratory issues, but your eyes take a beating too, according to Dr. Brian Johnson, an ophthalmologist at Clemson Eye.
Allergies that affect more than one part of the body are considered “systemic” and treatment can be covered as a medical condition. About 90% of all allergy sufferers experience some impact on their eyes, usually itching, blurry vision, redness or swelling.
Most of us just take an antihistamine for allergy relief, and it does the trick. But just because medication is over-the-counter doesn’t mean it is benign.
Emergency angle-closure glaucoma
For some, these drugs can cause an emergency condition called angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases rapidly. Symptoms include headache, severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and seeing halos around lights, according to Dr. Richard G. Shugarman, a member of the editorial board of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Most glaucoma patients, he says, have open-angle glaucoma, but the small percentage with angle-closure glaucoma should avoid antihistamines or any other drugs that can dilate the pupils. If you take antihistamine and experience these symptoms, see your eye doctor immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.
For most of us who can safely take an antihistamine, it still may not be as effective as we would like if the allergy is systemic. If the over-the-counter meds aren’t working for you, consider talking to your eye doctor. There are medications and prescription eye drops that can be very effective with a daily dose, noted Dr. Johnson of Clemson Eye’s Easley clinic.
One other by-product of eye allergies: Contact lens wearers can find they are less able to tolerate their lenses. In these instances, it is best to give the contacts a rest until the allergy symptoms clear up.
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