Red Eyes Bring The BluesTo Allergy Sufferers by Dr. Yvonne M. Johnson (NAPSA)—It doesn’t have to be hay-fever season for people to suffer from itchy, red eyes. They may be suffering from conjunctivitis, also called “pink eye.” This is an ANY \ inflammation of the thin mem- brane that covers the white of the eye, whichis called the conjunctiva. A mucous discharge and a scratchy, burning feeling may accompany the redness. Different types of conjunctivitis exist, and have many causes: e Allergic conjunctivitis—One or both eyes are usually affected by itching. Other symptoms may include redness, swelling and excessive tearing. Bacterial conjunctivitis—One or both eyes may have a heavy discharge that can be yellowish. Viral conjunctivitis—One or both eyes are affected. Excessive eye watering and a light discharge maybe present. The only wayto tell what type of conjunctivitis you have is to see an eye care professional. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotics. Viral conjunctivitis usually clears up on its own. However allergic conjunctivitis is a different story. People often take over-thecounter (OTC) antihistamine medicines to treat the immediate signs of the condition. But OTCs may offer only short-term relief and the medicines typically require frequent dosing. In addition, the OTCs are usually not recommendedfor children underage6. Prescription eye drops for allergies are usually the best treatment option for allergic conjunctivitis. They provide long-term relief and many offer more convenient dosing than OTCs. A good, multiple-mechanism eye drop uses antihistamines to stop the immediate symptoms of eye allergies and a mastcell stabilizer to prevent the causeof the itching. The Eyes Have It—Eye care professionals can usually help people with red, itchy, watery eyesfindrelief. By preventing the release of histamine and other pro-inflammatory mediators and blockingtheeffect of histamine, prescription eye drops can eliminate the primary agent causingocular itch. If you have symptoms of any type of conjunctivitis, avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes and see youreye care professional. Q. How can doctors operate on eyes without anesthesia? A.Theycan’t. The cornea of the eye has nerves, and it would hurt. Ophthalmologists usually apply a topical anesthesia in an eye drop form when they operate on patients for glaucoma, cataracts or Lasik surgery. These procedures are all performed on an outpatient basis. Dr. Yvonne M. Johnson, an optometrist, is director of Regulatory and Medical Affairs at Novartis Ophthalmics, North America. Her columnis part of the company’s public health education initiatives. Have a question? Contact Dr. Johnson by e-mail at Doctor YJohnson @hotmail.com or write to her at Novartis Ophthalmics, 11695 John Creek Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097. Additional information on allergies can be found at www.zaditor.com.
