Eye Allergy

[limewave]

I am having a terrible eye allergy issue. My eyelids are bright red and swollen. The redness is starting to move to my lower eyelid as well. My eye doctor recommended allergen pillowcases, mattress coverings, etc as well as prescription eye drops. I've done all of that and it has not helped at all. The next step is steroids. UGH!

I do now want steroid shots! Seems like there should be some other course of action. Ideas anyone???

It would be nice to get this nipped in the bud. I'd like to stop looking like a deranged, diseased, eye-puss face.

[ny biker]

First, what else comes near your eyes? Soap, facial cleanser, lotion? Any cosmetics? Possibly even hair products, if your hair comes close enough to your eyes?

Second, is the redness inside your eyelids or outside (on the skin)?

[limewave]

It is just on the outside of my eyelid--only affects the skin. My actual eye is not effected.

I haven't worn makeup since Spring when the allergy really started to take effect. Initially I thought it was from my sweat (pollen getting in my sweat then dripping in my eyes or something like that) but over the last few weeks I've noticed my eyelids are most swollen first thing in the morning.

I have switched shampoos/conditioners over the summer and switching did not seem to have any change on my symptoms. But it is possible . . .

I had also switched to daily contacts last spring. I thought that might be it so I switched back to the contacts and brand I was using previously a few weeks ago--but, again, no change :-(

No perfumes, no lotions.

Sweat dripping on m eyelids causes painful burning. I do wear a sweat band but that only helps some.

[OakLeaf]

- Change your pillowcases (maybe all your bedlinens) daily while the pollens and molds are so high?

- Rinse your face with plain water before bed?

- Neti pot or other irrigation - the eyes are connected to the sinuses via the tear ducts, and inflammation in the sinuses will affect your eyes?

- Quercetin, CoQ, pantothenic acid/balanced B-complex, vitamin C (ester-C or Pure-Way C shouldn't cause stomach upset or leach minerals from your body)?

Personally I HATE air conditioning and I'd rather suffer through no matter what the pollen count is, but have you tried sealing up your house?

When you say prescription eye drops, do you mean Patanol antihistamine drops, or did you try steroid drops - topical steroids aren't near as scary as systemic?

Are you already getting immunotherapy? I keep beating that drum - but when you can actually train your body to stop reacting, that's so much better all around than treating the symptoms, even if you still have to use meds for breakthrough symptoms. Generally - an optometrist/opthalmologist isn't going to have the expertise dealing with allergies that an allergist will.

[jessmarimba]

I'm in a similar boat, only my itchy is also inside my eyelids (GPC). My optometrist gave me some eye cleaning wipes that helped, and taking Allegra regularly (when I remember) keeps it under control but doesn't eliminate it. See an allergist if you can! I'll be back again when I'm on a laptop and not an iphone.

[indysteel]

In addition to an allergist, I would consult a dermatologist. There are several conditions that have the same symptoms as an allergy. Blepharitis comes to mind. I'd want to rule out bacterial causes of your problem.