Itchy eyes? It's that time of the year again for allergic conjunctivitis

It’s that time of the year again where the sun is finally peeking out and the temperature is going up and up. For some of us, however, this time can also mean the return of the dreadful allergies. Common allergens during spring include tree pollen, mold spores, dust mites, grass, ragweed and flower pollen. 
 

Common symptoms of seasonal allergies: 

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Red, watery, itchy eyes

Now I don’t know about you but over the counter oral allergy medication seems to clear up everything for me except for the red and itchy eyes. This is because allergic conjunctivitis causes little bumps to appear on the inside of your eyelids called papillae and, just like an itchy mosquito bite, the more you rub/scratch at the area the worse the irritation gets. 

There are great prescription eye drops available that work like a charm. All you need is one or two drops a day for complete 24 hour relief (including overnight) so you can say goodbye to waking up with itchy eyes to the burst of pollen in the morning. 

The two drops commonly used for allergies are called Pazeo and Bepreve. They both work as an anti-histamine and as a mast cell stabilizer. Translation: gets rid of the itchiness and prevents more from coming back. Pazeo is used once a day and Bepreve is used twice daily and they're both very effective for managing symptoms. Another commonly used eyedrop is Pataday although experts say that it doesn't last as long as Pazeo or Bepreve. 

Ask your doctor or your optometrist at the next visit; they know about the drops but nobody ever asks for them, and finally say goodbye to the red and itchy eyes.